The Book of Longings: A Novel

SpoilersIt took a lot of "chutzpah" to write a novel about, not only a married Jesus, but a Jesus who had brothers and a sister and who sweated and smiled and presumably farted. As a non-Christian, I found the book incredibly refreshing. After years of being overshadowed by "The Big J," I felt I could make peace with Christianity after reading this book.Though the character of Jesus in this novel didn't perform miracles and magic, he was truly a mensch as Jews understand him. He was a believer. His prayers were sincere. He followed The Torah and he stood up to the Romans, demanding freedom for his people. He found something to love in some of the most unlovable characters and he suffered horribly for his beliefs.This is the story of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Ana, a well-to-do, intelligent Hebrew girl who spotted, and fell in love with a young Jesus at the marketplace. As her parents dragged her through the streets to marry her off to a widowed man old enough to be her father, she spots Jesus, and he haunts her thoughts and dreams. Though she's intelligent and independent, she cannot pursue her attraction. Her life as a Hebrew woman doesn't give her that power. She is destined only for marriage and motherhood.When her aged "fiance" suddenly dies, Ana is greatly relieved. But, her parents soon set her straight. She is damaged goods. By society, she is considered a widow, and is therefore not desirable. Her father attempts to sell his "damaged" daughter to Herod Antipas as a concubine. She escapes, chased by an official who calls her harlot and thief. She finds herself trapped and accused, and is nearly stoned by the crowds. Jesus appears and saves her life, urging he who is without sin to cast the first stone. He offers to marry her, and because she already loves him - and her future prospects are bleak - she marries him.The author's character development is incredible. Of special mention is Ana's aunt, Yaltha, a guiding force. in Ana's life. She follows Ana to live with Jesus's family, including his mother, Mary, and his three siblings. Yaltha is Ana's beloved teacher who helps her through the many trials and tribulations in her life.At first, I found it odd that the character of Jesus is not as well developed. I believe that's on purpose. The author is allowing room for interpretation by readers. As nebulous as Jesus appeared, he was a truly likable individual and witnessing his crucifixion through Ana's eyes brought tears to my eyes.The author handled a delicate subject with the utmost class and tact. This novel could have gone very wrong, but thanks to the skill and delicacy of the author it is a beautifully written, intelligent, and yes, spiritual, story.

The book I ordered was delivered on time. The book's condition was excellent, as described.

I always enjoyed reading of Jesus and his life before his mission. I always hope he shared love and joy and had a happiness in his life. I enjoyed the history of Antipas and the Romans vs the Jews. It was especially interesting about Judas

To me this is the story that is one of an endless possibilities of the adult life of Jesus, his times, the customs, the landscape, relationships, how he came into to the prophesy. It is told from a woman’s viewpoint, one who is written as his wife.

I finished this book yesterday and I cannot get the characters out of my head. I want to return to them. That rarely happens to me. I am stunned by the impact the story has had on my soul and my imagination, and as a writer myself, I recognized the longings in both the author, Sue Monk Kidd, and in the main character, Ana, the wife of Jesus, brought to life so beautifully and believably in this story. As for me, I left my religion long ago, not being able to abide the darkness in its origins and practices. This spectacularly imagined story reintroduced me to a completely human and divine Jesus who changed the world with his love; as well as to a woman of courage and longings, who walked for a time at his side. In the author's interview at the end of the book, Kidd said of her main character Ana, that "in a way, she symbolizes the missing feminine in religion." The author, in her interview also recounts the words of a French publisher who wrote her and said, "Even though the novel is set in the first century, it is the most modern book I've read this year." This book has helped me see Jesus's origin story in a new light, fleshed out by what I too can imagine occurred back then. After reading this well-researched book, it all makes a little more sense. And for some odd reason, that brings me hope.

The details of this book are so beautiful! I loved hearing about the lives of people during the time of Jesus from a woman's perspective. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys good character development and a good story a historic background. There were several typo errors in here that I found annoying, but I got over it!

Con su narrativa y su investigación minuciosa, Sue Monk Kidd me transportó a esa época, a esa historia.El libro de los anhelos es un libro en donde los personajes son mujeres poderosas, mujeres adelantadas a si tiempo, mujeres sabias.¡No podía parar de leer!

