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A review by carojust
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I was in a reading slump as I read this, not at all from the writing, but because of life. If anything, I'm glad this is the book that got me through, and gave me perspective during the current political and racial turmoil we're living in America.
This is an adventurous, difficult, fictional take on the Underground Railroad, as told through an orphaned slave, Cora. It's heavy on symbolism, depicting many versions of being hidden, abused and trapped througout an opaque, fiercely fought path to finding what freedom is.
Colson Whitehead is so insanely talented -- the detail he balances in just the right way, the rollercoaster cadence of his storytelling, the way he can describe in one sentence what takes other authors entire chapters. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
This is an adventurous, difficult, fictional take on the Underground Railroad, as told through an orphaned slave, Cora. It's heavy on symbolism, depicting many versions of being hidden, abused and trapped througout an opaque, fiercely fought path to finding what freedom is.
Colson Whitehead is so insanely talented -- the detail he balances in just the right way, the rollercoaster cadence of his storytelling, the way he can describe in one sentence what takes other authors entire chapters. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail