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Underground Airlines
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
It is the present-day, and the world is as we know it: smartphones, social networking and Happy Meals. Save for one thing: the Civil War never occurred. A gifted young black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with federal law enforcement, working as a bounty hunter for the US Marshall Service. He's got plenty of work. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." On the trail of a runaway known as Jackdaw, Victor arrives in Indianapolis knowing that something isn't right--with the case file, with his work, and with the country itself. A mystery to himself, Victor suppresses his memories of his childhood on a plantation, and works to infiltrate the local cell of a abolitionist movement called the Underground Airlines. Tracking Jackdaw through the back rooms of churches, empty parking garages, hotels, and medical offices, Victor believes he's hot on the trail. But his strange, increasingly uncanny pursuit is complicated by a boss who won't reveal the extraordinary stakes of Jackdaw's case, as well as by a heartbreaking young woman and her child who may be Victor's salvation. Victor himself may be the biggest obstacle of all--though his true self remains buried, it threatens to surface.Victor believes himself to be a good man doing bad work, unwilling to give up the freedom he has worked so hard to earn. But in pursuing Jackdaw, Victor discovers secrets at the core of the country's arrangement with the Hard Four, secrets the government will preserve at any cost."Underground Airlines "is a ground-breaking novel, a wickedly imaginative thriller, and a story of an America that is more like our own than we'd like to believe.
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steph_phanie
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - (Feeling a bit generous)

What might the US look like if the Civil War never happened and slavery remained legal in select states? Here, we get a glimpse at one imagining.

Victor is an escaped slave turned bounty hunter. He helps the gov't catch and return slaves to the Hard Four states. A case in Indianapolis threatens to undo both the lies he has been telling himself and the lies the US has been telling the world.

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vlwelser
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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I needed these.

40 likes1 stack add
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BarbaraBB
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

A terrifying and somehow imaginable alternate history: the civil war never took place and in four US states slavery still continues. In this reality Victor works as a bounty hunter who gets his assignments from the mysterious Mr Bridge. They set in motion a dangerous adventure, which teaches him and me a lot about slavery and racism.

squirrelbrain Great review! 4mo
Tamra Funny (awful) how it was imaginable! 4mo
BarbaraBB @Tamra Really terrifying!! 4mo
81 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BarbaraBB
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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#WeeklyForecast 46/23

I thought the tagged book was a new one but now I notice tons of reviews below this post! Anyhow, I am looking forward to it. First I have to finish the Dutch one, which is French originally and will be translated in English too for #EuropaEditions. It‘s about child-influencers and very good.
I also want to read a classic, it‘s been awhile!

TrishB Have a good week ❤️ 5mo
squirrelbrain The Europa one sounds good! 5mo
jenniferw88 Will be interested in your opinion on Tender is the Night... 5mo
See All 11 Comments
Tamra I really enjoyed Underground! 5mo
sarahbarnes I just saw the blurb from Europa about that one! And I‘ll be interested in your thoughts on the Winters. I‘ve read Golden State. 5mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB Thanks 🩷 5mo
BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 Have you read it? I think it is about time I do! 5mo
BarbaraBB @Tamra That‘s good to know, thanks for the heads-up 🩷 5mo
Ruthiella @jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB I too will be curious to get your opinion on the Fitzgerald title. 🤔 4mo
jenniferw88 Yes, it was a so-so read for me (but then I'm not too keen on this period of American literature). 4mo
59 likes11 comments
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BoldCityBooks
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

Whoa. Incredibly good. One that will stay with me for a while.

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Bluebird
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

This has been on my TBR list since it was recommended to me several years ago. Glad I finally got to it! Present day America…except the Civil War never happened. It was a slow start, but picked up after about 10% and only got better and better. Severals twists and turns that kept me guessing what would happen next. Great world building by the author and excellent choice in narrator, William DeMerritt. I‘ll be thinking about this one for awhile.

