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Violet wells's Reviews > The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad
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It must be hard for a writer to create an uneducated character. It’s not really something you can research. Toni Morrison has set the benchmark, an almost impossibly high benchmark. Of late Marilyn Robinson did a good job with Lila. Whitehead evades this challenge principally by giving his central character Cora little if any inner life. Therefore this is a novel principally of surface realities. It’s a narrative of the eye more than the heart. What this means is I never felt I got to know Cora. She was eluding me as energetically as she was trying to elude all her other pursuers. Maybe that was clever on Whitehead’s part; an ingenious irony. Because Cora never stays with anyone for long she never has a faithful sounding board or foil which enables her to dramatise her inner life. She remains very cinematic, an image rather than a sensibility.
There’s something fundamentally unthinkable about the brutal inhumanity of slavery. It beggars belief that educated human beings could treat other human beings with such perverted humiliating abuse. In that respect it’s an historical event that has parallels with the Holocaust. The Holocaust is often used by writers nowadays as the winning template for a thrilling and moving story. In other words the unspeakable, the inconceivable are reduced to everyday terms of reference we all recognise - essentially the good guys running from the bad guys. There is an element of that here too. We get to feel good about ourselves for cheering on Cora and booing the plantation bosses and slave catchers. The Punch and Judy principle of storytelling. For me the success of Twelve Years a Slave was it never strained to entertain. The Underground Railway does try to entertain and the outcome for me was that it was less moving as a result. It’s well written, well plotted and has some memorable visuals but I can’t say anything about it excited me as a novel with all the plaudits this has received surely should have done.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
There’s something fundamentally unthinkable about the brutal inhumanity of slavery. It beggars belief that educated human beings could treat other human beings with such perverted humiliating abuse. In that respect it’s an historical event that has parallels with the Holocaust. The Holocaust is often used by writers nowadays as the winning template for a thrilling and moving story. In other words the unspeakable, the inconceivable are reduced to everyday terms of reference we all recognise - essentially the good guys running from the bad guys. There is an element of that here too. We get to feel good about ourselves for cheering on Cora and booing the plantation bosses and slave catchers. The Punch and Judy principle of storytelling. For me the success of Twelve Years a Slave was it never strained to entertain. The Underground Railway does try to entertain and the outcome for me was that it was less moving as a result. It’s well written, well plotted and has some memorable visuals but I can’t say anything about it excited me as a novel with all the plaudits this has received surely should have done.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
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Stephanie
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 09, 2017 01:37AM
I just started reading this and have got the impression Hollywood is going to snap this up. I'm in the mood for a book that is more plot driven after a couple of recent challenging reads, and I figured this would fit the bill nicely. I see I'm not wrong. :)
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Stephanie wrote: "I just started reading this and have got the impression Hollywood is going to snap this up. I'm in the mood for a book that is more plot driven after a couple of recent challenging reads, and I fig..."It feels as if it was written for the cinema, Stephanie. It's very visual. It's also essentially an adventure story so yep, easy to read and not particularly challenging.
It seems to me that somewhere in the process of creating "an uneducated character" he put some daring thoughts about Irish immigrants and reflections on the nature of slavery ("Like a slave? Born to it, like slave?") in her mouth, which didn't help at all.
The word 'insightful' crops up a lot on goodreads but I've rarely come across a review so truly full of insights. Great analysis, Violet, not only of the book but of the Punch and Judy principle of storytelling in general. Such a good phrase too!
Maria wrote: "It seems to me that somewhere in the process of creating "an uneducated character" he put some daring thoughts about Irish immigrants and reflections on the nature of slavery ("Like a slave? Born t..."I never believed the author knew Cora, Maria. He rarely tells us what we want to know about her. And never succeeded in giving her a distinctive voice. It's true she ended up articulating ideas in a text book fashion which didn't ring true. .
Fionnuala wrote: "The word 'insightful' crops up a lot on goodreads but I've rarely come across a review so truly full of insights. Great analysis, Violet, not only of the book but of the Punch and Judy principle of..."Thanks Fi! This was oddly similar to Exit West - the characters largely silhouettes in a sweeping vision of persecution and exile. I probably just about preferred Hamid's book which didn't have the cinematic aspirations of this one.
Really an insightful ad great review, Violet.
Margitte wrote: "Really an insightful ad great review, Violet."Thanks Margitte.
"What this means is I never felt I got to know Cora. She was eluding me as energetically as she was trying to elude all her other pursuers."When I read this I immediately thought of this book, which is also an escaped-slave narrative where we barely get to know the main character. I wonder if Whitehead was deliberately paying homage to the classic slave narratives?
Great review. I'll probably read this at some point and now I have a good idea of what to expect.
Julie wrote: ""What this means is I never felt I got to know Cora. She was eluding me as energetically as she was trying to elude all her other pursuers."When I read this I immediately thought of this book, wh..."
It's more than possible, Julie. It'd be the simple solution to the very difficult challenge of entering into the sensibility of a character who's had no education, no experience of civilised society. Problem is, it makes for a character who shuns intimacy with the reader as intrepidly as she does with virtually everyone in the novel.
I like your premise about the challenge of creating an uneducated, or perhaps naive, character - a task best left to the masters. I agree Toni Morrison perfected this (The Bluest Eye is my favorite), writing especially in that book in the tradition of Faulkner, whom I'd characterize as another master of this narrative point of view. I also thought about Alice Walker (The Color Purple in particular) and Zora Neale Hurston. Great review!
Jenna wrote: "I like your premise about the challenge of creating an uneducated, or perhaps naive, character - a task best left to the masters. I agree Toni Morrison perfected this (The Bluest Eye is my favorite..."Thanks Jenna. I was going to include Faulkner. I haven't read Walker or Hurston - time to rectify that soon.
