Sue Monk Kidd

[Lily]

Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings is certainly worthy of a read if you haven't already. It fictionalizes the biography of an early and prolific abolitionist writer and her sister, with a parallel (imagined) slave story. The subjects were inspired by the feminist Judy Chicago installation of "The Dinner Party" at the Brooklyn Museum -- one of the inscribed tiles led Kidd to the story of the Grimké sisters. Do not let its selection by Oprah deter you from this good read that partially reclaims a bit of almost lost (feminine) history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Monk...

http://suemonkkidd.com/

[Connie]

Lily wrote: "Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings is certainly worthy of a read if you haven't already. It fictionalizes the biography of an early and prolific abolitionist writ..."

Lily, The Invention of Wings was one of my favorite books of 2014 with its issues of slavery and women's rights. I especially liked her imagined voice of the young slave girl. I read the book twice, once when it was first published and again for a library book group.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lily]

Connie wrote: "...I especially liked her imagined voice of the young slave girl...."

I liked that, too, Connie, but my especial preference here was for the surprising (for me) true-life story of the Grimke sisters that has so sadly largely disappeared from history.

It was fascinating to hear you prefer the imagined story to the historic one, which was as mine was for Llosa's The Feast of the Goat, i.e., in that book I responded more strongly to the imagined plot line than to the one tracking documented and recorded events.

As for you, TIoW was a favorite book of mine in 2014. My f2f book club used it with also favorable reactions. The background story has inspired me to want to visit the Judy Chicago installation, which I had read about with its considerable controversy when created (opening display in San Francisco in 1979).

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/...

[Connie]

I've looked through "The Dinner Party" web page before when I was researching some heroines or strong females for a "lifelong learning fun class." It certainly looks wonderful. I was unaware of some of the women that she spotlighted.

In her interview Kidd said that it was more difficult to write the parts about the real Grimke sisters (since their writings were rather dry) and keep it engaging for the reader. She could let her imagination soar when writing about Handfull. I felt she succeeded with both the Grimkes and the slaves.

[Lily]

Connie wrote: "I felt she succeeded with both the Grimkes and the slaves...."

Agreed. I was deeply moved by the mother-daughter relationship of Mauma and Handful; also, the relationship of Handful and Sarah; and by the tortuous punishment Handful received. I liked the quilt story.

[Tammy]

The Secret Life of Bees

[Lily]

Tammy wrote: "The Secret Life of Bees"

Any thoughts about it? Read it years ago under the leadership of a skilled pastor leader. A touching story, but that is about the extent of my recollection at this point. Certainly played with racial barriers in relationships from numerous perspectives.