Librarybelle I‘ve wondered about this one…not necessarily on my tbr list, but it had piqued my curiosity. Great review! 13mo
Cinfhen I loved this one!!! Such a believable premise. Made me want to read more by the author, bit of course I never did. - #Storyofmylife #GoodIntentions 13mo
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB Great idea for a plot. Sounds intriguing. I really liked his 13mo
squirrelbrain Sounds really intriguing - I‘ve not read anything by this author. Stacking. 13mo
Bluebird @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain first book I‘ve read by this author and it definitely made me want to read more. Golden State sounds interesting. Thanks! Will add it to my ever growing TBR pile. 13mo
32 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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DHill
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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I read a lot of mixed reviews. From DNF to “it felt clunky” and “I just couldn‘t get into it.”

I loved it. The audio production was so good. It had a Dashiell Hammett noir vibe that made the already intriguing alternative history premise feel even more so. Maybe not for everyone but it just hit me right.

39 likes1 stack add
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DHill
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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I just started this and I‘m intrigued to see where it‘s going. The audio narrator is excellent.

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Susanita
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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1. I don‘t read a lot of either genre but…
2. Tagged book is on my TBR list.
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Happy Tuesday! 2y
31 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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I was only able come up a couple #LetterU titles I've read- Uprooted and The Unhoneymooners. (Surely there are more than 2 but I can't remember them. 🤷‍♀️) I liked them both but I saw this on my TBR stack and it sounds soooo good that I had to go with this one for the #Alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
24 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

In this story, the Civil War never happened and slavery still exists in 4 southern states. Victor is a black man in the North who hunts escapees. As we gradually learn his story, he gets involved in a dangerous plot that he may not survive. Superb story. There‘s one little bit at the end that didn‘t quite work for me, but I otherwise loved it.

vivastory I thought it was great. Winters is such an interesting author. 2y
Hooked_on_books @vivastory He really is. I enjoyed his Last Policeman trilogy. I‘d like to read more of his. 2y
vivastory I think you'd like Golden State & this one is a creepy psychological book 2y
Hooked_on_books @vivastory I didn‘t remember he wrote Golden State! I really liked that one. I‘ll be looking for Bedbugs. It sounds fascinating—thanks! 2y
58 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Amandajoy
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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A very apropos #bookspin this month. And my #doublespin has been in my audio queue for about four years? Maybe more?

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Good luck!!! 2y
BkClubCare I enjoyed Underground Airlines - speculative fiction is one I enjoy but don‘t seem to read very often. Better than I expected; I can still see scenes from the story. 2y
36 likes2 comments
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WellReadCatLady
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Mehso-so

I just couldn‘t really get into this.

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Rissa1
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

Slow start but ends strong.

17 likes1 stack add
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Rissa1
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Starting our 13th wedding anniversary and the husband's 40th birthday off in the perfect way.

Sparklemn It‘s lovely! 3y
Reggie Congrats! And have fun!! 3y
Rissa1 @Reggie Thank You! 3y
20 likes3 comments
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BlueMoonJ
Underground Airlines | Ben H. Winters
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I don‘t give 4 and 5 stars easily. Most books get about 3.
Excellent book. I know that there was some controversy around this book, white author writing about a black man/contemporary slavery experience. Nonetheless, the book was so very good. I highly suggest reading.

#alternatehistory #knittingwhilereading

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staci.reads
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

What if the Civil War had never happened? What if Lincoln had been assassinated on his trip to the White House, and the shock of that convinced Congress to try again for a great compromise to save the Union? What if that led to a present-day U.S. where slavery still existed in a few southern states? It's this disturbing premise Winters explores in this fantastic novel. Thanks to #bookspin I finally read this from my tbr stack! @TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraBB Sounds fascinating. I read and enjoyed another book by him and have meant to read more so this might be it. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
staci.reads @BarbaraBB I'm definitely interested in reading more of his, so I'll check Golden State out. Thanks. 3y
61 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BlueMoonJ
Underground Airlines | Ben H. Winters
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#firstlinefriday @ShyBookOwl
I can‘t even with this book. It is amazing so far. This is the cover page. Actual first line
“So," said the young priest. "I think that I'm the man you're looking for."