The Book of Longings was selected for our in-house book club to read and I heard good things about it from friends who had read it but I personally have read or heard nothing else about it.  As I usually enjoy well-researched biblical fiction, I bought it and read it over several days.  It has the potential, I think, to be controversial and possibly has been in various media but, as I have stated, I would be totally unaware of that.  I came to it with no bias.This is the story of Ana, daughter of Matthieas, head scribe and counsellor to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.  She grew up in a grand house in Sepphoris in the first century with her parents, her adopted brother Judas, and later, her aunt, Yaltha, her father's sister, who came to them banished from her home in Alexandria by her older brother, her only child taken from her, after being accused of poisoning her abusive husband .From the beginning, Ana has had an aptitude for languages, writing, and studying.  She has begged her father to have a tutor after teaching herself Hebrew and has studied the stories of matriarchs in the scriptures and written them out on "scrolled papyri, parchments, and scraps of silk" which she treasures in a carved cedar chest in her room.  Telling the stories is her longing from deep within; it is her talent.  It is a talent her father indulges and her mother despises.  In an attempt to turn Ana from these activities, a playmate, Tabitha, is brought into the home in whom Ana at first sees nothing they share.  However, they do eventually find a common ground and form a firm friendship.  A friendship which will turn them both into outcasts of sorts.Ana's life is told in 5 sections.  It begins in Sepphoris from 16-17 CE when her aunt, Yartha, has come to stay with them and opens Ana's mind with her stories of Alexandria and of a Jewish community of philosophers called the Therapeutae.  A brief encounter with Jesus in the marketplace where her parents are selling her into an unwanted marriage with a man she loathes begins a connection that becomes a part of her longings.  Kidd uses the biblical story of Jesus saving a woman from stoning as the means of Jesus rescuing Ana from a violent crowd which then results in Jesus asking for her hand in marriage.The story continues with Ana's life with Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth from 17-27 CE, a time of great happiness despite a spiteful sister-in-law, disapproving brothers-in-law, and for a long while, an inability to obtain materials with which to write.  Also, as the oldest son, Jesus is often absent finding work in order to support the family.  Ana is reunited with Tabitha who has found refuge with Jesus' friends in Bethany, Mary, Martha, & Lazarus.  Eventually, Jesus is certain of his call to the ministry and Ana, who hears Herod is after her, accompanies her aunt to Alexandria where Yaltha hopes to find her missing daughter.Kidd's research seems to me flawless and her story very compelling.  It contrasts Jesus attitude towards women with the common culture of the times and his relationship with Ana is touching, full of compassion.  The confusion of the many gods and temples in Alexandria and the one God of the Jews must have been a very real one for young women just as the conflicting purpose of Jesus' mission with that of the Zealots of whom his brother-in-law here was very real.I had a bit of a problem with the portrayal of Jesus as not being aware of his divinity and being unclear of his calling for a time and also of having no recognition of John the Immerser as his own cousin.  But as Kidd says in her Author's Note,It was clear to me from the beginning that I would portray Jesus as fully human. I wanted the story to be about Jesus the man and not God the Son, who he would become.and keeping in mind this is a work of fiction, I'm willing to allow a little latitude.The story of Ana continues 30 years beyond the life of her beloved husband to when she is now the leader of the Therapeutae where she retreated after the crucifixion.  It is told briefly, with sensitivity and joy.  The story of Ana is told with exquisite writing and great detail as to the historical facts and the cruel treatment of women as chattels and sex objects to be abused and denied freedoms and education.  It is a journey of triumph over obstacles and oppression for the women and an imagining of the very human side of Jesus of Nazareth.

A friend chose this book for a book club, I didnt think I would enjoy it when I discovered it was about Jesus! How wrong I was! I've not been able to read a book all the way through for years! Sue's writing captures your imagination, I felt like I was walking through the streets of Sepphoris with these characters!I feel like I've learnt a lot about what it would have been like to live in that time period and understanding how Christianity came about. I feel much more open to a humanistic Jesus than the Jesus son of God I've heard about until now.Taking religion aside, it was a great story, extremely well written and a great page turner! Provoking smiles and tears! I've already purchases another of her books to read! Many thanks!

Beautiful book and a wonderful tale, I couldn’t put it downI’m going to miss it or have to read it all over again ..

This was the most interesting novel that I have read in a long time. It strengthened my belief that Jesus was real, and that he was human. Using a woman as the protagonist for the novel made it all the more interesting. It makes the biblical time, regarding religion, culture and motives much more understanding. I was sad when it ended.