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juliabegeman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Rape
lmsokol18's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A dark but important book with an alternative history of the Underground Railroad. The book loses momentum at points, but I was rooting for Cora throughout. I would have loved more time spent on the railroad itself as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow… this book is incredible. Devastating from the start and unrelenting in its harrowing depiction of Cora’s life of enslavement on a plantation and subsequent escape, The Underground Railroad manages to tell so many stories of America’s violent and insidious history while still including moments of perseverance, hope, and kindness. It’s a challenging, heart-breaking read, but the story is expertly crafted and thought-provoking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
ailbheclaire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Incredible story, masterfully written
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Torture
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Stalking
baobaebye's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A worthy read but I wouldn't say it was entertaining
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, and Murder
sellnow_hannah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book is hard to rate. I think I was hoping for a little more magical realism given the reimagining of the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad, but that reimagining didn’t seem to add as much to the plot as I’d hoped. The story is a heart breaking and a brutal look at slavery and the many abuses Black people have endured in this country (taken with a grain of salt as it’s not 100% historically accurate). But the pacing of the novel was clunky and in each new setting there were many new named characters to keep track of with very little character development. Overall for me it was just ok.
Satisfied the StoryGraph 2024 genre reading challenge prompt for a historical fiction set before 1900.
Satisfied the StoryGraph 2024 genre reading challenge prompt for a historical fiction set before 1900.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Murder
Moderate: Rape
jumbledjess's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
As you can imagine, when talking about enslaved people you have to show the injustices, brutality, and dehumanization that occurred to make this part of history possible. This book does exactly that and looks at America’s past with an unflinching gaze. While definitely not an easy read, it was hard to put this story down because I wanted to know what happened next (though there were moments when I had to stop because the violence was graphic). Definitely not for the faint of heart, but definitely a necessary narrative to have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
vodzak's review against another edition
It's not a bad book. I'm just really not in the correct headspace to read something this serious right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Slavery
Moderate: Torture
melissabristol's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I hate magical realism, and this book is basically magical realism (or has huge elements of it). Yet somehow it works for me (I realize my tastes aren't typical!), because Whitehead is a fantastic writer. Evocative, and perhaps it's the strength of the writing that makes me overlook that it's mixing reality and fantastical elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery