The Invention of Wings
By Sue Monk Kidd
- Release Date: 2014-01-07
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees, a magnificent novel about two unforgettable American women Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world—and it is now the newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection. Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love. As the stories build to a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women’s rights movements. Inspired by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, Kidd goes beyond the record to flesh out the rich interior lives of all of her characters, both real and invented, including Handful’s cunning mother, Charlotte, who courts danger in her search for something better. This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved. ...
Reviews
Awakening from Slavery
4By YayaNetski2 sisters evolve at them time of slavery in the US.Good read
4By stew1020It was a good story, I now want to learn more about Sarah.Beautiful prose, fascinating story
5By Littleb_21I loved Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Secret Life of Bees” so I knew I would love this book too. I was not disappointed. I didn’t really care what the story was about, I purchased this book just on the strength of the author’s previous books. I was surprised to find, once I read the author’s notes at the end of the book, that this was a work of historical fiction that revealed quite a bit of fact. I did recognize some of the names in the story, but I thought it was coincidence. In fact, the two sisters who were the main protagonists were quite famous women in their own right in pre Civil War days. Their slave, Handful, was also a real person, though Monk Kidd expanded her role to beautifully tell the full story. This story brings not only the Grimke sisters to light, but also forces each of us to question our personal roles when injustice of any kind raises its ugly head. Could I be as brave as either of the Grimke sisters or Handful? We are not so far from this chapter in American history that it is not completely relevant to our choices dealing with the social ills we face today. It is not a preachy book but it is a book that demands more of the reader than just enjoying wonderful prose in a fully realized story arc.Awesome simply amazing
5By amaisaThis book brought me to tears! Such a great read!The Invention of Wings
5By Mel bookwormGrowing up in a suburb on the west side of Chicago, slavery was an abhorrent subject we studied in history class, learned that the Civil War was fought over it, but fortunately, never experienced first-hand. I was always glad I grew up as a Northerner whose ancestors never participated in slavery. In fact, my parents’ families struggled through the Great Depression, with several family members out of work, losing homes, stuffing paper in the bottom of shoes that were too small for them, and feeling fortunate to have hand-me-down clothes to wear, even if they didn’t fit or were shabby. Reading this book was an excruciating experience in how inhumane some people could be to other human beings, just because of the color of their skin. Although the Bible describes slavery going back to Noah, it is difficult to believe such inhumanity could be inflicted on people in America. Yet, it happened. While this is a story of fiction, the lives of the characters are so vivid, their experiences so brutal, the trauma so real, the story will permanently alter my perspective of history. This is no longer a subject learned in class, but a national tragedy.Beautiful, brilliant
5By JeangirlkThe characterization is superb. An unforgettable story —it will stay with you long after you read the last page.The Invention of Wings
5By KathyIquiltSo glad I didn’t pass this powerful book by. Highly recommend this heart wrenching powerful story. We need more women today like the Grimke sisters.Exceptional !
5By Mastiff galI could not put this book down. Wonderful story along with historical happenings.Great story telling
5By Flo 256I was interested to learn that much of this book is factual. Although the subject matter is at times gruesome, it is a superbly written story with captivating characters. Highly recommended!The Invention of Wings
5By bjaceaThis was wonderful, sad and touching. Would highly recommend.Totally absorbing
5By Birdgirl2016If you’ve ever lived in Charleston or walked its streets, you had to have wondered what the city was like during its plantation days. Sue Monk Kidd takes you into that time with two perspectives: that of Sarah, the daughter of a judge high in the realm of Charleston society, and that of the slave that is given to Sarah on her 11th birthday. This is an unblinking portrait of actual slave life and the dilemma that the real person of Sarah Grimke had to face when she realized that she could not be part of the society- or the family - that treated human beings in such an inhuman way. It is fascinating, horrifying, terrifying and uplifting all at once. I’m still shaking my head at the bravery of the Grimke sisters. An incredibly well-told tale that you’ll not forget.Wonderful Book
5By Jburkes3This was an excellent read. The setting, the history, and the characters were so interesting that the book was hard to put down. I didn't realize until the end that the story was based on real people, which made it even more relevant. I have enjoyed reading Sue Monk Kidd's books and this one is my favorite, so far.Deep and troubling novel
5By Slep7With beautiful prose and a foundation of great research, Ms Kidd keeps us in suspense about every turn of events in antebellum Charleston and later in the North. What a tortuous life the slaves had, and the Grimke family torn by their customs and heart strings.Great weaving story of historical figure
5By Smooth-caramelAbsolutely loved this book. I loved the way the author weaved the characters and the time progression. Sad to finish it.Everyone read this regardless of gender
5By native cali chicI cannot stop singing the praises of Sue's book. This is what is needed in the world today to show my peers and upcoming ladies those before us had to endure, and what women of different backgrounds had to fight for so we could have equal footing with men in our society. This book has encouraged me to learn about and support feminism in such a positive way. This story is simply spectacular in scope and utterly mind-blowing.The Invention of Wings.
5By :-))) Big dog loverDeeply interesting and remarkably written.One of my all-time favorites
5By valentofuThis book is so captivating and so beautifully written, I found it hard to put it down from the moment I started reading it. Definitely a must-read!Slow starter
4By MissBridgetThe last third of the book was the best. Slow moving in the middle. The best parts it felt like the author rushed through, yet she gave lots of detail in areas I found insignificant. Overall I enjoyed reading, but the very end was another rushed part I wish the author has fleshed out more. Worth reading.Historical fiction strikes a chord in today's current events
5By Bilbo737!1Once I got into this book, I couldn't put it down. A fascinating tale based on real events that brings to life the horrors of slavery in a way I had not previously experienced. The church depicted in the book started by slaves was the same one that the shooting occurred at earlier this summer. Clearly the work that was began by the Grimke sisters and other abolitionists has not yet been completed.
