Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

180 reviews

bookhookedheather's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, and Medical trauma

meresand's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative tense fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault

marfm's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death of parent, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Abortion, and Slavery

unboxedjack's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Grief, Suicide, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Murder, Racism, Torture, Hate crime, and Suicide attempt

whatcassiedid's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I struggled to stay with the story a bit and thought that the titular railroad would've been more involved, but overall enjoyed

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Racism

aqtbenz's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death, Rape, Violence, Racism, and Racial slurs

ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition

I was not connecting with the writing style, characters, or story. It got to the point where I was dreading picking up the book. 
I also felt the book had very weird pacing. It was either medium to fast paced or slooooow. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

jenmcvay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, and Sexual violence

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 The Underground Railroad was a good story, but it's more than that. It's a good reminder. Colson Whitehead uses the narrative to talk about Cora's escape and journey on a literal underground railroad and reminds us of the many injustices against Black folks in historical America. He even pays tribute to the local Native American tribes and discusses land theft and murder.

The story itself was good - it lulled a bit in the middle from a narrative perspective, but that part was so important because it illustrated the persistence of hate. So while the middle exhibited less exciting storytelling, the pause left room for Colson Whitehead to share things like racial eugenics and the emergence of the Klu Klux Klan, which are important, horrifying aspects of our history.

Overall a very powerful book and highly recommended. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Colonisation, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, Abandonment, and Body horror

Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Blood, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Excrement

There are many Black characters and multiracial characters. There are a couple Native American characters (tribes not always shared). The book discusses racial eugenics in detail. There is a character who wears human remains as jewelry.

awnutts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

It won the Pulitzer Prize, and deservedly so. But it is a dark, difficult, unrelenting read. I was captivated by the writing, but also felt relieved when I finished and could leave this world. It's important for non-black folks to sit with.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Slavery, Misogyny, Rape, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Racism, Torture, Racial slurs, and Violence