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kareseburrows's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"He pressed his forehead to mind and left it there. I think of it still, those moments, that leaning upon each other, the tent our lives made together."
Please note my review contains some spoilers.
Growing up in a strong catholic family, you're almost influenced to never think of or even imagine the possibility that Jesus could have had a wife. You're always told to think of Jesus from a spiritual aspect, to picture a "divine" being and not so much a "human" being, almost as if thinking of Jesus as human steals his connectedness to God and his divine purpose as the Messiah, which I don't think it does. Kidd says in writing Jesus's character, she was drawn to his humanity, which is an aspect of the book I really enjoyed, simply because in catholicism you become so familiar with Jesus's divinity, that seeing his humanness (or Kidd's interpretation of his humaneness) leaves this door open for thinking of him in a new light.
That said, while Jesus is an important protagonist, it's his wife Ana who takes centre stage throughout the book, with her boldness, fierceness, sharp tongue, strength and deep, heartfelt longings. She's a precious, strong gem in a political, cultural and historical time period where a woman's light is constantly diminished and their voices silenced. I think the most powerful longing Ana had was to be seen, loved and understood for who she was, and I think Jesus gave to that to her. While the book moved at a slow pace, the middle of it, the part where Ana and Jesus's marriage builds before they go their separate ways, has to be one of my favorite parts. Not only is there a sweet friendship between them, but something deep, secret and intimate forms there, and only they understand what that something is, both of them outcasts finding this solace with one another. I love that he calls her, "Little Thunder". I cried when, after going 2 years of not seeing him, the first image she has of him is while he's beaten and bloody, carrying his cross towards death.
That said, all around Ana stand these steadfast women, and they all feed off of, and lean into one another. Her Aunt Yaltha is like a beacon, guiding Ana the way her mother never did. I do love that despite not appreciating Tabitha in the beginning, friendship blossoms between them, especially when Ana stands up for Tabitha after she's sexually assaulted and her tongue is cut out for speaking out about her rape. The strong feminist underpinnings in the book are inspiring, and I have to comment on Kidd's writing, which I loved. There's a steady flow to the language that Kidd uses that I feel draws you into the story just as much as other aspects, like the storyline and the characters, and the history.
I think anyone who decides to read this book should read Kidd's "Author's Note" first, because it gives you a better understanding of the story that Kidd is telling. It's good to remember that this is book, with its historical and cultural points, is also that of fiction. It's a beautiful and emotionally gripping story that encompasses female strength, human love, divine love, the power of friendships, faith, purpose, loyalty, betrayal and longing. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it's become one of my favorite reads.
Please note my review contains some spoilers.
Growing up in a strong catholic family, you're almost influenced to never think of or even imagine the possibility that Jesus could have had a wife. You're always told to think of Jesus from a spiritual aspect, to picture a "divine" being and not so much a "human" being, almost as if thinking of Jesus as human steals his connectedness to God and his divine purpose as the Messiah, which I don't think it does. Kidd says in writing Jesus's character, she was drawn to his humanity, which is an aspect of the book I really enjoyed, simply because in catholicism you become so familiar with Jesus's divinity, that seeing his humanness (or Kidd's interpretation of his humaneness) leaves this door open for thinking of him in a new light.
That said, while Jesus is an important protagonist, it's his wife Ana who takes centre stage throughout the book, with her boldness, fierceness, sharp tongue, strength and deep, heartfelt longings. She's a precious, strong gem in a political, cultural and historical time period where a woman's light is constantly diminished and their voices silenced. I think the most powerful longing Ana had was to be seen, loved and understood for who she was, and I think Jesus gave to that to her. While the book moved at a slow pace, the middle of it, the part where Ana and Jesus's marriage builds before they go their separate ways, has to be one of my favorite parts. Not only is there a sweet friendship between them, but something deep, secret and intimate forms there, and only they understand what that something is, both of them outcasts finding this solace with one another. I love that he calls her, "Little Thunder". I cried when, after going 2 years of not seeing him, the first image she has of him is while he's beaten and bloody, carrying his cross towards death.
That said, all around Ana stand these steadfast women, and they all feed off of, and lean into one another. Her Aunt Yaltha is like a beacon, guiding Ana the way her mother never did. I do love that despite not appreciating Tabitha in the beginning, friendship blossoms between them, especially when Ana stands up for Tabitha after she's sexually assaulted and her tongue is cut out for speaking out about her rape. The strong feminist underpinnings in the book are inspiring, and I have to comment on Kidd's writing, which I loved. There's a steady flow to the language that Kidd uses that I feel draws you into the story just as much as other aspects, like the storyline and the characters, and the history.
