Reviews: The Invention of Wings (14)

African American slavery and the fight for civil rights seem hot subjects at the moment, last year's film, "Lincoln" and this year's "Twelve Years a Slave" being just two examples. We have also had "The Help", of which this book reminded me in certain areas - we have the (approaching cliche) intelligent, free minded white girl, keen to help the oppressed black servants/slaves, who has to learn the limits to her own freedom and that she is liable to make matters worse for her servant by simply wading in, and the equally intelligent and free minded, but greatly oppressed, black woman who teaches her to consider what it is to be black in the prevailing times.
In this case, the main protagonists are white lawyer's daughter, Sarah Grimke (an actual historical figure), brought up in Charleston in the first half of the nineteenth century, and her (invented) slave, known to the Grimkes as Hetty, but called by her mother and Sarah by her given name, Handful.
Sarah's journey, physical, emotional and intellectual is perhaps greater than Handful's. Appalled from an early age by the casual cruelty with which slaves are treated, she attempts to emancipate 10 year old Handful when she is "given" her as a present for her 11th birthday. This is not permitted and Sarah has to learn the hypocrisy of the white middle classes and that she is also a prisoner of her fate - forbidden to use her brain (she longs to be a lawyer like her father and brothers) and destined only for submission and marriage.
Handful, in turn, learns that even the white people who call themselves her friends can do little to help her situation and that of her rebellious mother, Charlotte. She learns to trick and steal, lie and plot to retain her individuality. The importance to her and her mother of their history is shown in the beautiful quilts Charlotte makes and the recounting of Handful's grandmother's abduction from Africa.
The book covers around 35 years, alternating between each character's story. Sarah eventually escapes her miserable and confined home life, moving to Philadelphia, where she becomes a Quaker and takes her first steps in the fight for abolition of slavery and in independence for herself. She also begins to recognise that abolition is not enough, that there must be true equality between the races and comes to see how her own struggles to be free to do what she chooses with her life need to be fought on the broader stage of freedom for women as well a slaves. This causes more upset to many than the idea of abolition!!
Handful, meanwhile watches her mother suffer, and goes on to experience torments of her own, as well as playing a part in the failed (historical) slave riot in Charleston.
I very much enjoyed following the events of both characters' lives and appreciated the historical notes at the end giving the facts about Sarah Grimke's life. She and her sister, Angelina (who also features in the book) were truly remarkable women and Sue Monk Kidd has created believable and interesting characters for the real life people and for Handful and the other slaves. The narrative was rich and kept me gripped, and I appreciated all the detail I was learning about the period and real historical events, though the latter part of Sarah's life was a little rushed. I shall definitely be looking at the previous bestseller "The Secret Life of Bees" and will be recommending the book to friends, and my teenaged daughters. If you enjoyed "The Help", like historical fiction, strong characters, good writing and a gripping story, this may be the book for you!

On her 11th birthday, Sarah Gimke is presented with the gift of her own personal slave, Hetty - aka ‘Handful’. However, the sparks soon begin to fly when Sarah tries to grant Handful her freedom, against the wishes of her parents. Sarah and Handful forge a friendship that lasts a lifetime, despite the struggles of public opinion, uprising, and the law.

The Invention of Wings has often been compared to Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, and I can see why. The two books touch upon a very similar subject, but The Invention of Wings takes you right back to the height of the plantation era, and highlights the awful practice of slave-ownership through the eyes of both the white slave-owners and the slaves.

At times shocking, at others heartwarming, and always gripping; The Invention of Wings is a book of both beauty and cruelty, friendship and abandonment, and a book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

When I first started reading this book, I didn't realise that it was a book about slavery, not that, that would of stopped me reading it. This book is stunning, beautiful but also shocking. Based on a true story it explores the lives of the slave and the free and the fight for the abolition of slavery. This is the kind of book that even when the last page is reached, the book doesn't leave you, but gives you plenty of food for thought, I would thoroughly recommend.

This novel is about the first two female abolitionists, suffragists and feminists in the USA, Sarah and Angelina Grimke who lived in the 1800s. The novel is written from the point of view of Sarah and a slave known as Hetty to her owners and Handful to the other slaves. Sarah and Angelina are born in the South and as they grow see the evils of slavery but also see the inequalities between men and women, blacks and whites.

Hetty's story is one of survival in a cruel world that is set against her. Her mother ends up being kidnapped and years later returns. Hetty's story is largely fictional but is based on true experiences of slaves and the risks they took over such minor and major things. Hetty's story is heart breaking and Sarah is frustrated at how little she can do to help Hetty.

