Colson Whitehead to speak at HPU
By Devon Wilkinson// Staff Writer
It is not everyday that a best-selling author makes his way to the city of High Point, but on Sept. 9, New York Times bestselling author Colson Whitehead is making an appearance on the High Point University campus. Whitehead has graced the world with several novels that made quite an impact on his readers. Writing both nonfiction and fiction alike, Whitehead has gotten very positive recognition for his work. On Sept. 9 in the Wilson School of Commerce ballroom from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Whitehead will be discussing the novel and answering questions.
“The Underground Railroad” is scheduled to be released this month, but can be purchased online now. The book follows a young slave named Cora. Cora lives the life as most African Americans did during the time of slavery and racism. Working hard and demanding days on a cotton plantation, Cora sets out to find something that is a completely foreign concept to her – freedom. A feeling of neglect and abandonment haunts Cora after her mother ran away when she was young. And only after being brutally raped and facing a horrifying amount of humiliation does Cora decide to make the life changing decision to flee. Escaping slavery is no easy task by any means. Cora is forced to commit murder to avoid being killed herself. Whitehead doesn’t leave out any of the grueling and completely perplexing details of what runaway slaves went through on the road to freedom. If you are looking for a book with passion and excitement, “The Underground Railroad” would be a good read for you.
“Kept me up at night, had my heart in my throat, almost afraid to turn the next page,” Oprah Winfrey said. “Get it, then get another copy for someone you know because you are definitely going to want to talk about it once you read that heart-stopping last page.”
In fact, Winfrey enjoyed the novel so much that she add Whitehead’s novel to her 2016 book club. People Magazine also named the novel the Book of the Week stating, “Think Toni Morrison (Beloved), Alex Haley (Roots); think 12 Years a Slave… An electrifying novel… a great adventure tale, teeming with memorable characters… Tense, graphic, uplifting and informed, this is a story to share and remember.”
The Boston Globe found Whitehead’s novel just as impressive. “The first thing to say about Colson Whitehead’s new novel, ‘The Underground Railroad,’ is that it’s really good—good, in fact, in just about every way a novel can be good… A fully realized masterpiece, a weird blend of history and fantasy that will have critics rightfully making comparisons to Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia-Marquez… Lovely and rare, dark and imaginative, ‘The Underground Railroad’ is Whitehead’s best work and an important American novel.”
It is clear that the experts love Whitehead’s newest masterpiece but there is only one way to find out if the reviews are right; pick up a copy and read it for yourself. And take advantage of the opportunity to get in Whitehead’s head, and hear about his newest masterpiece on Sept. 9.