#alternatehistory #contemporaryslavery

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DogMomIrene
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

The first third of this book was good, but what I expected. African-American bounty hunter chasing escaped slaves in alternate America where slavery still exists. Once the plot opened up beyond that hunt, I was hooked. The MC had to navigate situation after situation where intentions of other characters were unknown. Took on thriller vibe for last two-thirds👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

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DogMomIrene
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Complicated MC. Possibly conflicted. Want to know more of his story. Wondering what kinds of decisions he‘ll be making.

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DogMomIrene
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Started my March #bookspin novel last night. This one‘s been on my TBR for a few years. Even though I shouldn‘t like the MC, an African-American bounty hunter who tracks escaped slaves in this alternate US history reality story, I find myself drawn to him, especially when he‘s sharing these honest moments. Not sure if I‘ll end up liking him in the end, but it should be a thought-provoking journey.

Suet624 I thought this book was interesting. 3y
DogMomIrene @Suet624 I‘m really liking it so far. I put it mostly down this past week because I got busy with other projects, but I‘m picking it up again either tonight or tomorrow. 3y
50 likes2 comments
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Susanita
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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...written by #authorsofcolor

Two books I‘ve read and one I want to read.

OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👍🏻 4y
34 likes1 comment
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DaniRey
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

This has been in my audible collection for years. I found it to be a slow start, and that‘s why it sat as a DNF for so long. During this readathon I committed though. This is an alternative history tale. What would the US look like if slavery was never abolished? This is both thought provoking and frightening. Some liberties were taken, as our main character gets away with a lot in this reality. But it‘s an excellent read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #mbcreadathon

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DaniRey
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Halfway baby! New book progress on this “lap” #mbcreadathon #mbcfrogsread7 #24B4Monday

MonthlyBookClub Entered 5y
7 likes1 comment
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DaniRey
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters

another day, another book. Readathon 2019 ⬇️🖼✈️🛤 #mbcreadathon #mbcfrogsread6

elyseh Entered 5y
6 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ✈️🙌🏻 5y
OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚✈️ 5y
64 likes1 stack add2 comments
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cathysaid
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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This could appear in any modern day editorial even though it was written over 100 years ago.

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Reagan
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Finally! New bus read, so far loving it!

33 likes1 stack add
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vivastory
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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📚 Underground Airlines
🎬 The Aviator
🎶 Come Fly With Me
#manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 💙🛩💙 5y
Suet624 Underground airlines! 👍🏼👍🏼 5y
58 likes2 comments
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mrp27
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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#letstraveljuly #airplane

This title has been on my radar for awhile now.

Tamra I loved the audio! 5y
OriginalCyn620 👌🏻😊📚✈️ 5y
29 likes2 comments
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AmyAgentBor
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

I‘m not a huge fan of the unreliable narrator, but I was intrigued by the premise of this book. What if the civil war never happened? If slavery still existed in part of the USA. The end reminded me of shades of Brave New World. Dystopian literature at its finest.

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BkClubCare
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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At the boatyard; prepping for launch.

24 likes1 stack add
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kyraleseberg
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

Terrifying alternate history of modern day slavery in the U.S. with excellent world building! It was uncomfortable as hell to read but that usually means (for me, personally) that it's an important and/or necessary read.

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Ingerella
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

I found the speculative fiction aspect of this book to be fascinating, making me think this is a genre I would really enjoy. I started on audio but found myself enjoying it more when I read it. Overall I really liked this book but for some reason the end felt a little bit flat. Still, it was a decent thriller. I would call it a pick and give it 3.5/5 ⭐.