The story also highlights how varied the abolition movement was: some people thought slavery was wrong but still believed in white supremacy and racial segregation. Others believed that slavery was wrong but men were superior to women who should stay at home to "love, honour and obey" their husbands.

I would recommend this novel to everyone, I could not put this book down.

This was an absolutely brilliant book that I loved from beginning to end! Based on the life of sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimké and their fight for the abolition of the slave trade in nineteenth-century America and intertwined with the fictional account of the life of Hetty ‘Handful’, a slave in the Grimké household, this was a thought-provoking and touching story of inter-racial friendship and female strength in a society that condemned both.

Being presented with Hetty, complete with a lilac ribbon around her neck, as her present for her eleventh birthday was a pivotal moment in Sarah’s life and one of the founding events in the formation of her abolitionist ideals. Her inability to give Hetty back or set her free, which would have been even better, leaves Sarah feeling frustrated and ineffectual and leads her to deliberately flout the law and teach Hetty to read. The relationship that develops between Sarah and Hetty when they are younger, as well as Sarah’s attempts to break out of the traditional roles society reserved for women of the era, inspires Angelina to take up the cause with even more passion than her sister.

This was a wonderfully written and thoroughly engaging novel that I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in this period of history, or just looking for a stimulating read.

A beautifully told story, The Invention of Wings explores the lives of two girls growing up in early-nineteenth century America. One, Handful, is a household slave, the other, Sarah Grimke, is the wealthy daughter of a prominent family, who refuses to accept the customs of slavery. Through the personal hardships and struggles of these marginalised women, the author highlights the social injustices of the time, and provides the reader with two narratives, two voices, which intertwine to form this gripping and heart-wrenching tale of human freedom. Would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction – a great read.

Sarah is the daughter of a rich plantation owner, she’s grown up surrounded by slaves but even at the young age of eleven she detests the practise. Handful is ten, she’s grown up in Sarah’s household and has seen the most brutal side of life. Handful is given to Sarah on her eleventh birthday and here begins a tale of a lifelong friendship that grows against the odds and breaks the barriers.

I have a weakness for books on the subject of slavery and racism, I find them both fascinating and heartbreaking. This book was a compelling read and one I enjoyed. It illustrated the power of the human spirit and the power of friendship. Each chapter switches from both girl’s points of view, you get a true sense of how different their lives are and what risks they take in their every day lives.
These girl’s are strong, determined and rebellious. They both want to break their chains and that common ground is the foundation of a beautiful relationship. They both crave freedom and I found myself championing them both as they triumph and being saddened at their loses.

The book is based on real people - Sarah Grimke and her little sister, Nina, were pioneers for slave abolition and Sue Monk Kidd has blended true life and fiction superbly to create a believable, enthralling read. The writing is beautiful, the sights, scents and sounds just come alive as you read Sarah and Handful’s story. I became utterly immersed in this tale and struggled to put it down.
Powerful, moving, fascinating and inspiring.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is a remarkable historical novel. The book starts out in February of 1805 in Charleston, South Carolina. Hetty Handful Grimke is ten years old and a slave in the Grimke household. Her mother is Charlotte and the seamstress of the house. Sarah Moore Grimke is turning eleven years old and is leaving the nursery. She is finally getting her own room and her mother is giving her a “waiting maid” as a present. Handful (as Sarah calls her) is Sarah’s new maid. Sarah is against slavery and does not want to own a slave. She tries to refuse, but her mother will not back down. Sarah is very intelligent. She loves to read and learn (not what she is taught at the girl’s school, but what her older brother teaches her). Her father has reluctantly given her access to his library (she loves to read books on mythology, law, history). Sarah is a very unusual girl for her time. Sarah’s draft up manumission paper for Hetty, but her parents destroy them.

Sarah rebels by teaching Hetty to read. They get up to 100 words before they are discovered. Sarah no longer has access to the library and Hetty gets the whip. Hetty’s mother, Charlotte, is always pushing the boundaries. She steals small items (and usually no one notices), she found a way to sell her sewing work (since the missus would not give permission) and earn money, and is dallying with a free black man in town (when she is supposed to be buying material). Is she setting the right example for Hetty?

Sarah at one point gives her ownership of Hetty back to her parents. Hetty then becomes the assistant seamstress in the house and turns out to be even better than her mother. Sarah spends a lot of her time helping to raising Angelina or Nina. Sarah had requested to be the child’s godmother (which she got despite her mother’s misgivings). Sarah raises Nina in her image (strong, determined, rebellious, and very intelligent). When Sarah’s father becomes very ill, Sarah takes him up north to see a specialist (her mother wanted her out of the house). Sarah gets to experience a different way of life and likes it. After her father dies, Sarah delays returning home as long as she can.

