September
01
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Boy, I’m late to the party with this one.
The Invention of Wings is everywhere – it has been instagrammed to an inch of it’s life and folk who don’t even like to read are you-tubing their love for it.
It has been patiently waiting by my bed for months but I kept skipping over it and choosing another book. Who knows why. It’s life as a book-lover I guess….too many books, not enough hours, yada yada.
So, is this one worth the hype? You bet.
I. Absolutely. Loved. Every. Single. Line. Of. It! Sue Monk Kidd is a master. But if you have read her most famous book The Secret Life of Bees, you know that already.
This offering is harrowing and beautiful all at once and takes you to the deep south of Charleston, USA in the 1800s where life for both women and slaves is desperately BLEAK. But heroines emerge so keep your pom poms close, along with your tissues, because you will be cheering for these wonderful women as they kick their way forward breaking horrendous barriers, and some hearts, along the way.
The main characters are Sarah Grimke and her maid, Hetty ‘Handful’ Grimke, who Sarah is given for her 11th birthday as a gift. Nina, Sarah’s baby sister arrives shortly after and they form an unlikely trifecta of glorious feminine power-houses who effect extraordinary change, both big and small, far and wide, with their passion and will.
The story stretches from their childhood through to their middle age and each step of it will haunt and humour you, but their heroism and their heart will inspire you. It is a triumphant, sweeping novel based upon real events so expect to be shaken and sickened by the tales of slavery and torture and sexism. It’s grim, I won’t lie.
But when given wings, our heroines soar and so will your heart when you finish this book.
And that is my 2 cents worth.
Talk about a review that makes me want to read the book. Pity I chose two different titles at my visit to Berkelow yesterday – the newest Ian McEwan “The Children Act” and Helen Garner “This House of Grief”. Have given myself to the weekend to review one.
oh I am glad you are reading This House of Grief. I fear my ticker just isn’t up to it DESPITE loving Helen Garner!!! Good luck and can’t wait to hear what you think. Ensure bottle of vino close at hand – or something stiffer.