I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I absolutely love Sue Monk Kidd books and was delighted to get an early copy of her newest book The Book of Longings. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from the author and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

The book is about a girl who loves writing in an era when when women were frowned upon on having a desire to write. The fictional part of the book is that the protagonist is married to Jesus. No data has been found about Jesus’s life from 12-30 years and the author used this period to create this magnificent story. It’s heartbreaking to witness how women have been suffered those days and even in the current time it’s relevant in so many parts of the world. This book has definitely intriguing and curious in its own way that will leave the readers wanting more.

This is an extraordinary novel. Had I realised there was a religious context, I may not have read it. However I'm glad I did as I found it really absorbing and written very well. This is the story of Ana, the fictional wife of Jesus. If you like historical fiction and fiction which portrays strong women, then you will enjoy this book. Some of the fact/fiction crossovers were lost on me but there is a long note from the author at the end where this is explained. Without this, I would have accepted it all as fiction.

Fascinating, not my usual type of book but highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sue Monk Kidd has to be one of the most talented authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The Book of Longings centres on Ana, the fictional wife of Jesus. As with Kidd’s other books, they are not to be rushed, but rather savoured.

However my slight disappointment was that I didn’t find some incidents and Ana’s character/actions to be a proper reflection of the era in which they existed. A bit too modern to be believable. But it held me captive until the end.

With such gratitude to #netgalley for a copy in exchange for my views.

I think this will be a contender for most unique and unforgettable book I read this year. It portrays the story of Ana, wife of Jesus, who has a secret longing to be a voice. To be seen and to be heard. To create a legacy and not through children but through her own words and deeds.

It took me a while to get into the book, as it was just so different to anything I've read before, but once I did I literally couldn't put it down. It pulsates with passion, a passion for having a calling or a longing, and living life to its fullest solely to fulfil that purpose. And respecting other people's longings too.

The language of the book spoke to my heart, and I highlighted huge chucks of the beautiful words as I don't want to forget them. This isn't a book with a religious theme. Even though it has religious figures in it, I found it more spiritual than religious.

And this is not a book about Jesus, it's about Ana. His bold, independent, practical and hugely inspirational wife who writes women's stories as she believes they should be documented. You can see how meticulously researched the book was and I loved the liberties the author took to make the characters seem rounded. And I felt immersed in the political and uneasy world that they inhabited.

In short I loved it. I love the feminist theme, I loved the language and I loved the imagery of putting voice to your longings and then giving birth to them. Just fab.

Thanks to Random Things Tours for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

A fantastic read by a new author for me. I am converted as a fan and absolutely cannot wait to read more. This is unique and original. I have been pulled in and unable to put this one down.
I cannot say anything negative about this gorgeous book. it has been a fantastic read.

I am not a religious person, nor do I know very much about Jesus beyond the basics, but he has always fascinated me. I do believe that he (or someone like him) once existed, and that he cared for the many and tried to make the world a fairer place. Do I believe he was the son of God? No. Neither do I believe that modern day Christiananity has very much to do with his teachings. And even as an atheist, the existence of Jesus affects my life in many ways.

Monk Kidd gives a very good explanation for the idea that Jesus may well have had a wife, namely the erasure of women across history. There are kingdoms, not queendoms, and men have historically always told the stories and placed themselves at the centre. While Ana may be fictional, it is easy to believe she or a version of her may have existed, as some of the other women in this book did. I see from some of the reviews that this reimagining has offended some people, which is actually what made me start reading. Fiction is precisely that, and it is unknown whether Jesus had a wife, but that is not the point. The point is that Ana, and all the women she represents, has been given a voice by Monk Kidd, and a powerful one it is.

I read this book in a few sittings, unable to tear myself away. In the author's note, she says she researched this book for over 4 years, and you can tell how meticulously she did so. Life is breathed into this first century novel, with writing so beautiful and characters so real, you expect to look up and see them sitting beside you. Monk Kidd is an incredible writer, and this book is a genuine marvel.

