The Invention of Wings - September book club

A good read, inspired by real historical characters, it recounts extraordinary struggles for freedom. Set in South Carolina in the early 19th century this powerful novel tells the story of four women from Charleston, Sarah and Angelina Grimké, two sisters from a prosperous white family and Hetty and Charlotte, a black mother and daughter who are the house slaves. They all share an ardent desire to break free but for different reasons. Through their eyes we are shown a long and painful voyage.

Apologies for the late review. Have been a very busy Nana and reading a low priority.
I loved the book, so much that I have recommended it to several friends.
I liked the style in which it was written, with the chapters relating the story through the eyes of the two main characters. Totally believable and then like other readers discovered the book was based on facts.

I took this book on holiday with me last week and it was the best book iv read for a long time, at times I was late getting ready to go out as I couldn't put it down. Iv now passed it on to my friend and hope she enjoys it as much as I did x

I actually wrote a review on my blog if I am allowed to post a link here. I really loved it and urge you all to read Sue Monk Kidds other two books- The Mermaids Chair and The Secret Life of Bees.

I was so pleased to receive one of the free books - thank you. It arrived while I was away on holiday and I haven't managed to read it yet. Have been wanting to start it and I think today might be the day The weather has turned and this is the first chance I've had to spend an afternoon with coffee and a book.
Looking forward to it.
Thank you again

The most powerful book I've read in a long time.

I loved this book and found the parallels between Sarah and Hetty fascinating. It was beautifully written, harrowing in parts and a little rushed at times but I would definitely recommend this book. It certainly stayed with me long after I finished it.

Apologies for late review, life has a way of getting in the way at times.

Thanks for this interview. What an eloquent and gracious woman. Very good questions too. I loved this book and it was good to hear what Sue had to say about it, and see her too!

It was wonderful to see the youtube and have the author answering
our questions. I hope she realized how much we all enjoyed her wonderful
book and I would like to thank her very much.

I agree grandma H great to hear your very own question being answered, and she answered mine very interestingly.

I didn't get on to the youtube thing as quickly if I would have, had I skimmed written replies. Took me until now to get to it.

Fascinating to actually see Sue answer my question- I do hope you can do this again some time with other authors

I was fortunate to win this wonderful book and was completely absorbed by it. Not sure at first re the subject but what a journey, so well written and such characters. How two such different young girls intertwined their lives for good and bad. It is a story that will stay in my mind for a long time, and well worth a read.

What a harrowing book, but so well written. There were times I found it hard to continue but it was worth it. As others have said, the notes at the end were useful and put it all in to context.

Thank you for my copy of The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. This is fascinating historical fiction based on the real-life abolitionist Grimke sisters. I knew nothing about them before reading this book. The end notes notes were also really helpful in explaining exactly what was fact and what was fiction. It was un-put-downable! Masterfully researched and beautifully written.

Just finished the book tonight. I can only echo what everyone else has said. This is a book that will stay in my mind for a long time. Thank you Gransnet

I know it's too late now for questions. I just wanted to add to my earlier post - I loved this fascinating and emotional read (only just finished reading it, was savouring every word). Thank you so much Sue Monk Kidd for making the stories of all these women come to life so expertly.

I finished this book late last night and found that any questions I had were answered in the Q & A at the back of the book. I thought it was very well researched and the author managed to captured something of the zeitgeist of that particular time.
I went to sleep deeply saddened that we are now in 2014 and people are still being bought and sold as slaves. This morning I'm wondering if anyone else who read the book and was stirred up by the content has been prompted to find out more about modern day slavery so that they can become active opponents, as the Grimké sisters were.
www.antislavery.org/english/what_you_can_do/default.aspx
hopeforjustice.org/human-trafficking/
www.stopthetraffik.org/

So many unforgettable stories! The Invention of Wings flies into your mind and the intertwining of Handful's and Sarah's lives takes over. I could hardly put the book down once I got into it but some of the scenes are shocking and harrowing as well as heart-warming and touching. Time passes a little too quickly for my liking and some of the events do seem rushed. I only wish I had been taught about the Grimke sisters and the fight for abolition in my history lessons at school instead of about the Romans and medieval villages, it would have been exciting and inspiring. I am left with a horror of the brutality of slavery and an admiration for the resilience and humanity of those who endured it and those who fought against it.

I've been recommending it to everyone and intend to get it for our book group as soon as Cheshire Libraries have enough copies for us.

I finally finished this a couple of days ago & must say I loved it - it's funny how we hear of the male anti-slavery protesters but not the Grimke sisters.

A great read , really enjoyed reading it. I was surprised that it was written around a real character, such a intresting book.

Thank you for my copy of the book. Just finished reading it and really enjoyed it. When I got to the end and found out that much of it was based on fact - I liked it all the more! A fascinating and interesting read which I have passed to a friend to take on her holiday. Told her I want it returned though as I am sure I will read it again and look at the story rather differently now knowing much of it is 'real'. A good book and certainly recommended.

I saved this book to take away with me and read in our campervan. I had read a review and knew that it was based upon real people, though I have been careful to resist the temptation to google to try and find out more about the background as it would spoil the story.

It was very well written and really drew me in to the lives of Hetty & Sarah, though I found it a difficult read in some respects - I had to put it down a few times and do something else, as with the film Twelve Years A Slave which was sometimes so uncomforable to watch that I had to look away from the screen. Man's inhumanity to man can be unbearable even at such a distance.

I shall certainly be looking out for Sue Monk Kidd's other books.