"It’s a narrative of the eye more than the heart." This is nicely put. I feel like it's a trademark of Whitehead's to write narrators who more or less blend into their surroundings. I haven't read this yet, but it seems like that's the case in Zone One and John Henry Days as well.
Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) wrote: ""It’s a narrative of the eye more than the heart." This is nicely put. I feel like it's a trademark of Whitehead's to write narrators who more or less blend into their surroundings. I haven't read ..."Do you have a favourite of his novels, Carrie?
Violet, I was bothered that the author made The Underground Railroad an actual railroad rather than the keeping the symbolic meaning of the railroad as in history was ascribed to the brave men and women who brought slaves to freedom. A lot of people saw it differently. I still think it's an important book. Nice review.
Angela M wrote: "Violet, I was bothered that the author made The Underground Railroad an actual railroad rather than the keeping the symbolic meaning of the railroad as in history was ascribed to the brave men and ..."Thanks Angela. Yep, literalising the railroad didn't really work for me. You wrote a terrific review of this.
Terrific review, Violet! In other reviews I have read of a few different flaws that other readers have also noticed. I still feel compelled to read it (eventually) just because it is on the Booker nominee list.
Those are the only two I've read (The Intuitionist is hanging out on my TBR shelf), but I'll always go with Zone One. It's in my top two favorite zombie novels, alongside The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell.
Fantastic review, Violet! Hm....not racing to this one; some good critiquing.
Jaline wrote: "Terrific review, Violet! In other reviews I have read of a few different flaws that other readers have also noticed. I still feel compelled to read it (eventually) just because it is on the Booker ..."Thanks Jaline. It's worth reading. I haven't been overly impressed with any of the Booker nominees so far. A few good books but not one I'd call an indisputably great book.
Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) wrote: "Those are the only two I've read (The Intuitionist is hanging out on my TBR shelf), but I'll always go with Zone One. It's in my top two favorite zombie novels, alongside The Reapers are the Angels..."Thanks Carrie. I've never read a zombie novel. Perhaps it's time!
Debbie wrote: "Fantastic review, Violet! Hm....not racing to this one; some good critiquing."Thanks Debbie. Just wait for the movie - I'm sure it'll arrive.
Darn well summed up, Violet. Cora, indeed, appears a little fleeing kind, albeit not without a few spurts of measured halts.
Thank you, Violet, for that wonderful review, I really appreciated your insight into this one, as well as all the other reviews I've read. I do feel as though I should read this at some point, but I never really feel drawn to it, either, after hearing the more commonly held complaints about this.
Seemita wrote: "Darn well summed up, Violet. Cora, indeed, appears a little fleeing kind, albeit not without a few spurts of measured halts."Thanks Seemita.
Cheri wrote: "Thank you, Violet, for that wonderful review, I really appreciated your insight into this one, as well as all the other reviews I've read. I do feel as though I should read this at some point, but ..."Considering all the plaudits it's had it was disappointing, Cheri. It's okay but never one of those novels that wraps you in its atmosphere all the time you're reading it.
as. so. lutely phenomenal review, violet. there is so much insight; wonderful.
paulie wrote: "as. so. lutely phenomenal review, violet. there is so much insight; wonderful."Thanks Paulie.
Excellent analysis and insight here - bravo!
Christy wrote: "Excellent analysis and insight here - bravo!"Thanks Christy. This novel deserves a prominent two star review and yours, fabulously argued, fits the bill brilliantly. Bravo to you too!
Great review, Violet. I have to add, though, that your first line made me laugh out loud -- and I only reply to it with tongue firmly in cheek. I would say it's very easy to "create an uneducated character" ... if you follow me around the neighbourhood and take notes. We are presently living in a place where I am "all out at elbows" and the fruit is ripe for the picking. Too funny! In all serious though, your review confirms my own suspicions about this book and that's why it's been sitting on the TBR shelf, always hesitating on whether I want to read it or not. Thanks for the "head's up".
Julie wrote: "Great review, Violet. I have to add, though, that your first line made me laugh out loud -- and I only reply to it with tongue firmly in cheek. I would say it's very easy to "create an uneducated c..."Ha ha! Of course it'd be a piece of cake to create a caricature of an uneducated person. God knows the principle motivation behind the Brexit vote made it clear how many we have in our midst. But it'd be tough to plunge down into their inner life.
A beautifully written critique, Violet. I have this one to read...eventually.
Great review Violet! I have read so many reviews on both sides of the spectrum on this one. I don't plan to read this one. To be honest, after I listened to the author talk, it really made me decide NOT to read it. I think there has been so much 'over' hype on this one too.
Carol wrote: "A beautifully written critique, Violet. I have this one to read...eventually."Thanks Carol.
PorshaJo wrote: "Great review Violet! I have read so many reviews on both sides of the spectrum on this one. I don't plan to read this one. To be honest, after I listened to the author talk, it really made me decid..."Thanks PorshaJo. I found it overrated.
What an insightful review!
Ramya wrote: "What an insightful review!"Thanks Ramya.
Great review, you voiced my reaction I could not find the words for. Missing that connection to Cora killed this for me, “a cinema” indeed.
Tom wrote: "Great review, you voiced my reaction I could not find the words for. Missing that connection to Cora killed this for me, “a cinema” indeed."Thanks Tom.
Does anyone find it odd that Whitehead, who hails from New York and probably never spent much time in the south, could write a compelling novel about slavery? Colson is an accomplished writer, but is the subject matter out of his element?
yes. there no emotional depth to the writing. the most brutal events are described and you don't feel anything. compare this to Beloved. He uses the gimmick of an actual underground railroad. It all belittles the actual experience of slavery.