"I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus," as the first line states. But, this book is way more than that. It's the story of Ana trying to find her voice in a world that oppresses females and other minorities.
"Listening to the rabbis, one would've thought the only figures worth mention in the whole of history were [men]. When I was finally able to read the scriptures for myself, I discovered (behold!) there were women."
While I don't consider myself to be that religious, I could still appreciate this book. It is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction that is extremely powerful and wonderfully feminist. It's not my usual era but I am very glad I read this.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I know this book will probably cause some controversy but I for one adored this amazing book. This book is about Ana, not God, not Jesus or Christianity, but it’s probably easy for me to say that as I’m agnostic (lapsed catholic) and although I no longer consider myself Christian in the sense other practicing Christians would, I did really resonate with this and particularly the authors writing and ideas of God. I love how this took us through Ana’s life and exposes all the women who have been erased from history and that’s what this is, It is a story of women. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it highly

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

“ In her mesmerising 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.”

Having read this book it came as no surprise to learn that the author took four and a half years to research and write it. The story is an inspiring, unforgettable thought provoking one. When I started reading, I wasn’t sure it was my type of book but I persevered with it as I have read and enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees and I’m so glad I did. I found it quite difficult in some parts, especially reading about the way women were treated and the fact they they had very little say in their destiny or the ability to make their own choices. Despite that, women play a major part in the book and their strength and resilience is inspiring.

Review left on Goodreads and Amazon.co.uk

The Book Of Longing is a beautifully written book from a very gifted writer. I was intrigued by this book from the start as I thought it was a very interesting concept and I was interested to see how it would unfold. I’m not religious so knew nothing of the story of Anna before reading which, from the sound of other reviews, was to my advantage as I didn’t know what was going to happen next.

The story follows Anna, a very strong independent women in a time when women were meant to be submissive and quiet. She is determined to help give women the voice they need and improve things from the women around her. Regular readers of my blog know that I’m a huge fan of strong female characters and therefore quickly warmed to Anna. I loved following here throughout the book and often found myself cheering for her as I read. Her relationship with Jesus was lovely to read about and I enjoyed following their blossoming relationship. It was refreshing to read about a supportive husband and I loved the imagined conversations between them especially the gentle way they had of teasing each other. Part of me wished there was more of this in the book but I think it would have made it a completely different story.

The biblical setting in this book has obviously been well researched and imagined so that I felt like I was really there following Anna. I liked the biblical and historical references that the author includes into the story which makes it seem very realistic. The book has a great pace to it and I found myself quickly absorbed into the story. I especially liked how the female relationships were described and the bond that existed between the women. It was lovely to see how the supported each other through difficult situations.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I though was an absorbing and intriguing read. I think this would make a great book club read as I feel there would be lots to discuss. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

It has taken me timeee to try and find the words to articulate how I feel about this book. You know when you read a book and it just hits different? Yeh, that.

This is a beautiful, engaging, powerful historical fiction centred on the life and perspective of Ana, the wife of Jesus Christ. We first meet Ana when she is 14 and engrossed by her love of reading and writing, and follow her through meeting, falling in love with and marrying Jesus, becoming a fugitive in 2 countries and finally reuniting with Jesus in his final days.

Theres a whole vibe at the moment around historical/mythical retellings from the perspective of women, and I am so very here for it. I loved A Thousand Ships, The Children of Jocasta and Circe. And this book is of the same vein; giving a voice to the forgotten woman. It’s not known whether Jesus had a wife, but it’s entirely possible that he did and if he did I hope she was every bit of the fucking firecracker that Ana is.

So I’m not religious, nor was I brought up religious - my understanding of biblical stories is pretty lacking so I had only the vaguest knowledge to compare this book against and I’m kind of thankful for that. However, I am a (possibly overly keen) historian and to me, this is just a magical work of historical fiction; it’s so well researched and really transports you to the first century Middle East .