Cinfhen I liked this one too!! And it‘s a #KindleDailyDeal today 5y
Tamra I wonder if it was left open for a sequel? I think it could make a great movie. 5y
callielafleur I highly recommend his Last Policeman series. So good. 5y
Ingerella @Cinfhen I got this when it was a daily deal before.. definitely worth it! 5y
Ingerella @Tamra I agree, it would make a great movie. @callielafleur Thanks for the recommendation! I'll check it out! 5y
50 likes1 stack add5 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Liatrek It‘s so odd for some reason I can‘t access these deals anymore 😟 5y
Owlizabeth @Liatrek they restricted them to members only on 10/1 ☹️ 5y
Liatrek @Owlizabeth Sigh😞 I was just starting to get into audio books and these deals were great. Typical 5y
Suet624 Great book. 5y
60 likes1 stack add4 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Thank you so much @Melissa_J for this amazing #LitsyPenPal package! I LOVE the tote, and some great looking books 😍😍😍 Now that my oldest is back in school, I'll actually have time to sit and write letters again! Apologies for my pen pal neglect overt the summer!

MicrobeMom I love that tote! Super cute! 6y
Melissa_J No worries!! You‘ll get to it when you can, I totally understand that life can get in the way of good intentions and I‘m perfectly fine waiting 😊 6y
Melissa_J Also, I went and bought candy for your package (and @FantasyChick) forgetting that I‘d already sealed your box. You‘ll get the candy next time 🍬🍭 6y
CouronneDhiver What a cool duo for pen paling! 📫 You‘re both amazing people 😊 6y
TheKidUpstairs @CouronneDhiver aw, Thanks! That's so nice of you to say! 6y
94 likes5 comments
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Deblovestoread
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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1) So just anyone can broad a plane and take off? Shouldn‘t there be keys or a secret code to start the thing?
2) The Princess Bride
3) Zero
4) Biology, PE
5) We have a couple of bunnies hanging around right now.
@MinDea @Robothugs #humpdaypost

Robothugs That was pretty crazy. I couldn‘t believe it. 6y
Suzze That was nuts, eh? 6y
tammysue So unbelievable. 6y
24 likes3 comments
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Settings
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
Mehso-so

My library had the audiobook and it was nominated for an award.

Not bad, but my mind kept wandering and forgetting to listen to it. Characters were one dimensional.

Edit: 2017 Campbell Awards. The Underground Railroad was also nominated. Weird duplication of ideas but the novels are too different for it to be anything but coincidence.

knittedgnome I have borrowed and read some twice now. I just am not getting into it. Not sure I will keep trying. 6y
52 likes1 comment
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candority
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

I finished listening to this audiobook with dinner - which was a baked sweet potato, stuffed with a kale Caesar salad and oven roasted chickpeas. The premise of this book was fascinating and I enjoyed it, but I doubt the story will stay with me for long.

I have reached 16.5 hours for #24in48, which surpasses my personal goal of 15 hours! I‘ll probably end up reading more tonight, but I‘m not going to time it. Good work everyone! 😊❤️📚

Stacy_31 I thought this was fish for a second. 🙈😆 Great work on the reading! 6y
Whimsical.Curiosity Congrats!! 🎉🎉 6y
candority I can see it! Thanks @Stacy_31! 6y
See All 9 Comments
candority Thank you @Whimsical.Curiosity! 😊 6y
mrp27 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Reggie Great job!!! 6y
Librarybelle Great job! 6y
tammysue Congrats!! 🙌🏻🎉📚😁 6y
112 likes9 comments
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Rachel.Rencher
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Mehso-so

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just fell flat for me. I love the premise, and I was hoping it was going to be suspenseful and have some action. I was comparing to other thrillers I've read so maybe that's not fair, but for me it fell short.

Lucas.Rencher Too bad I knew you were looking forward to it 😀 6y
87 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Rachel.Rencher
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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What would the United States be like today if slavery was never abolished? What if we still had free states and slave states because the Civil War never occured?

Jabberwocky I really enjoyed this book 6y
Smrloomis I so loved this book! 6y
HeidiReads Speculative fiction is so fascinating! 6y
Rachel.Rencher @HeidiReads I haven't read too much of it. Any recommendations of other good ones? 6y
90 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Soubhiville
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Pickpick

What an amazing book! I listened to the audio.

