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stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
4.0
Set in early 1800s Charleston, this book portrays the "peculiar institution" of slavery and the beginning of the abolitionist movement. Memorable characters, although the story drags down a bit in the middle.
carlisajc's review against another edition
4.0
I have never been a history person. I can remember a date as well as anybody but I have a hard time connecting with the subject because I have a hard time connecting with a name in a book. Lately though, I’ve realized how beautiful historical fiction novels can be because they bring the reader straight into the history. You can feel empathy for the characters. You can see their personalities. You can understand where they might have been coming from and make your own opinions based on that. Historical novels, done well, can really be perspective-changing experiences.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is just that. It is a beautifully-written historical fiction novel that follows the life of the first public women abolitionist, Sarah Grimké and the slave that was given to her at the young age of eleven, Handful. The lives of these two women intertwine in a beautiful, literally life-changing way.
Review: It was beautifully-written and the character development was thorough. The story is organized with a chapter in the perspective of Sarah and then one in the perspective of Handful. This dual-perspective approach sometimes throws me off and makes me distrust the author (For example…Allegiant…I should really write a post about that series). In some books, it’s used as a (not-so-subtle) device that the author uses for bad plot development later. In this story, Kidd uses both perspectives beautifully and the story would have lacked substantially without it. The two character’s perspectives work together in a flawless way to help the reader understand that “white” didn’t always mean free and that “a slave” didn’t always mean completely imprisoned.
The one thing that I think could be better about this story would be if we were able to see a different perspective from the rest of Sarah’s family. We get enough of her sister Angelina (another famous woman abolitionist), but we only get one side of Sarah’s mother, older sister, and father. If I had been able to understand their thoughts better, if the characters had been a little rounder, the novel would have been even more complete.
Despite this, this is an amazing novel. It taught me a little about my nation’s history that I would never have known otherwise in a beautiful, inspiring, heart-breaking way. I give this five stars and would recommend it to all.
It is a story of finding a voice, of building your wings, so that you may stand up, speak out, and ultimately fly.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is just that. It is a beautifully-written historical fiction novel that follows the life of the first public women abolitionist, Sarah Grimké and the slave that was given to her at the young age of eleven, Handful. The lives of these two women intertwine in a beautiful, literally life-changing way.
Review: It was beautifully-written and the character development was thorough. The story is organized with a chapter in the perspective of Sarah and then one in the perspective of Handful. This dual-perspective approach sometimes throws me off and makes me distrust the author (For example…Allegiant…I should really write a post about that series). In some books, it’s used as a (not-so-subtle) device that the author uses for bad plot development later. In this story, Kidd uses both perspectives beautifully and the story would have lacked substantially without it. The two character’s perspectives work together in a flawless way to help the reader understand that “white” didn’t always mean free and that “a slave” didn’t always mean completely imprisoned.
The one thing that I think could be better about this story would be if we were able to see a different perspective from the rest of Sarah’s family. We get enough of her sister Angelina (another famous woman abolitionist), but we only get one side of Sarah’s mother, older sister, and father. If I had been able to understand their thoughts better, if the characters had been a little rounder, the novel would have been even more complete.
Despite this, this is an amazing novel. It taught me a little about my nation’s history that I would never have known otherwise in a beautiful, inspiring, heart-breaking way. I give this five stars and would recommend it to all.
It is a story of finding a voice, of building your wings, so that you may stand up, speak out, and ultimately fly.
fraseyy's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kimmaloo's review against another edition
4.0
This book became more interesting once I learned that the Grimke sisters are real people. I like the author's explanation of what artistic liberties she took with the story and what is fact.
kba76's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Handful is a slave in the Grimke household. When she is given to her owner’s daughter as a birthday present, we come to see how a fiery spirit can find a way to survive. Neither Handful nor Sarah is happy with the situation they are in. Sarah wants to free Handful, and is roundly rebuked by her family for her anti-slavery sentiments.
As the story unfolds we follow both Handful and Sarah through their lives.
The split narrative allows opportunity to present differing views on slavery, and though the girls do start together they spend a substantial part of their lives separated.
The depiction of slavery is, naturally, uncomfortable. I enjoyed the depiction of Charlotte, Handful’s mother, and the growing relationship between Sarah and her sister.
Though substantial parts of the story are fictionalised, the characters were real. I can see that elements may not be wholly historically accurate, but they offer an insight into a fascinating period of history.
As the story unfolds we follow both Handful and Sarah through their lives.
