Invention of Wings : A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd (2014, Hardcover)

Description: The Invention of Wings: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd (2014) Book 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.Review: Couldn't put it down!!! I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this book and finished it in two days because I literally couldn't put it down. Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favorite authors and I can see why "The Invention of Wings" was an Oprah Book Club pick. This is an example of the best kind of historical fiction where a writer weaves believable events from her imagination against the backdrop of real historical events with heroines whose courage is formidable and inspiring. Set in Charleston, SC, the book tells the tale of the Grimke sisters (Sarah and Angelina) who grew up in a wealthy slave holding family and challenge society's norms by becoming influential suffragists and anti-slavery activists. Chapters alternate between Sarah's narration and that of her slave Handful who is given to Sarah as a gift on her eleventh birthday. The friendship between these two women- one white and one black- is tense at times and I felt compassion for both of them as they their expressed their frustration about their respective places in society, especially Handful's. Sarah wants to be a lawyer, but her father tells her that is not an option for her as a woman. Kidd also incorporates the historical figure of Denmark Vesey who organized a slave revolt in Charleston which ultimately failed, but caused blacks to be even more restricted in their movements after the white community discovered the plan. It's also worth mentioning that the themes in this book are eerily relevant to contemporary issues of racism and the struggles for justice that we still face today. Kidd brings these issues to light in a very accessible way. The book is in a good used condition. · Please be serious about your bids. Checkout must be completed within 7 days of the close of auction. If payment is not received within this time period and you do not contact me to explain the reason, a dispute will be opened with eBay. If the dispute is not resolved within 5 business days, the order will be revoked and you may receive a strike from eBay. · Returns are only accepted IF: the description was inaccurate and you contact me within 3 days of receiving the item. Item must be returned in the condition at the time of shipping. Only the Bid amount will be refunded, as ALL shipping fees will be paid by the buyer. Check out my other items! N27 04/09/24

Price: 9.99 USD

Location: Plano, Texas

End Time: 2025-01-04T18:34:13.000Z

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