The Book of Longings

A Novel

By: Sue Monk Kidd

Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò, Sue Monk Kidd

Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

"An epic masterpiece that is a triumph of insight and storytelling." (Associated Press)

“A true masterpiece.” (Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed)

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by O, the Oprah Magazine, Good Morning America/ABC-TV, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, Time, Marie Claire, and The Millions.

An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times best-selling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with 18-year-old Jesus changes everything.

Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana’s pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome’s occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. 

Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus’s life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman’s bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.

©2020 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“I kept having to close this novel and breathe deeply, again and again. A radical re­imagining of the New Testament that reflects on women's longing and silencing and awakening, it is a true masterpiece.” (Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed)

“[Kidd’s] painstaking research and artful crafting of setting and character ensures that The Book of Longings is not just an extraordinary novel, but one with lasting power...[her] brilliance shines through on so many levels, but not the least in her masterful, reverential approach to capturing Jesus of Nazareth as a fully human young man...[The Book of Longings] is an epic masterpiece that is a triumph of insight and storytelling.” (Associated Press) 

Made me cringe

I realize that the object of the book is to follow the notion that Jesus had a wife and to give her a voice. But, to portray the man she fell in love with, married and partnered with as merely a man is just too hard to bear.
Jesus was both man and God here on earth and still is God today. He communicated with his Father-God throughout his entire life and knew full well His purpose here on earth. He then fulfilled that purpose in His death AND RESURRECTION! To suggest that He was merely a good man who preached God’s love and was killed for it, is to say Jesus was a liar and deceiver. Jesus proclaimed who He was - God come to earth. If He was not who He claimed to be, then Christianity and half the world’s faith in Him is a huge farce and Jesus was definitely NOT a good man!
The author painstakingly researched so many historical and Biblical facts but completely ignored the most important facts and theme of the entire Bible. She picked and chose details to build her story, leaving it completely soulless and painful to read.

good book, bad narrator

this is one I wish I'd read on my Kindle. the narrator is so fkn robotic, it's crazy. parts of dialogue that were supposed to be emotional (playful as well as sad) was read the exact same as describing the setting of one of the dwellings. I had a lot trouble getting into Anna's feelings because of this. for example: one of the characters had her tongue cut out and when she's finally able to speak again, instead of speaking with a speech impediment to make it believable, she just puts this long pause between every few words in that character's dialogue which only serves to add to the roboticness of this lady's speech. I can't impress upon you enough, get the ebook. the narration is abysmal

I wish I had read instead of trusting

My faith in Christ is personal, deep and real. Jesus Christ is the sacrifice for my sinful soul, God's perfect lamb. This perfect lamb, who was tested in all ways we are and yet without sin, laid down his life to give the people of the world eternal life. This novel (yes, a work of fiction) was more than I cared to put into my mind. I have always enjoyed Kidd's work, amazing tales of real life. Maybe it's that realism with which she writes that turns my stomach with this novel. I won't finish and cannot, in clear conscious, recommend it either.

Simply fabulous!

If you have read her before and enjoyed it, you'll love this. The narrator also brought the characters to life for me. The story is one I have often thought must have happened and Sue Monk Kidd writes it in a most believable way. She has given the women of the time a Voice.

The Life of Jewish Women in the time of Jesus

As always Sue Monk is an excellent writer who is telling the stories of the Jewish Women in a time when women's lives and voices were silenced. I was drawn in by her characters and her depiction of the places and cultures. The narration could have been better. I felt like the narrator broke the sentences down in strange places and that took away from the story.

Expected more

I have loved Sue Monk Kidd's other books and expected as much from this one. I think the story of Ana could have stood on its own and didn't really need the "Jesus" hook. The pace was good and I liked the voice of the narrator. Because of the time and place of the story, I personally wished she would have used the the Hebrew names and I wish the narrator had been a bit more precise in her pronunciation of the Hebrew words. I found that distracting. I was a somewhat disappointed by this story and wished she had let Ana develop on her own merits.

My Favorite Book

As a women and lover of Jesus, I am deeply grateful for Sue gifting us with this masterpiece. I feel as if I just returned home from the journey along side Anna, the bride of Jesus. I am left with a deeper love for Him.

Sue Monk Kidd did it again...

Sue Monk Kidd is an amazing writer and she has spun another story that is gripping and compelling. The only thing that kept creeping into my mind was not just that Jesus was married but by misrepresenting almost every part of the known historical story. That said, I know this is a story. And it is a fabulous story. It was hard to stop listening.

Disappointing

Jesus marries a self-centered feminist who worships a female God and considers her work more important....seriously?

How would the Western World be Different

This is the story of Ana, who wanted a voice, who was married, for a time, to a wonderful man named Jesus. Beautifully imagined. If you loved The Red Tent, this is for you!