Notes from March 2015 group

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - Discussed on Wed March 4, 2015 at Geneseo Public Library

 

                                                                                          

The Invention of Wings is a historical novel by Sue Monk Kidd. The story is a fictionalized account of the life of abolitionist Sarah Grimke, her sister Nina, and their family slave named Handful. Sarah lives in Charleston, South Carolina. As a four year-old, she witnesses the brutality of slave punishment. The event scars her emotionally and physically, as she develops a stutter while speaking. At eleven years old, Sarah is given a slave named Handful, who is ten. Sarah doesn’t want Handful, but there is nothing she can do. Over time, the two girls bond and share a friendship in secret between them. As Sarah gets older, she becomes more and more outspoken in her opposition to slavery, and Handful seeks ways to either buy her freedom or escape. She becomes part of a planned slave uprising, but some of the slaves tip off the city of Charleston, which crushes the revolt before it even begins. Handful settles back into slavery, looking for her chance for freedom. Sarah and her younger sister Nina become vocal leaders of the abolitionist and women’s rights movements, writing pamphlets for both causes. As a result, they are banned from Charleston. Nevertheless, Sarah journeys to Charleston to help Handful and her sister Sky escape to freedom.

We found this book very information.  It was easy to read and well written from two different points of view – the white plantation owner’s daughter and her black slave girl.  This was a historical fiction but based on real people and facts on salvery and women’s rights.  This story generated much discussion.  Everyone in our group liked this book.