This is an exploration of the human Jesus. And it’s so fucking clever because while Jesus’ divinity and miracle working are totally absent from this book, it’s done so in such a way that they could have happened, but Ana was just not there to witness them. It leaves an ambiguity to it so as not to dismiss his divinity, but also does not embrace it, focussing instead entirely on his humanity and the realness of his and Ana’s relationship. It’s just SO CLEVER.

And let’s just take a moment to appreciate Kidd’s writing style. Her use of language is so beautiful it hurts me. I was fully engaged from the moment I started. I savoured this book. Didn’t want it to end. It’s glorious.

I read the afterword at the end of the novel just to get an idea of the authors thoughts and what made her decide to write about a fictional wife of Jesus. It seemed it took her sometime to put pen to paper, declaring ‘I couldn’t muster quite enough audacity’

When Kidd finally did take that leap it was in my opinion a brave one, to challenge, even though fictitious, the possibility that Jesus had a wife. In The Book Of Longings her name was Ana, a beautiful, intelligent, educated daughter of Herod’s head scribe. She was the opposite of women of her time, keen to marry for love not to merge and increase the status and wealth of a family, and from the start she was a veritable fire ball, opinionated, stubborn, determined and brave.

From their first accidental meeting in a crowded market, you knew it was fate, their destiny to be together, but Kidd didn’t make that journey easy and the heartache and hardships were almost a training ground for what was to come.

Their eventual marriage was one based on pure love, a love that endured during the many years of trouble and separation. Kidd used Ana’a eyes to tell the story of Jesus as we know it but also the consequences it had for his family, the added danger it placed Ana in. It was an extremely clever technique one that made me view those bible stories I had read a little differently. I saw Jesus as a normal man, one who had his own desires but wasn’t afraid to follow his inner voice, to run into danger for a greater cause.

Did I think he was selfish? In some ways yes, when you thought about his mother, and more importantly his wife, but that was where it stopped, as Kidd gave Ana her own purpose, her own cause. She was there to support Jesus, to trail blaze for other women within society, to stand up to the inherent brutality present with men. Her writings were her outlet, a historical text for the future, to the point I did wonder if Kidd was suggesting that maybe she was part author of the New Testament. I may be totally and utterly wrong but wouldn’t it be wonderful to think a woman had a hand in its creation, and it was a thought I clung to throughout the second half of the novel.

One thing that did stand out, was the vividness of Kidd’s narrative, the brilliant portrayal of the Romans and the Jews, the society they lived in and the tensions and rivalries that existed. It was a veritable maelstrom of actions and events that culminated in the inevitable ending, and the ensuing scenes were hugely poignant and emotional.

What endured above all was Ana, her capacity for love and forgiveness, her fight to read, to write, to be treated as an equal, a shining beacon of light and hope.

The Book Of Longings, was never the novel you expected, and all credit and heaps of admiration to Sue Monk Kidd for having the audacity to put pen to paper, to challenge the reader, and dare to create an alternative to a story we all grew up and know so well.

I'm no good at reviewing fiction, as my reaction to fiction books is entirely emotional. I really liked this, and it was a challenge to put down.

The Book of Longings-,Sue Monk Kidd
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Raised in a wealthy family in Sepphoris with ties to the ruler of Galilee, Ana is rebellious and ambitious, a daring seeker with a curious mind and adventurous spirit.
Defying expectations placed on women, Ana engages in scholary pursuits and when she meets Jesus, each is drawn to the others spiritual and philosophical ideas.
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Thoughts 👉 A book that is very hard to do justice. The writing is lyrical whilst vivid and evocative, and transports you to a different time. A novel to be read slowly and to savour every word printed on the page as it will become imprinted on your soul.
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Ana's spirit and passion for writing is inspiring and transmits into her life. She is a character that is independent, strong and ultimately brave.
When Ana falls in love with Jesus we see a softer, gentler side to her but with equal passion.
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I was intrigued by this book, had no pre conceived ideas and found it absorbing and amazing.
Thank you @headlinebooks for this copy to read and review
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The book of longings
Sue Monk Kidd
Pub date March 18 2021
I loved this book the writing style was lovely I loved the love story aspect. Even though I don’t think Jesus had a wife it was nice to find sue monk Kidd put Jesus and ana into this beautiful love story. This story is mainly focused on ana who has had quite sone struggling times in her life with her parents and life and how she talks about Jesus. This book is beautiful written I enjoyed the love story. If you religious then this book is for you. Such a beautiful love story you enjoy x

