Sue Monk Kidd Knihy

Sarah Grimkéová, dievča z významnej rodiny, oplýva nenásytným intelektom a buričskými názormi. Od útleho veku tuší, že je predurčená na niečo veľké, no bránia jej v tom konvencie obmedzujúce ženy na začiatku 19. storočia. Na svoje jedenáste narodeniny v roku 1803 dostane od rodičov do vlastníctva čiernu slúžku Hetty zvanú Hŕstka. Sarah sa otroctvo protiví a Hŕstku by najradšej vrátila, darovala jej slobodu, no také čosi je v tých časoch nemysliteľné. „Otroctvo je náš životný štýl,“ hovorievala jej mama, „zmier sa s tým.“ Osudy Hŕstky a Sarah Grimkéovej sa tak navždy spoja a my sledujeme tridsaťpäť rokov ich života zasvätených túžbe po slobode a spravodlivosti. Zničené nádeje, zradu, neopätovanú lásku a spoločenské vyhostenie, to všetko musí Sarah pretrpieť, kým si nenájde miesto po boku svojej nebojácnej mladšej sestry Angeliny, bojovníčky za zrušenie otroctva a ženské práva. Ich odhodlanie preslávi sestry po celej krajine. Autorka sa pri písaní románu inšpirovala historickou postavou Sarah Grimkéovej a prostredníctvom skutočných aj fiktívnych postáv majstrovsky vykreslila jedno z najbolestnejších období amerických dejín.

Sylvie sa raz v noci náhle zobudí a zazrie niečo neuveriteľné. Obrovské krídla z najjemnejšieho snehobieleho peria, aké si vieme predstaviť. V jej spálni stojí anjel, ktorého si kedysi vytvorila v snehu. Prezradí jej, že ju prišiel ochrániť pred chorobou. Keď sa Sylvie zotaví, znovu sa s ním túži stretnúť. Podmanivá rozprávka o zázraku počas jedného zasneženého dňa plná krásnych ilustrácií, dojemných rozhovorov a rozprávkového jazyka.

Lily Owensová, 14-ročné dievča, žije izolovaná na broskyňovej farme spolu s otcom, ktorý jej nevenuje veľa pozornosti. Celé hodiny trávi premýšľaním a spomínaním na čarovné detstvo, na obdobie prežité s milovanou matkou. Pamätá si ju len veľmi hmlisto, pretože umrela za nejasných okolností. Jediná spomienka je obrázok čiernej madony s nápisom Tiburon, Južná Karolína. Keď jej opatrovateľka Rosaleen napadne skupinu agresívnych, rasisticky naladených chlapov, musí spolu s Lily odísť. Vyberú sa do Tiburonu. Je to jediné miesto, ktoré Lily pozná z nápisu na obrázku madony. Útočisko nájdu v dome troch excentrických sestier včelárok. Uvedú Lily do očarujúceho sveta včiel, medu a mystickej čiernej madony.

V chráme benediktínskeho kláštora na Volavčom ostrove, neďaleko pobrežia Južnej Karolíny, stojí tajomný a bohato vyrezávaný trón, ktorý podľa legendy patril morskej panne. Na ostrov, prekypujúci exotickými prírodnými krásami, sa vracia Jessie, ktorá doposiaľ žila v konvenčnom manželskom vzťahu. Miluje svojho manžela Hugha, no súčasne si uvedomuje silnejúce sympatie k Thomasovi, mníchovi, ktorý stojí pred rehoľnými sľubmi. Jessie sa ocitne pred voľbou: buď sa nechá strhnúť vášňami, alebo ich potlačí a zostane verná svojmu manželovi.

"Sue Monk was a 'conventionally religious, churchgoing woman, a traditional wife and mother' with a thriving career as a Christian writer until she began to question her role as a woman in her culture, her family, and her church. From a jarring encounter with sexism in a suburban drugstore to monastery retreats and rituals in the caves of Crete, Kidd takes readers through the fear, anger, healing, and transformation of her awakening. Retaining a meaningful connection 'with the deep song of Christianity, ' she opens the door for traditional Christian women to discover a spirituality that speaks directly to them and provides inspiring wisdom for all who struggle to embrace their full humanity"--Publisher's description

Exploring themes of self-discovery and spirituality, this collection of writings offers profound insights from a bestselling author known for her impactful storytelling. Readers can expect a blend of personal reflection and philosophical musings, encouraging a deeper understanding of one’s inner life. The author’s unique voice and perspective promise to inspire and provoke thought, making this a compelling read for those interested in the intersection of personal growth and spiritual exploration.

The No. 1 New York Times bestseller. THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd was selected as an Oprah Book Club 2.0 pick on December 10, 2013. From the celebrated author of the international bestseller The Secret Life of Bees comes an extraordinary novel about two exceptional women. Sarah Grimke is the middle daughter. The one her mother calls difficult and her father calls remarkable. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, Hetty 'Handful' Grimke is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift. Sarah knows what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept. And so, indeed, the trouble begins ...A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, THE INVENTION OF WINGS evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of righteous people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.

I stood at the window watching the cocoon, which hung in the winter air like an upside–down question mark. That was the moment... I understood. Really understood. Crisis, change, all the myriad upheavals that blister the spirit and leave us groping– they aren't voices simply of pain but also of creativity. And if we would only listen, we might hear such times beckoning us to a season of waiting, to the place of fertile emptiness.Blending her own experiences with an intimate grasp of contemplative spirituality, Sue Monk Kidd relates the passionate and moving tale of her spiritual crisis at midlife, when life seemed to have lost meaning and how her longing for hasty escape from the pain yielded to a discipline of "active waiting." Comparing her experience to the formative processes inside a chrysalis on a wintry tree branch, Kidd reflects on the fact that the soul is often symbolized as a butterfly. The simple cocoon, a living parable of waiting, becomes an icon of hope for the transformation that the author sought. Kidd charts her re–ascent from the depths and offers a new understanding of the passage away from the self, which is based upon others' expectations, to the true self of God's unfolding intention. Her wise, inspiring book helps those in doubt and crisis recognize the opportunity to "dismantle old masks and patterns and unfold a deeper, more authentic self."

The bestselling author's inspiring account of her spiritual journey into discovering the love of God. "Beautifully written . . . the message and challenge of the book is profound. . . . This book will awaken your longing and set you off on your own spiritual journey."— Today's Christian Woman "A joy to read from beginning to end."— Virtue Magazine Sue Monk Kidd explores the thrilling possibilities of God's everlasting love. God's Joyful Surprise makes an important statement about devotion to God rather than activity. Strands of humor and warmth woven throughout make it a joy to read from beginning to end.

A journey through Greece and France serves as the backdrop for a poignant dual memoir by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter, Ann. As they explore these vibrant locales, both mother and daughter seek to redefine their identities and deepen their connection. Their travels become a rich tapestry of shared experiences, insights, and personal growth, highlighting the transformative power of their relationship.