Sam - Audible

Just moments after hitting “play” on The Invention of Wings, I knew I was about to experience something special. I was perhaps not as familiar with the writing of Sue Monk Kidd as some of my fellow editors, but I decided to listen upon hearing their praise for this novel. And my interest was piqued even more when I learned that the character of Sarah was based on the real-life Sarah Grimke, an abolitionist and early feminist. What I discovered was a beautiful, complex tale of morality, loyalty, and the ever-enduring desire for liberty. Kidd’s writing is full of complex, poignant phrases and detailed scenery that often took me by surprise, forcing me to pause and allow myself to sit with the words a moment longer. After listening, I can’t imagine experiencing this story any other way than through the voices of talented narrators Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye, who brought Sarah and Handful (among other characters) to life with such perfect emotion. I believe listeners will be talking about this book for years to come - I know I will!

When I read Oryx and Crake, I was so delighted and impressed by Atwood's creative storytelling that I was actually nervous to move on to the next title in the series. I'm glad I finally took the plunge in audiobook format. The performances of these three narrators bring a captivating kind of realism to the story and the characters they portray. While I think Oryx and Crake is still my favorite of the two, I loved getting to further explore this frightening universe through the eyes of Ren & Toby. I look forward to finishing this series with MaddAddam!