I just couldn’t read this. I have no objection to reimaginings of history, reimaginings of historical figures, nor do I object to fictional characters interacting with real-life characters. But I do object with authors playing fast and loose with historical facts. This book is about a young woman, Ana, who becomes Jesus’ wife. This is a controversial issue, and that’s not a problem for me, but to impose a made-up wife on him seems to me to stretch credibility too far. Even Dan Brown only ventured to suggest Mary Magdalen as a wife, which at least makes some sort of sense. And then there’s historical accuracy. The New Testament may not always be accurate, I know, but it’s all we have, so to simply change the facts as we know them to suit the narrative, is misguided. Judas wasn’t at the crucifixion. He’d already killed himself. So don’t put him there. These sort of egregious errors are irritating at the very least. And then there’s Ana herself. I loved the Washington Post headline. “Jesus has a wife – and behold, she’s so woke!” Indeed. Women didn’t have a voice back then. They didn’t have a good time of it. As far as the written record shows they were just chattels. And maybe there were articulate, powerful women around – but we can’t force our modern sensibilities on previous generations. They simply don’t apply. On top of all this, the book is trite, banal, lacks depth and is overwritten. I realise I’m out of step with nearly every other reviewer, but so be it. This is actually, in my opinion, a badly written and badly conceived work of fiction.

***I received a copy of this title through NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

Four times I cried whilst reading this book. Three sets of tears were borne from sadness, firstly for Tabitha, secondly for Judas, and finally, I wept for Jesus. But the final set of tears were ones of happiness, of empowerment, and of hope.

These tears were for Ana.

This book has swiftly become an all-time favourite of mine – a lifelong love. I do not consider myself a Christian, but I have been raised with Christian beliefs, over the years these beliefs have strengthened into one solid understanding: God is Love. This does not that we must love everyone, or forgive everyone, but that we must always endeavor to act with love. This belief of mine is perfectly encapsulated in Sue Monk Kidd’s writing. In fact, she writes it so herself: ‘God is love; therefore we must be love’.

But this is not a story about God. Or about Jesus. This is Ana’s story.

‘The Book of Longings’ presents Ana to us with all of her faults and all of her virtues. It guides us through the twists and turns of her life and, in doing so, it exposes us to the litany of women who have been erased from history. Women who have had their voices stolen from them. This book is a testament to them.

Brilliantly written and impossible to put down, this book is well worth the read. It is a story of women, it is a story of humanity but, most importantly, it is a story of hope.
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“We stand, brushing away the dust, catching our breath. And it comes to me that the echoes of my own life will likely die away in that way thunder does. But this life, what a shining thing – it is enough”.

This is where I wish there was a half star rating as I have mixed feelings about this book.

I requested this from Netgalley as I love the way Sue Monk Kidd writes. I must've not entirely read the blurb (my fault) as I was quite surprised to find out it was a fiction about the wife of Jesus in sentence one. I wasn't sure how that would pan out and I'm not a Christian myself so it wasn't a theme I'd have sought out, but I'm glad I did.
However it is more the tale of Ana, a fictional woman from the same time and whilst Jesus, Judas, John and others feature they are more of a side story to Ana.

The downsides of this book were that you know where bits of it are going if you know the Bible. Also Ana was quite an unbelievable character at times. I would've loved to believe it was possible to be that confident and stand up to men in power repeatedly though.
The upsides were I was captivated by the story and the atmosphere and descriptions of the time. I also loved the point the author is making about the erasure of women's stories and roles.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.