The split narrative allows opportunity to present differing views on slavery, and though the girls do start together they spend a substantial part of their lives separated.
The depiction of slavery is, naturally, uncomfortable. I enjoyed the depiction of Charlotte, Handful’s mother, and the growing relationship between Sarah and her sister.
Though substantial parts of the story are fictionalised, the characters were real. I can see that elements may not be wholly historically accurate, but they offer an insight into a fascinating period of history.
jl27's review against another edition
I DNF'd this book with my 50 page rule. One of the first things I journaled about it was that I thought it might be problematic because of it being partially about a Black character and partially about a white one, told by a white woman. And boy howdy, was I right in my preemptive judgment.
Not that I'm any big Oprah fan, but how... HOW was this one of her book club choices? Ugh.
After reading some other 1 & 2 star reviews, I decided I was even more correct.
No rating, as I didn't read enough of it.
Not that I'm any big Oprah fan, but how... HOW was this one of her book club choices? Ugh.
After reading some other 1 & 2 star reviews, I decided I was even more correct.
No rating, as I didn't read enough of it.
wanderingjedi's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really love Sue Monk Kidd's novels. They're some of my absolute favorites, and I reread them constantly, but I was a little wary of this one at first, but it was actually just as fantastic as I'd hoped it would be. I tend to really dislike books that alternate whose point of view they're from, since it's usually annoying. This one, however, actually did a really good job with the changing points of view, and it made way more sense that way, than it would have from just one person's point of view.
If you like books set in the South, or set in the 1800s, or just really good books that make you think, you should definitely give this one a try.
It took me some time to get into this book because I had trouble caring about any of the characters, but once I got a couple chapters in they became more interesting. Unfortunately that led to an inability to stop reading the book long enough to do other things.
Overall, I thought that all of the characters were relatable and interesting in some way. None of them seemed unbelievable, and all of them were just trying to do what they thought was best, even though sometimes it seemed wrong.
Basically, I just really enjoyed this book, and loved both Sarah and Handful.
If you like books set in the South, or set in the 1800s, or just really good books that make you think, you should definitely give this one a try.
It took me some time to get into this book because I had trouble caring about any of the characters, but once I got a couple chapters in they became more interesting. Unfortunately that led to an inability to stop reading the book long enough to do other things.
Overall, I thought that all of the characters were relatable and interesting in some way. None of them seemed unbelievable, and all of them were just trying to do what they thought was best, even though sometimes it seemed wrong.
Basically, I just really enjoyed this book, and loved both Sarah and Handful.
pmgerovac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
carlyxdeexx's review against another edition
4.0
Like RADIUM GIRLS, this book brings the stories of real women from history to life. Unlike RADIUM GIRLS, this is a much more fictionalized account, which isn’t to say any less research went into its creation. Kidd goes into detail at the book’s end about which portions of the story are fabricated and which are rooted in primary source material, which for me added a lot to the storytelling and to my sense of understanding the book. I love when authors are transparent about their processes, about why they made the choices they did. I get to enjoy the moments in which they’ve taken liberties, and simultaneously acknowledge their separation from fact.
I’m glad of most of Kidd’s choices here. I think her deciding to include two narrators was a risky but ultimately enlightening and well-handled choice. The synthesis of her research with her characters’ fleshed-out voices felt honest and thoroughly human. The imagined portions seemed as real as the historical nuggets throughout. And I can honestly say I was always excited to pick this book up and see what was going to happen next. The pacing and the back-and-forth between characters kept me hooked throughout—I was never bored or mired down. I’m happy I gave this a read and could both learn about the Grimkes and see into Handful and Charlotte’s lives.
I’m glad of most of Kidd’s choices here. I think her deciding to include two narrators was a risky but ultimately enlightening and well-handled choice. The synthesis of her research with her characters’ fleshed-out voices felt honest and thoroughly human. The imagined portions seemed as real as the historical nuggets throughout. And I can honestly say I was always excited to pick this book up and see what was going to happen next. The pacing and the back-and-forth between characters kept me hooked throughout—I was never bored or mired down. I’m happy I gave this a read and could both learn about the Grimkes and see into Handful and Charlotte’s lives.
abbymoore06's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Incredible historical fiction. I loved how SMK used the two perspectives and allowed the reader to discover for themselves the validity of their friendship. So much of this novel was hard to read, but it's so important. The character development is superb and the research is impeccable. Kudos to SMK for adding another brilliant novel to the genre.