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The Invention of Wings cover art

The Invention of Wings

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia, Adepero Oduye
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Editor reviews

From the international best-selling author of The Secret Life of Bees, comes the incredible audiobook and finalist in the Audie Awards 2015, The Invention of Wings, written by Sue Monk Kidd and co-narrated by Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye. Set in the deep south of America at the peak of slavery, this is the sweeping panorama of the lives of two little girls, Sarah and Handful, who form a lasting friendship despite the very different worlds they come from. Written into this story is the history of the Abolition Movement and the fight for Women’s Rights. Available now from Audible.

Summary

Don't miss the extraordinary new novel from Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings - published on 21st April 2020, and available to pre-order now. 

The No. 1 New York Times best seller from the author of The Secret Life of Bees. The audio edition is a finalist for the Annual Audie® Awards 2015

From the celebrated author of the international best seller The Secret Life of Bees comes an extraordinary novel about two exceptional women.

Sarah Grimké is the middle daughter. The one her mother calls difficult and her father calls remarkable. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, Hetty 'Handful' Grimke is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift.

Sarah knows what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept. And so, indeed, the trouble begins ...

A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, The Invention of Wings evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of righteous people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.

©2014 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2014 Headline Digital

What listeners say about The Invention of Wings

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The Invention of Wings

Would you listen to The Invention of Wings again? Why?

Yes - the story is based on true events during the lead up to the US Civil War. It is told from 2 points of view, a slave girl and the child she is 'given' to who is age 11. This young girl Sarah is bright, thoughtful and sensitive. Her abilities are stifled by the over-riding desire of her parents for her to fit into society.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Invention of Wings?

This is difficult to answer without giving away the story. The story swings from the pampered world of the plantation owners who lack all humanity towards their slaves and the slave quarters themselves. The exception is the young daughter, Sarah, who understands, intrinsically, that slavery is wrong. She has to live within the South's society all the while hating what it stands for. Eventually she leaves for the North leaving young Handful behind. Meanwhile we watch Handful grow up, see her hopeless situation and witness her mother's brutal punishment for running away. Of course with Sarah in the North Handful begins to think there may be a chance for her to reach freedom too.

What about Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye ’s performance did you like?

The performances are well done and sound distinct from each other. The characters of Sarah and Handful are very different so having varying voices helped. The character of Sarah has a speech problem and this was handled well, Meanwhile Handful's strength and endurance comes through her 'voice' too.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes if I had enough time all at once!

Any additional comments?

Sue Monk Kydd is a consistent author and with this book she is definitely hitting high standards. I had no idea that Sarah and her sister , Nina, were real people.

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8 people found this helpful

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Mindblowing

If you could sum up The Invention of Wings in three words, what would they be?

couldn't be bettered

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Invention of Wings?

when Handful was "given" as a birthday present.....

What about Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye ’s performance did you like?

Their emotions, their interpretations, their warmth in the words, that me as the listener actually felt, breathed, imbibed the South, thru their words and accents

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

my emotional reaction was one of wonder - the story a rollercoaster, stayed in my head even when not listening

Any additional comments?

I have to say that this is without doubt my "read" of the year

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8 people found this helpful

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A wonderful listen

If you could sum up The Invention of Wings in three words, what would they be?

gripping moving story

Who was your favorite character and why?

Handful, I cried with her.

What about Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye ’s performance did you like?

The voices are perfect, the way they speak matches the characters so well.

Any additional comments?

A truly wonderful book, the second I have listened to by this author. I had to find excuses to get time on my own to enjoy as much as possible. I found myself not getting out of the car once arriving at my destination so I could listen to just a little more!

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7 people found this helpful

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Wonderful listen

I enjoyed every moment listening to this book it was made even better knowing that the characters although partly fictional were based on real people.
If you enjoyed The Help or the colour purple you will enjoy this. The performance of the narrators was excellent and gave life to the story and all the different characters.

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5 people found this helpful

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The invention of wings

It was good but not great . I did not enjoy the narration. I will try more of the authors work.

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I could have listened to this all day

I haven't read a lot of slavery, so perhaps am not the most informed reader - I do more movies - but this really gripped me. And it's very interesting that it's also based on true life. The feminism aspect of it - of women wanted to break away from social convention - was plus too.

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Brilliant

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Full of wonderful history form a much different perspective. So well done, and read perfectly, I really enjoyed this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Invention of Wings?

The treadmill

Which character – as performed by Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye – was your favourite?

Both fantastic readers, authentic accents and so well read

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The one-legged punishment

Any additional comments?

Unique, an unusual account of both white and black POV of slavery. Not just another slave story

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One of the best books I've ever read (listened to)

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommended! This book tells a gripping story based on fact. It is well written and excellently read. The story is told from two sides throughout, giving it depth of insight.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character has to be Sarah or Handful... I cannot choose between them.

Have you listened to any of Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No I haven't heard these actresses read before, but they did an excellent job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many moments moved me – too many to relate. The book ends on an open note and I am left wondering what happened to Hetty and Sky. My favourite version is that they reached freedom, but it seems unlikely.

Any additional comments?

The author's epilogue was helpful in explaining how much of the story was true and how much was fiction.

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4 people found this helpful

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Slavery up close and personal

I got this as in Top Ten New York bestsellers. I felt the narration was good and added to the story. I had never heard of Sarah or Nina and their role in the push for abolition of slavery.It was interesting the way that the story is told in turn by Handful and Sarah. I did feel that it dragged a bit and Sarah especially with her supposed high intellect was very annoying at times with the things and situations she accepted. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it but would not be in my top 10 reads.

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Unputdownable

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Invention of Wings?

Too many memorable moments to give just one.

What about Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye ’s performance did you like?

I really liked the use of two readers. Enhanced the telling of this heartbreaking story.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times very distressing, but told so well that even the most dreadful moments were accessible.

Any additional comments?

This is truly a wonderful book. I always knew that slavery was disgusting, and this book illustrates this well. However, it is also a book about bravery, belief in oneself and love.

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