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Lori Elliott's Reviews > The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad
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I struggled through this... several times thinking of giving up. As a story revolving around such a 'heavy' subject the focus needed to be on a character less one dimensional and just a little bit likable. Cora was not a character that made me feel anything... there was no depth to her. Also, I disliked the whole idea of the Underground Railroad being an actual physical railroad which made no sense to me. Almost made it somewhat cartoonish. It would've been somewhat redeemable if there had been an Authors Note explaining reasons for the choices he made. I had really high expectations for this the minute I saw it on Netgalley, but it really didn't work for me. Hugely, disappointing. Sadly, only 2 stars and that is being generous.
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Reading Progress
August 7, 2016
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Started Reading
August 7, 2016
– Shelved
August 13, 2016
–
Finished Reading
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Dem
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Aug 14, 2016 01:54PM
Haven't added this one and definitely won't add now. Thanks Lori.
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Agreed. Rather disappointing.
Pamela wrote: "Well, that's a bummer! And to think, it's a celebrity endorsed "must read." Perfect for bookclubs. Then again, paid endorsements generally aren't the most honest assessments; they don't compare to ...".The UGR fascinates me and I'd hoped to learn something through this.
Nicole wrote: "Shoot, I just bought this and was starting into the 2nd chapter :("Stick with it... my opinion is certainly in the minority.
Bummer Lori. I loved it but we can't all love the same thing, all the time. Lol
Lori , I'm just starting this so I'll be interested in how I'll like it . Sorry it didn't work for you .
I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy this one. I'm almost finished and loving it. Definitely sorry this one wasn't for you!
I was going to read this in a buddy read this week, but after seeing so many disappointing reviews, we've changed our minds! Thanks for your review!
Sorry it wasn't what you expected, I finished it today & was very wrapped up in it & loved it, although it was difficult....
I had just finished JUST MERCY, by Brian Stevenson. Then I began to read this book. I just couldn't put this book down. I was compelled to read chapter after after chapter until I was at the end. But here's the thing I came away with, if your family history is slavery, so many today our still in a kind of bondage. So many insights into life then and how it hasn't totally changed.
Ellen wrote: "I had just finished JUST MERCY, by Brian Stevenson. Then I began to read this book. I just couldn't put this book down. I was compelled to read chapter after after chapter until I was at the end. B..."I'm really glad you enjoy it. It just wasn't for me. Oh, well, that's the wonderful thing about books we each experience them differently sometimes. :)
Found myself having read twenty pages at a time with no clue where the story was taking me....and not caring.
I also didn't feel much from Cora. Her character seemed very aloft and standoffish...perhaps due to her mother abandoning her. But yeah, I didn't feel any warmth.
I didn't love this one. Too much unbelievable dialogue and I kept wondering how well researched it was. I thought it was going to be more historical fiction. Would not recommend.
I did not think the URRd being "real" as a cartoon at all. Read the article in the August 22 New Yorker which perhaps clears our current beliefs of the URRd and you will not think it so far-fetched and realize it is part of Whitehead's "update" of what America thinks it knows about the URRd.
Marsha wrote: "I did not think the URRd being "real" as a cartoon at all. Read the article in the August 22 New Yorker which perhaps clears our current beliefs of the URRd and you will not think it so far-fetched..."Marsha, Since reviewing this I have seen articles about the reasons for the choices the author made, however, it in no way changes my enjoyment of it. If I'd read these articles before hand I would not have read it. Not was I was expecting. Glad you enjoyed it, just wasn't for me.
Agree. Not a great book.
Sorry, I gotta agree with Lori and will be skipping this one. I was taught about the "Underground Railroad" as early as grade school history and was utterly fascinated with the idea of it as a metaphor and the courage and daring of both the escaped slaves risking all to find a way to freedom as well as the extreme risks taken by those of all races who helped them along the way. A much better story, IMHO, than some fanciful Harry Potterish notion of actual hidden trains.
I am 75% into this book and still feel I didn't "get into it". Difficult read, flat characters, very disappointed.
Kati wrote: "I am 75% into this book and still feel I didn't "get into it". Difficult read, flat characters, very disappointed."Sorry to hear... I too was highly disappointed. Oh, well, on to the next book! Happy reading!
i had to put it down.. I couldn't get through it
Christian wrote: "i had to put it down.. I couldn't get through it"Sorry... wish it had been more historical & less fantasy. Oh, well!
I've just finished this and I totally agree about the railroad seeming cartoonish! It cheapened the whole thing for me.
I think the point is that Cora is 1D because that was her life. A nameless, faceless slave just like every other slave in the plantation. There aren't going to be many big characters in a place like that, they exist, they 'get by'... when you are getting the c**p kicked out of you and get treated like an object that is what would happen. Its not 'nice' but its fairly true.
Thankful for your reviews! I have this in my library bag, and I think I’ll just skip right on past it. Life’s too short to read bad books!
I agree Lori. I barely made it through to the end.
I agree. I didn’t even make it very far before I gave up on it, only 60 pages or so. It was a lot of rambling to me, a ton of backstory about characters that I didn’t need to know anything about. I found the style of writing a bit difficult to follow as well. It went between present day and the past too subtly, I had to reread in some places because it was so easy to get lost.
