A review by cwatson17
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is a book that while gripping and fast-paced, also ruminates on the past and present state of racism in America. In this book, Cora’s journey acts as a small Odyssey where each state in her long escape from slavery acts as a picaresque episode of alternate presentations of racism. Though unique in their own right, each state provides a harrowing experience that furthers Cora’s determination to survive. Cora herself is the most developed character and through a few chapters at the beginning of the novel, she is already fully-fleshed and believable. Seeing the narrative through her eyes ensures that we are always viewing the world through an empathetic lens, and one that while acknowledging the horrific violence of slavery, does not graphically describe incidents to the point of coming across as exploitative. As a villain, Ridgeway serves as this novel’s Ahab, singularly focused on capturing Cora and finding the Railroad. Through this obsession and cold indifference to violence he becomes the most frightening character in this book, even when compared to the simple brutality of the slave masters. Overall, while I am glad that Whitehead concludes this narrative with a glimpse of hope, this is a challenging read with numerous heart-rending and crushing moments. It’s message is tantamount and essential to the understanding of race in America, even today.
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