What if slavery hadn‘t been abolished in all 50 states? This is a complicated story of a slave trying to earn his freedom by helping to find and recover other escaped slaves. There are a lot of emotions in this book, and it had my heart racing many times.

Extra points for tons of Michael Jackson references! ❤️🧤✨

TrishB This was a good read 👍🏻 6y
Smrloomis Loved this too! 6y
Tamra This was a great listen! 6y
85 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Smrloomis
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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Kindle deal 🎉 y‘all. I loved this.

68 likes1 stack add
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DyAnne
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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“Because this is what happens: shit gets worse. . . . bad is faster than good; wickedness is a weed and does not wither on its own-it grows and spreads.”

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TrishB
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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My sons gone away for the weekend as he‘s just finished his uni exams- he texted me earlier to say if you see gaps on the shelves I‘ve borrowed these books for the weekend 😁

BookaholicNatty Awwwww I bet that made a mamma proud!!! ❤️❤️ 6y
vkois88 He has good taste 😉 6y
Kalalalatja What a diverse sample, well done 👏👏👏 6y
See All 14 Comments
TrishB @BookaholicNatty exactly 😁 6y
TrishB @vkois88 @Kalalalatja very proud 💕 6y
Caroline2 Brilliant! I hope his exams went all ok, I bet he is so happy & relieved now! 😅 6y
TrishB @Caroline2 he is! Fingers crossed for results. How‘s yours going? 6y
Caroline2 I‘m sure he‘ll do great! 👍🏻 mine are all next wk! 🙄 part of me is so nervous & dreading them, but another part can‘t wait for it to just all be over!! 😆 6y
TrishB @Caroline2 know exactly what you mean!! Good luck 🤞🏻 x 6y
Caroline2 Thanks Trish! 🍀🤞🧚‍♂️🎍 I‘m praying to the exam gods already!!! 🙏🏻 6y
AlaMich How awesome to have a kid who steals your BOOKS!!! 😊 6y
TrishB @AlaMich it‘s great 👍🏻 6y
Niallism I really enjoyed Underground Airlines. African-American alternative history SF? That should be a bigger genre. 6y
TrishB @Niallism I really liked it too, good story and writing. 6y
124 likes14 comments
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DebinHawaii
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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#ReadingResolutions #UnderratedBook

It was @Cinfhen whose posts about this book pushed me to finally get it off of my #TBR stack & read it back in February. She commented on how it was overlooked & I agree--it's a very underrated book & it's too good to be underrated--an interesting combination of speculative fiction & thriller that takes place in an America where slavery is legal in four states. I listened to the audiobook which was excellent.

Cinfhen I‘m so glad you picked it up!! And even happier that you enjoyed it 💜 6y
susanw His end of the world detective trilogy is just as good! (edited) 6y
Tamra This was a great audio! 6y
carriepaige This is still in my TBR stack! 6y
96 likes12 stack adds4 comments
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DyAnne
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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“. . . and what‘s always behind everything? When you scrape away the sticky cobweb of euphemisms like *known to have intended to remove himself*, you always find something hiding underneath it, and it is always violence. It‘s always some kind of violence.”

Jabberwocky I loved this book! 6y
Alytrue Me too - Soo good! 6y
10 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
Underground Airlines | Ben H. Winters
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Pickpick

A fascinating look at an alternate USA where slavery is not outlawed. It‘s horrifying to see what the world might look like now. Almost feels like a detective novel, suspenseful & fast paced. Loses a little momentum in the 2nd half, but still a compelling read. Bonus points for being set in my city, Indy. “I bore silent witness, thinking, There is no army of abolition. This is what the world has for heroes. Ordinary men, squabbling & prideful.”

TrishB Loved this book 👍🏻 6y
27 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DyAnne
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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“Freedom is a matter of logistics.”

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DyAnne
Underground Airlines | Ben Winters
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“That‘s the problem with doing the devil‘s work. It can be pretty satisfying now and again. Pretty goddamn satisfying.”

12 likes2 stack adds