I just finished Underground Airlines a few hours ago. I loved it. Thought it was brilliant. Unlike anything else I’ve ever read.
I finished Underground Airlines - Good stuff!
I’ll probably start The Underground Railroad today. I feel my feet dragging somewhat: too many reviews use the word “horrific” and I don’t know that I want a lesson in the horrific right now. But read it, I will. :-B Possibly I’ll even end up loving it. Aren’t the possibilities what make starting a new book so much fun?
Ignatius, I’d say that, overall, there is a fair amount of horrific content in Underground Railroad, but there is a lot of beauty and hope also. You need to know about the bad stuff in order to have a proper sense of how high the stakes were for the people who tried for a better life.
One thing that makes the book very worthwhile is that the author obviously did deep research into historical slave narratives. You get a strong sense of authenticity, although there is also a very small amount of magical realism in the book.
The quality of writing in Underground Railroad is really superb. I appreciate the fact that the author is an African American person, which is not the case with the author of Underground Airlines.
My Kindle says I’m 80% through Underground Railroad - despite the many awful things that happen, I’m not finding it depressing. The author is an interesting guy.
I read Underground Airlines about a year ago and loved it. The author has written a scifi/fantasy trilogy that’s an alternative history/future of a different sort; it focuses on the life of a policeman living in the end times – a meteor is getting ready to hit the earth and civilization is falling apart, but this guy keeps doing his job.
It’s really good, even if you don’t normally read that kind of thing. I still find myself thinking about the ending of the last book (World of Trouble). A very under-rated series…
Anyhoo – I plan to start Underground Railroad this weekend.
^^^ The Last Policeman trilogy
I want to read that trilogy. The author Winters describes it as an “existential detective novel” - which I like, for some reason.
Three weeks is plenty of time to finish these two books, even if by any chance you haven’t started yet. Neither book is terribly long,and both are skillfully written, emotionally stirring and thought provoking. I predict that we are going to have quite a range of reactions among members of our group, which should lead to an excellent discussion.
so glad i saw this thread. i’ve joined in one book group - the fireman - but didnt see the others till too late. both books are ordered and i’ll enjoy some reading time while at my short beach stint coming up. and i’m bookmarking this thread!
Re: The Underground Railroad and “horrific”. I just finished the book on audio. I say proceed without fear!
(IMO) Horrific does not equate with they type of story telling that is graphic in details and disturbing in its description of cruelty and suffering.
I started The Underground Railroad yesterday. I’m not far into it but can already agree with @NJTheatreMOM : “The quality of writing in Underground Railroad is really superb.” I also agree with everything @NJTheatreMOM wrote in post #26.
I have started with Underground Airlines and it is quickly absorbing. Today is a snowy, do-nothing kind of day and I am guessing I will get pretty far into it.
Wow! So many comments on a thread that hasn’t “officially” started!! 
I’m currently reading “Underground Railroad.” We’re in warmer climes for a few weeks, so I anticipate plenty of beach sitting time to get through both books.
I finished The Underground Railroad yesterday. An extraordinary book. Yes, it depicts harrowing events, but it is not despair-inducing. The insights into the state of slavery, into so many things were so valuable and so engaging. The heroine is indomitable, and I loved her.
The Underground Railroad - Let’s just say I’m disengaged. I have about 100 pages left. I’m interested while reading and Whitehead definitely has a way with words. However, I find myself playing on the internet rather than picking the book sitting next to me back up. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it but it’s not a particularly strong endorsement either.
I hope everyone commenting now comes back and participates after the discussion officially starts!
I’ll be back on Feb. 1 with both books read. Hopefully our pre-discussion discussion encourages any who may be thinking of joining the discussion to do so.
i’m about 1/3 thru underground airlines, and am really enjoying it! learned a new vocab word too last night. incipience. No one around me at kids soccer practice knew what it meant either.
1 book down; 1 to go. Plenty of time.
just finished underground airlines. Theres one thing i didnt catch in the book. Anyone here i can PM to ask a question?
want to figure this out while its fresh in my mind!
Sure. Send me a PM. I’ll be out for the bulk of the day but I’m here now.