The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I finished reading Sue Monk Kidd's latest novel The Invention of Wings last night. I really loved this book, a historical fiction novel based on two real women, Sarah and Angelina Grimke. The Grimke women were sisters born in Charleston in the early part of the 1800s. Their family had slaves but the girls were opposed to slavery and as adults were some of the first vocal opponents of owning slaves.

Much of the book was made up but Kidd used historical records, letters, and documents that she interspersed in the novel to make it come to life. If you love a good story that you can research later and read more about, don't miss The Invention of Wings.

To read more about these women who really were rebels especially in the times in which they lived, visit the National Women's History Museum website.

Book Read:  The Invention of Wings

Author:  Sue Monk Kidd

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

Well, I have mixed feelings about The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell. I really enjoyed this period book set in the mid 1920s. I think the author did a good job of researching the era and brought to life the period. 

The story was good -- Rose, a woman who was an orphan under some weird circumstances -- goes to secretarial school and becomes a typist for the New York police department. Another typist joins the force and Odalie brings with her another world for Rose.

It was the ending that really made me go "huh?" I don't like to give away endings or even too much about a book but this is worth a read. I'd be curious what you think about it. The whole thing. But especially the ending. 

Author:  Suzanne Rindell

Book:  The Other Typist

Frog Music by Emma Donoghue

I started reading another book after I finished Big Brother by Lionel Shriver, but I couldn't finish it. So I started reading Frog Music by Emma Donoghue. Much better!

I liked this book but didn't totally love it. The writing was good, the story was good, but the way it flip flopped back and forth in a month or so time frame made it a tad hard to follow for me for some reason. This novel is based on the true story of a murder that happened near San Francisco in 1876. 

One thing I really found interesting was the use of the term "below job" for you know what. Very interesting. It is below, so it makes sense, I guess!

Author:  Emma Donoghue
Book Read:  Frog Music