The Book of Longings - Sue Monk Kidd

63%

26.04.26

This was well researched and compelling with a great two-word hook - Jesus's wife! - but I wondered at the choice of exiling her while he was doing all the messiah stuff. Then I realised that it was really about the first-century female experience and the biblical Easter eggs (ha!) were just for decoration.

The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd

62%
01.02.15

We're asked to believe that the 11-year-old daughter of a slave owner, brought up in that strict culture with no outside influences, is an abolitionist. A modern mind in an historical body doesn't quite ring true, and many of the characters are ciphers. But get past that and it's an engaging, if rather educational, story of a shameful past, certainly better than Monk Kidd's previous novel.

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

41%
29.05.07




The only plus points are for good intentions. It's certainly well meaning but is two dimensional throughout. The plot makes no sense, and the sentimental characters unrealistic - like a novice attempt at the creative writing class. My reading group all felt the same and this book has become a sort of measure of our group's independent opinions.