'Historical fiction page-turner. An excellent book club choice.The intensity, bravery, and strength of character of Ana, as imagined by Kidd will inspire readers but in a different way: to live authentically and remain true to oneself.' “A richly imagined first-person narrative.In addition to providing a woman-centered version of New Testament events, Kidd’s novel is also a vibrant portrait of a woman striving to preserve and celebrate women’s stories-her own and countless others.”

How many authors would take this on?.The Book of Longings is not just an extraordinary novel, but one with lasting power.Kidd's 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 in his 20's.an epic masterpiece that is a triumph of insight and storytelling.' 'Kidd is courageous in imagining the life of Jesus as a married man.

Q&A with historical photos from Sue's collection It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers. 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. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. 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. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. Ana’s pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome’s occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. 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. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. 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. 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. Buy the Book: Penguin Random House, Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound,, Google Play, AudibleĪn 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

The longing by sue monk kidd