Rambling Reader asked Colson Whitehead:

What's your plans after this novel? It will make you very rich now that your movel is an Oprah pick.

Colson Whitehead Once I pay back my bookie, there won't be much left, I'm afraid. I got 'till midnight to come up with the dough, or else he's gonna break my legs :(

flag

Hi! One of the subtle yet extremely powerful motifs in the novel is the invocation to look out the windows and see America. This is interesting in itself as well as in how rail travel reshaped aesthetics of landscape. Would you say a bit more about what those passage and/or that motif invoke for you now? I'm not necessarily asking for your intended meaning so much as what you might see in these passages now.

Emily asked Colson Whitehead:

The names in the book are striking, especially Caesar and Royal. How did you name your characters, and what were you consciously trying to say with your choices?

Craig Pittman asked Colson Whitehead:

Why do you think there are so many slavery-themed novels and movies being produced these days? In addition to your book we've gotten "The Good Lord Bird," "The House Girl," "The Invention of Wings," the movies "Django Unchained" and "12 Years A Slave" and so forth. Is it connected with the election (and re-election) of Barack Obama as president?

All answers from Colson Whitehead…

Colson Whitehead

18,460 followers

To ask Colson Whitehead a question, please sign up.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more

What's your plans after this novel? It will make you very rich now that your movel is an Oprah pick.

More Answered Questions

The names in the book are striking, especially Caesar and Royal. How did you name your characters, and what were you consciously trying to say with your choices?

About Goodreads Q&A