The Underground Railroad

 Well, good morning! Happy Monday to all of you. I don't know about where you are; but, here it is drizzling and a bit cool. Perfect coffee and writing weather. (Or coffee and reading weather, you might say.) Especially when you are writing about subjects that are revealing some of the darkest corners of history - like with The Underground Railroad.

Yes, this is the book that inspired the series that is airing on Prime. (I haven't watched it yet, but have been wanting to since it was first released.) Yes, this book one a Pulitizer (and several other literary awards!). Did I love it? Honestly? No, I didn't. I'd say this book gets a three star rating from me. I expected to love it when I first placed it on hold. One subject I usually love books about is the work towards abolition. This one just failed to suck me in like other books have.

That's not to say it isn't well written, or that the story wasn't interesting. It was on both counts. I absolutely loved that it gave more insight to the workings of the Underground Railroad. (Although, apparently much of that was fiction as well - the writer wrote entire chapters about underground stations with actual railways, which is not how the system worked, according to sources as reliable as National Geographic -  https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/underground-railroad-indiana/ ) I loved the characters who were the conductors at the stations, and hearing their stories. Why they were assisting, where they had come from previously. How terrifying it was to be involved on any level. These people were truly heroes.

The Underground Railroad focuses on Cora, who was born (as was her mother) on the Randall plantation in Georgia. Her Grandmother was stolen from Africa, and died on the plantation. Her mother (Mabel) is the only slave who managed to escape permanently; leaving Cora alone as a stray in an already difficult life. When a fellow slave on the plantation pulls her aside to tell her he wants to escape, and bring her with him, her life changes.

This story takes you through swamps in Georgia, and through many states and tribulations. Telling of Cora's losses, of her successes. Of love and fear. This novel shines lights into some extremely dark corners - doctors infecting blacks unknowingly with syphilis (which actually happened!) while they were told they were receiving treatment for a blood ailment. (https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/40-years-human-experimentation-america-tuskegee-study). Being offered sterilization as a form of 'birth control' when whites had done the math and realized they were outnumbered by the black population. These things are travesties! And something most of us are completely unaware happened. (The first time I heard about the Tuskegee study [the syphilis experiment] was when I heard about it in a movie regarding civil rights. So, in those respects? I enjoyed being informed (on some level, which led to me looking more into things for myself).

Cora is a strong woman, who is going to do anything to get her freedom. Something we have all taken for granted today; and that whites took for granted even then. It's incredible to read about the dehumanizing of another race - several races; as Colson points out (as not all of the slaves originated from the same country or tribe - something that is not often brought up either). Although I didn't particularly enjoy this novel (maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset?), I do think it is an important read. It made me want to learn more about the Underground Railroad. It made me want to know if some of the places mentioned actually existed. This novel is full of gut wrenching ups and downs. Of graphic violence. It is not for the tender hearted.