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The Invention of Wings

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The Invention of Wings

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Adepero Oduye, Jenna Lamia
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About this listen

 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 bestseller.

From the celebrated author of the international bestseller 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.

(P)2014 Headline Digital©2014 Sue Monk Kidd African American Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction United States World Literature Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Technology
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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.

I could have listened to this all day

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Just brilliant and gripping. I don't have a particularly good knowledge of American history and this was a wonderful way of learning more about the abolition movement and the Grimke sisters, who I'd never heard of before.

Loved it

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Absolutely brilliant book, well read, gripping. I loved it and could not put it down

Fascinating story

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One of the top top top books I have listened to on audible!

Not only is this a captivating and moving story, but it is also based closely on true events. Being told through the voices of the two protagonists, each on the opposite sides of power during the time of Slavery, this book has a role to play in addressing the legacy of slavery and its meaning in contemporary life, by confronting the reader truthfully with the history and its implications.

Furthermore, I particularly enjoyed the reading which has brought to life the characters, cultural differences as well as the context. I believe this book to be even more poignant as an audio book than a self read.

A moving story beautifully read

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What did you like most about The Invention of Wings?

the contrast between Sarah and Handfuls lives.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sarah and Handful

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

They read the story superbly, they brought the book to life. I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much if it hadn't been read to me. Will search out other books they have narrated.

Wondeful story tellers

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