The Invention of Wings

A Novel

By: Sue Monk Kidd

Narrated by: Jenna Lamia, Adepero Oduye, Sue Monk Kidd

Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2014 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman - slave or free... a conversation changer.” (Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine)

“Exhilarating...powerful...By humanizing these formidable women, The Invention of Wings furthers our essential understanding of what has happened among us as Americans - and why it still matters.” (The Washington Post)

“A textured masterpiece, quietly yet powerfully poking our consciences and our consciousness... leaves us feeling uplifted and hopeful.” (NPR)

My fave audiobook of all time! LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Where does The Invention of Wings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Listening to this was akin to watching a really great, long movie. The performances were incredible - I hope the narrators earned many awards. In fact, my other favorite audiobook is The Help, which was also narrated by Jenna Lamia. Go figure!
Amazing story, had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book.

Any additional comments?

Jenna Lamia, you are sooooo talented!!

Excellent Listen

I don't usually review books but this one was a wonderful story well narrated. The characters were well drawn, the storyline fascinating and the narrator did a fine job of bringing it all to life. I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end. Very enjoyable book.

Life changing, stayed with me for a long time

What did you love best about The Invention of Wings?

The fact that it was historical and accurate as well as being a gripping, wrenching story

What did you like best about this story?

All of it!

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The voices were so important to the story

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

The emancipation of the Grimke sisters

Any additional comments?

Much of this is shocking to me, but necessary to know about

Exceptional

The story the prose and the narrator bring light and heart to this book. I'm great full to the author for bringing Sarah Grimke's life to the forefront.

Oh My I Couldn't Stop

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

Yes I would recommend this book. It was enthralling. I couldn't stop listening. The voice changes between the two girls and later women was compelling. Even though I often wanted to cry for, rage for, and scream at the world for these two. I just had to know what was going to happen next.

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

When handful struck back.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This narrator was new to me.

If you could take any character from The Invention of Wings out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Handful. She was the most resilient person.

WONDERFUL...

I enjoyed every minute of this book...great story and I love the voice changes. Bravo.

Wonderful

This is a wonderful story that weaves together a history I had never heard about amazing women during the pre-civil war era. The characters are fashioned after real-life people but are written as well-rounded and dynamic people. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be listening to other books by this author!

This one is destined for greatness!!!!!

The characters were so clear that I felt like I was living the book. The story was very well portrayed and so real. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Inspirational!

This is a fictional story based in history, and is gripping and inspiring! Rich characters being this story to life, with themes of friendship, justice, and equality. This book deserves all acclaims!

Love It All

Would you consider the audio edition of The Invention of Wings to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version but the two narrators absolutely made the story for me.

What did you like best about this story?

It's history about women and their struggles "to be" in an all men's world, in the time they lived, and the prices paid by each.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Who was the most memorable character of The Invention of Wings and why?

Hettie (Handful) Grimke was the most outstanding simply because of her station in life and the narrator made her story more impactful than reading it on paper.

Any additional comments?

Would highly recommend this book and will be following up my history lessons...