I struggle with books about slavery. I read them not because I expect to enjoy them, but from a sense of obligation. It's a big part of this country's history, so I need to force myself to look at it. There's no doubt that Whitehead is a skilled writer. He creates compelling characters and the words seem to flow effortlessly. I feel like I must be a lazy reader, because I don't understand what he was trying to achieve by making the railroad an actual railroad. The rest of the book seemed pretty true to history, so it felt like a bit of a distraction, like if he'd otherwise told a believable story and made one of the characters an alien. It just felt unnecessary and didn't - to my mind - serve any real literary purpose. I've not read any other books by him, so maybe I simply lack the broader context of how he approaches his work. It was definitely a thought provoking read, but it wasn't quick and I can't say it was "enjoyable." Maybe the best word for it is necessary?