From the Bookshelf of 50 books to read before you die

The Underground Railroad
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Start date
August 1, 2018
Finish date
August 31, 2018
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This won the August poll for the 'open nominations' group read.…more

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The Outsiders
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last updated Jan 22, 2025 09:41PM
Wicked: the life and times of the wicked Witch of the west.
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last updated Dec 22, 2018 01:17AM
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What Members Thought

Jessa
Dec 29, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Whitehead has crafted an incredibly moving perspective in the protagonist Cora. This book feels important to read, especially for anyone who may fall prey to the presumption that slavery is something America has healed from.
Katie
Apr 26, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: historical
Caesar wants Cora to escape from the plantation with him because he considers her a good luck charm - her mother was the only slave to ever leave the plantation and not be captured. They are pursued by the ruthless slave catcher Ridgeway, who shows his contempt for the slaves he hunts down by referring to them as “it” instead of “he” or “she”.
In Whitehead’s rendering, the underground railroad is an actual physical railroad that Cora rides while chasing freedom. Whitehead also takes liberties wi
...more
Lori
Sep 16, 2018 rated it really liked it
Shelves: nobc_2018-19
There is gruesome reality and suspended reality in this book. It was not an easy read because of the disturbing subject matter...the horrors of slavery. It is so very good though. Although the book's serious subject matter doesn't really lend itself to whimsy, Cora's travels were reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom Tollbooth, or the more sophisticated The Odyssey. This story was troubling, enlightening and brave. I would like to read more from Colson Whitehead. ...more
Christine
Apr 29, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: fiction, history
Blue
Jun 29, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Betsy Sullivan
Oct 13, 2016 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Christine
Nov 11, 2018 rated it it was amazing
Tania
Aug 28, 2016 marked it as to-read
Eaguerrant
Feb 17, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Janice
Oct 26, 2016 marked it as to-read
Shelves: tbr-pile
Sue
Oct 27, 2016 marked it as to-read
Andre Mitchell
Apr 13, 2017 rated it really liked it
Shelves: to-buy
Alan
Nov 09, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Kim
Nov 14, 2016 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Sean
Dec 10, 2016 marked it as to-read
Karen
Dec 12, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites
danielle
Dec 17, 2016 marked it as to-read
Karan
Jan 03, 2017 marked it as to-read
Erin
Jan 03, 2017 marked it as to-read
Karen
Feb 19, 2017 marked it as to-read
Heather
Apr 16, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Danielle
Apr 06, 2018 rated it really liked it
Pauline
Jul 25, 2018 marked it as to-read
Wendy Galloway
Jun 12, 2019 marked it as own-books-to-read
Shelves: oprah-book-club
Shiloh
Jul 13, 2019 rated it it was amazing
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