I think anyone who decides to read this book should read Kidd's "Author's Note" first, because it gives you a better understanding of the story that Kidd is telling. It's good to remember that this is book, with its historical and cultural points, is also that of fiction. It's a beautiful and emotionally gripping story that encompasses female strength, human love, divine love, the power of friendships, faith, purpose, loyalty, betrayal and longing. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it's become one of my favorite reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, and Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
maddiebusick's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Torture, Murder, Sexism, Rape, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Medical content, Misogyny, and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol, Deportation, Police brutality, and Slavery
jrosegross's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
sarah_speaks's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Torture, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Pregnancy, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent and Slavery
kelly_e's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Title: The Book of Longings
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: March 23 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Tender • Imaginative • Historic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the first century, Ana is a gifted young woman secretly writing stories in a male dominated society. She comes from a wealthy family, and is expected to marry a rich, older widower, but an encounter with 18-year-old Jesus will change everything.
The Book of Longings is the story of their marriage and one women's determination to realize her passion and potential.
💠T H O U G H T S
I was super excited to read The Book of Longings because I had loved Sue Monk Kidd's previous works. When I originally bought this book, I hadn't read the premise, and when I finally did I was hesitant to jump in. On the urging from several book friends to give it a chance, I did just that and here are my thoughts.
It is flawlessly and beautifully written with each sentence flowing into the next.
It is well researched and presented. The author even mentions where she erred on dates in the name of creative freedom to help with flow.
It is imaginative, the plot is definitely unlike any historical fiction I've read before.
It is an ode to fierce females with Ana being one of the most courageous characters in recent memory, especially in a male dominated society.
But...
It was just not for me. I couldn't remove the religious aspect from my experience, and all the biblical detail and reference were hard for me to focus on.
Don't let that deter you. This is hands down one of those cases where it was me and definitely not the book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• bookclubs
• readers who love a fierce female lead
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"When you're in love, you remember everything."
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: March 23 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Tender • Imaginative • Historic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the first century, Ana is a gifted young woman secretly writing stories in a male dominated society. She comes from a wealthy family, and is expected to marry a rich, older widower, but an encounter with 18-year-old Jesus will change everything.
The Book of Longings is the story of their marriage and one women's determination to realize her passion and potential.
💠T H O U G H T S
I was super excited to read The Book of Longings because I had loved Sue Monk Kidd's previous works. When I originally bought this book, I hadn't read the premise, and when I finally did I was hesitant to jump in. On the urging from several book friends to give it a chance, I did just that and here are my thoughts.
It is flawlessly and beautifully written with each sentence flowing into the next.
It is well researched and presented. The author even mentions where she erred on dates in the name of creative freedom to help with flow.
It is imaginative, the plot is definitely unlike any historical fiction I've read before.
It is an ode to fierce females with Ana being one of the most courageous characters in recent memory, especially in a male dominated society.
But...
It was just not for me. I couldn't remove the religious aspect from my experience, and all the biblical detail and reference were hard for me to focus on.
Don't let that deter you. This is hands down one of those cases where it was me and definitely not the book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• bookclubs
• readers who love a fierce female lead
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"When you're in love, you remember everything."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide, Blood, and Domestic abuse
death of partnersahcrook's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death
acashton's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
ottercorg's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Having grown up a very traditional, quite conservative Christian, I was hesitant to start reading this one, having been recommended it by a dear friend. It felt wrong, like some sort of blasphemy, as I still today profess to be a Christian. But I read it anyway, because I’ve turned away from a lot of what I was taught growing up.
I’m so glad I pushed away the guilt in reading this. What an incredible story, what beautiful words. I finished it about on the second Sunday of Lent, which made the whole story even more pertinent and poignant. The writing is powerful and eloquent, without going over my head or becoming too difficult to understand. I will be reflecting on it for some time.
I’m so glad I pushed away the guilt in reading this. What an incredible story, what beautiful words. I finished it about on the second Sunday of Lent, which made the whole story even more pertinent and poignant. The writing is powerful and eloquent, without going over my head or becoming too difficult to understand. I will be reflecting on it for some time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Death
gem114's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Book of Longings is one of the most memorable books I've read this year. I know this one will stay with me for a long time, and I can definitely see myself rereading it. Having grown up Catholic, I would say I've spent a lot of time thinking about Jesus, and very little of that thought was about what he was like prior to beginning his ministry. Similarly, I've thought a lot about Mary, but very little about what her life and the lives of other women were like at the time. The Book of Longings is a beautiful exploration of both, with a focus on the latter. It is speculative historical fiction about a hypothetical wife of Jesus and her own longing for a voice. Like the Jesus I was taught about growing up, Ana challenges the status quo. She is progressive for her time, an educated woman willing to rebel against the path set by her parents in order to pursue her own vision for her future. Her story is a powerful one, both tragic and inspiring. I truly enjoyed considering Ana, who, if she were real, would be (in Sue Monk Kidd's words) the most silenced woman in history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
evakane's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Rape, and Domestic abuse