The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

 I enjoy this author, and I was intrigued by the title, so I picked this up at Deseret Industries one day when I was waiting for Len. It is very depressing on the one hand, in the graphic way it illustrates the life of southern slaves in the early 1800's. It also depicts slave owners' lives, and women, in particular, had little freedom either. I almost gave up on it several times as it was so depressing. However, I was in Napa, and didn't have anything else at hand, and began to really enjoy the story.

I like that the two Grimke sisters were real heroes in a very closed time. I enjoyed learning more of their possible back story. I especially enjoyed Handful's life, and the courage her mother displayed. The ways slaves quietly rebelled was interesting to read. The limits of both women's lives was amazing; how they broke out took unbelievable courage. These women really inspired me, even though much of the story is fictionalized. It felt possible. It felt like it could have happened this way. I appreciate Kidd's imagination, especially the way Handful's mother told her story through a story quilt.