The Book of Longings: A Novel
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(as of May 23, 2025 15:42:23 UTC – Details)
“An extraordinary novel . . . a triumph of insight and storytelling.” —Associated Press
“A true masterpiece.” —Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed
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 bestselling 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 eighteen-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.
From the Publisher
Publisher : Penguin Books
Publication date : March 23, 2021
Language : English
Print length : 448 pages
ISBN-10 : 0143111396
ISBN-13 : 978-0143111399
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.05 x 0.72 x 7.67 inches
Customers say
Customers find this novel captivating and well-written, with a spectacularly imagined story that makes them appreciate Jesus’s life more deeply. The book features strong female characters, particularly Ana, and customers praise the author’s extensive research that lends credibility to the narrative. They appreciate the pacing, with one describing it as a page-turner from the beginning, and value how the author gives Ana a voice in a time when women’s voices were often silenced.
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