2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

Pages: 306 pages

Length: 1 Month (May)

Participants: Chantal, Shari, Grace.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

Hi! I was not on the list for this buddy read but my hold just became available and would love to join. I will read it next week and look forward to discussing it with you both!

Grace wrote: "Hi! I was not on the list for this buddy read but my hold just became available and would love to join. I will read it next week and look forward to discussing it with you both!"

I've added your name to the participants' list.

Thank you!

@grace great you are reading with us!

I found this book in a mini library a year back. Trying to read more books out of my overflowing cabinet...

Started this book a few days back. It reminds me a lot about the Uncle Tom's Cabin book. I almost thought it was the Uncle Tom's Cabin book under another name because of the same story line.

how interesting! It's been years since I have read Uncle Tom's Cabin but I think I remember most of the story. I am starting on this book today and looking forward to it.

Just got my copy from the library yesterday. Trying to finish a book I had already started on my Kindle before starting this one. I may go ahead and start this one tonight since you are both already reading.

No rush! I gave it a solid four stars, such a fascinating read.

(view spoiler)[ Whitehead is such an excellent writer I felt like I wanted to highlight half of the book. He did such a great job taking a huge part of history and changing the way we perceive it. Making the Underground Railroad a literal railroad was a clever way to impress the complexity of the system while creating a fantastical feel about it. A number of potential metaphors for its physical existence ran through my head, but I didn't land on one that felt quite right. I also liked the lengthy cast of supporting characters and how they rounded out the book. It made Cora's longing for freedom feel even more vital knowing who was on the other end of the stick beating her down. (hide spoiler)]

I'm about half-way through the book. Did either of you wish for more of an explanation on some of the items in the book? I want more explanation of the actual underground railroad with the conductor and rail cars. And sometimes I'm getting confused on the people who are being talked about, it jumps around a bit. With this said, I'm still enjoying reading the book.

yes i agree! I also wish we’d had more details about the actual workings of the railroad. Later in the book I felt like the role of the supporting characters became more clear but I also struggled to keep track of all of them and their names

Did either of you see where this is now an Amazon special? I saw an advertisement for it on Yahoo.

I'm finished with the book. I thought it was good, but it did not become a favorite book of mine.

I saw yesterday there was now a series to watch since a few days. I have no clue where, but maybe others would like it.