When Sarah returns home, she is not happy. She finds her way to a Quaker settlement in the north (where she does not quite fit in). Sarah is determined to find a way for her voice to be heard. The book tells of how Sarah as well as Nina fight for abolishment of slavery as well as rights for women. We get to see how Hetty rebels in her own way as she grows up. The Invention of Wings is a complex novel, but very enjoyable. I was not sure I would like this book and I ended up riveted. I give The Invention of Wings 4.5 out of 5 stars. Please be aware that there are some scenes that go into detail on slave punishments (especially the one involving a rope and a foot). The Invention of Wings is a well-written and deeply moving novel. I will definitely be reading more books by Sue Monk Kidd.

I received a complimentary copy of The Invention of Wings from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

Set in early 19th century Charleston, Sue Monk Kidd's latest novel is the story of two women from very different backgrounds. On her eleventh birthday Sarah Grimke, daughter of a wealthy judge, is gifted ownership of ten year old Hetty “Handful” Grimke, a slave who will act as her handmaid. Both young girls have many dreams and aspirations but these are thwarted by social convention in Sarah's case and the brutal reality of enslavement for Handful. Indeed, Handful points out that her slavery is that of the body whilst Sarah is held captive by her own mind.

Narrated in turn by Sarah and Handful, the story paints a realistic picture of the deep South where anyone speaking out against slavery is ostracised. Sarah has had a privileged background but she's an intelligent woman who wants more than needlepoint and a socially acceptable match. As a teenager she sees how her brothers' horizons expand whilst her prospects become limited. Meanwhile Handful is raised by a strong mother, Charlotte, who advocates quiet rebellion and unlocks the possibility of freedom for her daughter.

Spanning 35 years, this novel is loosely based on the life of Sarah Grimke and her sister Angelina who were the first female abolitionists and feminist thinkers in the United States. The parallel stories of Sarah and Handful provide an intriguing insight into the racism, misogynism and inequality which pervaded the Southern States during this era. The voices of Sarah and Handful are very convincing as is the depiction of the claustrophobic life of the landed gentry and the daily brutality of life for slaves.

This is a very readable, thought-provoking story which packs a slightly stronger punch than the author's first novel The Secret Life of Bees.

The Invention of Wings is an interesting and heartfelt story set in the early 19th century. The book is based on the real lives of Sarah and Angelina Grimké who were women’s rights and abolition campaigners. The story is well written, stimulating and tragic, but the pace is a little slow in places. The book flicks between the harsh realities of slavery and the circumstances of the main characters private lives. This produces a mixture of personal struggles, tragic events and emotional outpourings reminiscent of the classic book ‘Little Women’ by Lousia May Alcott. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who are interested in historical and emotive fiction.
At the end of the book Sue Monk Kidd explains her inspiration for the idea and also outlines the differences between her story and what is known about the Grimké sisters, which makes very interesting additional reading.

I found this book gripping, and loved the fact that it became obvious that it was based on historical fact. Two girls grow up in the same house, but in parallel worlds: one in comfortable, white Charleston and the other in harsh, black slavery. However, they are both in bondage - as Handful says to Sarah, "My body might be a slave, but not my mind. For you, it's the other way round." and it takes Sarah a while to realise the extent of her conditioning - "I saw then what I hadn't seen before, that I was very good at despising slavery in the abstract, in the removed and anonymous masses, but in the concrete, intimate flesh of the girl beside me, I'd lost the ability to be repulsed by it. I'd grown comfortable with the particulars of evil." - a challenge for us still today.

The story tracks their lives and their attempts to 'invent wings' to escape their predicaments. It is not an unusual metaphor but Sue Monk Kidd weaves it cleverly into the story, developing and exploring it through the lives of these two and also through Handful's mother, Charlotte, who sews a story quilt, partly as a means of escape.

What I particularly liked was Sue Monk Kidd's ability to weave a really good story around the true historical backcloth of emerging black emancipation in America in the 1800s. People recorded in history books become characters who are alive and empathic. I couldn't decide who I admired more, Handful or Sarah. It made me want to revisit Washington DC just to see the slave quilts in the National Museum of American History.

Beautiful in it's execution, yet shocking in it's subject matter this is a novel whose characters come alive from the page and stay with you after the book is finished. Entwining real people and real situations with a writer's imagination we are shown a world which at times is hard to comprehend in it's cruelty and yet filled with the hope and the knowledge that a better world will come. I loved this book and felt a genuine sense of sadness at leaving the characters behind. Highly recommended