The Invention of Wings
A Novel
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The Invention of Wings
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Narrated by:
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Jenna Lamia
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Adepero Oduye
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Sue Monk Kidd
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Written by:
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Sue Monk Kidd
About this listen
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 AudioYou may also enjoy...
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 198
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 171
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 170
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5 out of 5 stars
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 468
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 400
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 399
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5 out of 5 stars
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Breathtakingly rich, nuanced and interesting
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The Mermaid Chair
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- Narrated by: Eliza Foss
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 10
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
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Story4 out of 5 stars 8
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2 out of 5 stars
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The story was boring
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Written by: Sue Monk Kidd
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Stay with Me
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- Written by: Ayobami Adebayo
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 50
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 42
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
Yejide and Akin have been married since they met and fell in love at university. Though many expected Akin to take several wives, he and Yejide have always agreed: Polygamy is not for them. But four years into their marriage - after consulting fertility doctors and healers, trying strange teas and unlikely cures - Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time - until her family arrives on her doorstep with a young woman they introduce as Akin's second wife.
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5 out of 5 stars
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TERRIBLE NARRATOR
- By Thina on 2020-11-04
Written by: Ayobami Adebayo
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The Only Woman in the Room
- Written by: Marie Benedict
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 51
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Story4 out of 5 stars 43
Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.
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5 out of 5 stars
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One amazing woman
- By L. Fullerton on 2021-06-22
Written by: Marie Benedict
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The Sweetness of Water (Oprah’s Book Club)
- A Novel
- Written by: Nathan Harris
- Narrated by: William DeMeritt
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 75
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 75
In the waning days of the Civil War, brothers Prentiss and Landry—freed by the Emancipation Proclamation—seek refuge on the homestead of George Walker and his wife, Isabelle. The Walkers, wracked by the loss of their only son to the war, hire the brothers to work their farm. Prentiss and Landry, meanwhile, plan to save money for the journey north and a chance to reunite with their mother, who was sold away when they were boys. Equal parts beauty and terror, The Sweetness of Water is an epic whose grandeur locates humanity and love amid the most harrowing circumstances.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Too Slow - Too descriptive
- By Jaime Larre on 2021-08-31
Written by: Nathan Harris
What the critics say
“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)
What listeners say about The Invention of Wings
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-06-10
It was a nice story
The only reason why I give the story itself Three stars is because I wish that Sarah could’ve achieved her dreams and I would’ve liked to read about handful being settled and free. Plus I wish that handful. Plus I wish Sarah would’ve stayed close handful even though nina was close to Sarah
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- candice
- 2022-06-06
Spectacular Book
I so enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees, so was looking forward to this book. It was as good as, if not even better, absolutely beautiful. The characters were based on real people and events that actually happened, along which the author’s brilliant imagination… woven together in a bittersweet story with characters I will miss in my daily read ! The narration by 2 different actors of the 2 main characters added to the depth of this audible version of this story. 5 stars all the way.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jenna Wright
- 2018-06-30
Best Audiobook I’ve Enjoyed Yet!
This story was completely captivating and the two narrators were exceptional. I was sad to have it end.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M.S.
- 2020-08-20
Interesting book
The story follows two main characters from the childhood to adulthood in the time when not too many people had questioning the slavery in the South. The book was inspired by the life of the Grimke’s sisters from the early nineteenth century and their quest for freedom not just to free the slaves but also to lift the limits imposed on the girls and women even from the wealthy families. Many people are not aware of the struggle for freedom of the historical figure of Sarah and Angelina Grimke.
Inspired story.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo-Anne
- 2022-07-01
Excellent in every way.
Excellent, educational, inspirational,
compelling story of little known and fascinating historical women. The narrator’s voices perfectly set the tone and characters.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jennifer j.
- 2020-07-23
Jennifer. Jamieson
Enjoyable story of two sisters who fought against slavery, fought for equal rights for women and the right to vote.It is fascinating to go back in history and be grateful today for rights we take for granted
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sharron padden
- 2021-08-31
The Invention of Wings
A very comprehensive book about the African American and women’s fight for equality in America. The characters are gripping and the narration are excellent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Breck MacLellan
- 2020-08-05
phenomenal
Wow! This book was fantastic, all around. I could not stop listening. Many reviews made comments about the performance, but truthfully I found the performance to be almost as wonderful as the story.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SME
- 2018-01-23
Fantastic historical Novel
Great character development, you get involved with each character. You will have trouble putting this book down. The history of the slaves and slave owners and the importance of quilts to the slaves is fascinating and the development of the women involved in the movement to free slaves is great. #Audible1
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- nat
- 2023-08-31
Wonderful!
Such a rich and moving story, I liked that it was in pieces, based on historical events and people. The story ended too soon. This is the second book I have read by Sue Monk, and am very impressed. Well done!
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