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The Underground Railroad

A magnificent tour de force chronicling a young slave's desperate bid for ...

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Discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Cora's mother

13

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

How does the state-by-state structure impact your reading process? Does it remind you of any other works of literature?

7

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

How does Ethel's backstory, her relationship with slavery and Cora's use of her home affect you?

12

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

Why do you think the author chose a female for the main character instead of a male?

11

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

How did the scenes on Randall's plantation affect you as a reader?

19

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

Who do you connect with most in the novel and why?

10

Nov. 22, 2016
by marganna

Why do you think the author chose to portray a literal railroad? How did this aspect of magical realism impact your concept of how the real underground railroad worked?

19

Nov. 23, 2016
by marganna

When speaking of Valentine's Farm, Cora explains "Even if the adults were free .... Only the children could take full advantage of their dreaming. If the white men let them." What makes this so impactful both in the novel and today?

5

Nov. 23, 2016
by marganna

How does the depiction of slavery in this book compare to other depictions in literature and film?

10

Nov. 24, 2016
by pamelah

"The treasure, of course, was the underground railroad… Some might call freedom the dearest currency of all." How does this quote shape the story for you?

7

Nov. 24, 2016
by pamelah

Do you feel that you now have a better understanding of what slavery was like?

7

Nov. 24, 2016
by pamelah

How do Cora's challenges in North Carolina mirror what America is still struggling with today?

8

Nov. 25, 2016
by pamelah

How do you respond to the slave-catcher, Ridgeway? Does his relationship with the boy Homer change your view of him?

12

Dec. 16, 2016
by N*Starr

National Book Award for Fiction

12

Jan. 23, 2017
by elizabethk

What are your impressions of John Valentine's vision for the farm?

14

Jan. 23, 2017
by elizabethk

Whitehead creates emotional instability for the reader. What does this sense of fear do to you as you're reading?

14

Jan. 23, 2017
by elizabethk

How do you feel about Cora's mother's decision to run away? Does your opinion change once you've learned about her fate?

14

Jan. 23, 2017
by elizabethk

What do you personally take away from reading this novel?

6

Jan. 23, 2017
by mildas

What do you think about Terrance Randall's fate?

12

Feb. 02, 2017
by juliaa

Does The Underground Railroad change the way you look at the history of America?

15

Feb. 02, 2017
by juliaa

What role do you think stories play for Cora and other travelers using the underground railroad?

6

Feb. 08, 2017
by juliaa

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