The Invention of Wings

“There’s a frightful muteness that dwells at the center of all unspeakable things.”

3.5/5⭐

When I finished the last page of this book, I was already reaching for my phone to look up, “How much of The Invention of Wings really happened.”

Then I saw the author’s note. It answered all the questions I was wondering about, straight from the author’s mouth. Sue Monk Kidd walks the reader through her research process, exactly what is true and what isn’t, and her reasonings behind her creative decisions.

Every historical fiction novel (and “based on a true story” movie for that matter) should have an author’s note like this book had.

Genuinely my favorite part.

The story itself had beautiful prose (although clunky dialogue at times), and an interesting two perspective style, contrasting a wealthy early 1800s member of the Grimke family, Sarah, with one of the slaves, Handful.

Sarah’s story illustrated the slow development of radical ideas. Her struggle to truly commit to her beliefs (abolitionism and feminism) felt extremely human and made for a satisfying character arch. Although, I wish there was more emphasis on the second half of her life—when she wrote and did the things for which she is now famous—and less on her childhood.

Handful, on the other hand, was the heart of the novel. Her story was more poignant, more heartbreaking, and more engaging. She constantly struggled with the question of what it means to live, and what it means to simply survive. To live, to make a life of her own, brought extreme consequences, but the alternative was unbearable.

Handful’s mother was maybe the most interesting character. She refused to be anything but her own. This inspired and terrified Handful. Their conversations, their love for each other, and their occasional anger at each other brought this book to its greatest heights.

Some underline-worthy quotes:

“I’d grown comfortable with the particulars of evil.”

“Everything she knew came from living on the scarce side of mercy.”

“I’d chosen the regret I could live with best.”