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The Invention of Wings

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The Invention of Wings

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

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 Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Technology

Editorial 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.
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I enjoyed listening to this reading. It was narrated by two great readers, who brought the diary entries to life.
It was interesting to listen and learn about some of the first women who were brave enough to speak out about slavery and women's rights.
A great listen...

The era of slavery

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I loved this story and to find out some of the details came from real life was wonderful.

Loved it.

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I just loved this book! Sue Monk Kidd’s writing is mesmerising, full of evocative imagery and captivating characters who take your breath away. The two narrators for this audio version were fabulous, and inhabited the characters of Sarah and her slave, Hetty Handful, with conviction and love. A wonderful read and a great book to listen to 💗

Brilliant and moving reworking of the story of the Grimke sisters and the anti-slavery movement they took as their own.

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Sue Monk Kidd has become my favourite author. Her writing captures the lives of her characters beautifully. i look forward to her next novel.

The Invention of Wings

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Good, believable readings and an enjoyable story. Thoroughly entertaining. Love that it was based on truth.

Very enjoyable

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Easy to listen to. All the more interesting when you know the two sisters were based on real people.

Enjoyed it

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What made the experience of listening to The Invention of Wings the most enjoyable?

The narration was wonderful, possibly the best I have heard.

If you’ve listened to books by Sue Monk Kidd before, how does this one compare?

This was my first book of Sue,s

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

They made the characters come alive

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

Both...it was awesome, confronting but also gentle.

The invention of wings

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I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the book The Help.
I liked learning at the end it was based on facts.
The narration is great and engaging.

Fantastic story and great narration

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Sue Monk Kidd is now one of my love top 3 authors of all time.

Epic wirh delicious words.

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Loved this book. Excellent reading and it inspired me to research more historical women figures!

amazing mixture of fact and fiction

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