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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Invention of Wings is one of the best fiction books that I have read in a long time. In fact, I think it’s one of the best fiction books that I have ever read.
The story alternates perspectives between that of Handful, a slave, and that of Sarah, the slave-masters daughter. Along with the stories of those two girls, the reader also is exposed to stories of other slaves, stories of Sarah’s family, and stories of the abolitionist movement, all through the eyes of two women.
The story itself is fantastic. The Invention of Wings is a powerful story that gives a human element to the tales of slavery and the abolitionist movement. This is definitely one of the better books that I have ever read about slavery. While there isn’t much too much action within the plot of this book, what there is instead is real-life trials and challenges for the characters to face, regardless of whether they are held captive by slavery or just by their own mind.
The characters in this book were all exceptional. Handful, especially, was a remarkably dynamic character and I loved reading the chapters that were from her perspective. All of the characters seemed realistic and it was easy to imagine them as actual people. Their reactions to the situations they were faced with, while not always what I wanted them to do, were exactly what I would expect a normal person to do.
The characters also showed remarkable growth throughout the story. Growth in characters was always something that teachers talked about in school but I never understood or read an example of until I read this book. Each of the main characters in this book grew in some manner, whether it was just expanding on traits they already had or finally moving away from the traditional role, each character greatly moved forward.
The writing in this book was absolutely wonderful. The author does a fantastic job of writing descriptive phrases throughout the book. It was so easy to visualize what the characters were seeing and what they were talking about that I almost felt as if I were watching the story rather than reading it. Also, her tone of writing for each of the characters completely matched what I would expect the character to sound like if they were telling the story, making this book a true joy to read.
This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming book about friendship and strength through slavery. I would also recommend this book if you’re looking for a fantastic fiction read, this is definitely one of the standout books of the year.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
The story alternates perspectives between that of Handful, a slave, and that of Sarah, the slave-masters daughter. Along with the stories of those two girls, the reader also is exposed to stories of other slaves, stories of Sarah’s family, and stories of the abolitionist movement, all through the eyes of two women.
The story itself is fantastic. The Invention of Wings is a powerful story that gives a human element to the tales of slavery and the abolitionist movement. This is definitely one of the better books that I have ever read about slavery. While there isn’t much too much action within the plot of this book, what there is instead is real-life trials and challenges for the characters to face, regardless of whether they are held captive by slavery or just by their own mind.
The characters in this book were all exceptional. Handful, especially, was a remarkably dynamic character and I loved reading the chapters that were from her perspective. All of the characters seemed realistic and it was easy to imagine them as actual people. Their reactions to the situations they were faced with, while not always what I wanted them to do, were exactly what I would expect a normal person to do.
The characters also showed remarkable growth throughout the story. Growth in characters was always something that teachers talked about in school but I never understood or read an example of until I read this book. Each of the main characters in this book grew in some manner, whether it was just expanding on traits they already had or finally moving away from the traditional role, each character greatly moved forward.
The writing in this book was absolutely wonderful. The author does a fantastic job of writing descriptive phrases throughout the book. It was so easy to visualize what the characters were seeing and what they were talking about that I almost felt as if I were watching the story rather than reading it. Also, her tone of writing for each of the characters completely matched what I would expect the character to sound like if they were telling the story, making this book a true joy to read.
This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming book about friendship and strength through slavery. I would also recommend this book if you’re looking for a fantastic fiction read, this is definitely one of the standout books of the year.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A good book, but not an amazingly-fantastic book. Yes, the premise intrigued me: a Southern girl in the first part of the 1800's is given a slave girl of a the same age for her 11th birthday, and she struggles to deal with the very nature of owning another person. The "gifted" girl has, of course, (bigger?) struggles of her own, but must deal with them on a level that is much more personal and fundamental to basic survival.
There is something about SMK's writing, though, that doesn't feel true all the way through the story. I felt it while reading "The Mermaid Chair" -- in both books, there are moments (mostly while her characters are dealing with potential mates or love interests) that fell flat. On the flip side, SMK did a remarkable job of depicting a believable, strong, desperate sense of slavery in the South at that time -- worth the fourth star for me.
There is something about SMK's writing, though, that doesn't feel true all the way through the story. I felt it while reading "The Mermaid Chair" -- in both books, there are moments (mostly while her characters are dealing with potential mates or love interests) that fell flat. On the flip side, SMK did a remarkable job of depicting a believable, strong, desperate sense of slavery in the South at that time -- worth the fourth star for me.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started this book because on of the book clubs is reading it. I didn't read the jacket, had no idea what it was about, and I didn't know it was based off of real people. I had an inkling and Googled Denmark Vesey. Soon, I was going back and forth from the Internet to the book in order to read about these real people that were coming to vivid life in the page. Well done Ms. Kidd.