Dear Bookclub,
Colson Whitehead's "Underground Railroad" had this dum-dum astounded to learn that there really was an underground railroad. Incredulous that my third-grade social studies understanding of brave actions from abolitionists, harboring slaves in a series of enclaves and ultimately delivering them to freedom, did not involve a real locomotive in dirt tunnels; I'm wide-eyed! Whitehead tells of a train with imagery and pain that's so real. Parenting, grand-parenting and life posts me messages daily, telling me how wrong-thinking is infinite. I am on-board with new understanding thanks to this book. Wait..more wrong thinking.... An enlightening evening, experienced at Julie's, as the whole lot of you were riding the passenger car of magical thinking, shocked. Still standing at the station, my wide eyes turned to dropped-jaw. Eschewing too much research into a book before reading, I really missed out! Humbled and eventually happy to know differently, Whitehead's portrayals became more poetic and the dark themes layered into a richly woven tapestry of possibilities. The metaphoric train still lives on with the amazing journeys leaving lasting legacies. Discussion, focused with Julie's prepared questions, determined that the reality of the past and the present still challenge our society with acceptance and tolerance. Be good to your neighbor. Be very good.
OK, here's the jolly report on the evening:
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| the knowledgeable |
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| no explanation needed |
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| bundt hostess |
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| new selection options |
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| Julie's 'spoon' accounting |
Julie researched and proposed three suggestions for an upcoming selection:
"The Perfume Collector" Kathleen Tessaro
"Elephant Company" Vicki Croke
"Commonwealth" Ann Patchett *chosen
Up next: "Hillbilly Elegy".
I'm researching as you read this.
Happy reading,
LK
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