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kmae314's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Beautiful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Death, Violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, Torture, and Self harm
lazmataz's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death, Blood, Xenophobia, Slavery, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Misogyny, Violence, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, and Animal death
eeamiller's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? No
4.75
I read this on the recommendation of my friend, Kim. I have been on a Sue Monk Kidd reading kick, having finished "The Dance of the Dissident Daughter" earlier this month on audiobook. I also read this on audiobook. It started a little slow for me, but I was hooked from the first page when it said it would be told from the perspective of Ana, the wife of Jesus.
I have enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's nonfiction lately (I'm currently reading "Traveling with Pomegranates"), and it makes me want to go back and read more of her fiction. The themes she explores are the ones that resonate with me right now - spirituality, the divine feminine, women's perspectives and voices.
I admit that as the book reached its inevitable climax (the crucifixion of Jesus), I sort of felt a sense of dread. I have never liked crucifixion narratives or descriptions. Even "Jesus Christ Superstar" is hard for me in the end. I never watched "The Passion of the Christ" because my imagination is already graphic enough - I don't need visual representations. But what moved me the most about the crucifixion narrative was the perspective of the women, particularly their faithfulness in Christ's suffering and when they all gathered together at home after (I think in Bethany with Mary and Martha) and felt a sense of fellowship. It felt very real. Women are always in the trenches in the messiest moments of human experience. They walked with him, kept vigil as he died, cleaned and tended him after his death.
I was puzzled that she didn't really explore the Resurrection, by having Ana leave the day after the crucifixion to return to her ascetic community. But I guess the point of the book was not to explore Jesus' voice, but Ana's own.
I have enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's nonfiction lately (I'm currently reading "Traveling with Pomegranates"), and it makes me want to go back and read more of her fiction. The themes she explores are the ones that resonate with me right now - spirituality, the divine feminine, women's perspectives and voices.
I admit that as the book reached its inevitable climax (the crucifixion of Jesus), I sort of felt a sense of dread. I have never liked crucifixion narratives or descriptions. Even "Jesus Christ Superstar" is hard for me in the end. I never watched "The Passion of the Christ" because my imagination is already graphic enough - I don't need visual representations. But what moved me the most about the crucifixion narrative was the perspective of the women, particularly their faithfulness in Christ's suffering and when they all gathered together at home after (I think in Bethany with Mary and Martha) and felt a sense of fellowship. It felt very real. Women are always in the trenches in the messiest moments of human experience. They walked with him, kept vigil as he died, cleaned and tended him after his death.
I was puzzled that she didn't really explore the Resurrection, by having Ana leave the day after the crucifixion to return to her ascetic community. But I guess the point of the book was not to explore Jesus' voice, but Ana's own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Death, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child death, Torture, Rape, Violence, Grief, and Sexual violence
feliciaguestwrites's review
4.0
I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this novel, given its content. But I can happily say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. While a few creative liberties were taken here and there, I think that Sue Monk Kidd did an incredible job of filling in the blanks, crafting a story that we as readers could relate to and a heroine that could be admired. Ana was ambitious, resilient, and courageous, not to mention witty and scholarly, in a time where a woman possessing any of those traits was condemned. As a historian, it was especially interesting to see the influence of feminist theology in her writing. Overall, this was a thought-provoking story with an interesting perspective!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Blood, Miscarriage, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Sexism
alexbooksandmore's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
I really enjoyed this book. I think the story is captivating, and the writing is splendid (very few books are fascinating because of the writing for me).
This book goes back to the time of Jesus, but the story is not mainly about Him, but about his 'fictive' wife, Ana. We see the whole world through her eyes. I enjoyed the detailed explanation of how people lived back then and their daily activities.
As always, I am deeply affected by the horror things Jesus had to face. All the aggression. And even when I read it, i could see everything so clear in my head..
Another reason i love this book is the questions and discussion topics at the end of the book.. one of the most interesting was 'what would the world be if in the Bible, Jesus had a wife? Would have change the way women are perceived in the world? Or not? ... it kept me thinking and I think is a very interesting subject to discuss.
This book goes back to the time of Jesus, but the story is not mainly about Him, but about his 'fictive' wife, Ana. We see the whole world through her eyes. I enjoyed the detailed explanation of how people lived back then and their daily activities.
As always, I am deeply affected by the horror things Jesus had to face. All the aggression. And even when I read it, i could see everything so clear in my head..
Another reason i love this book is the questions and discussion topics at the end of the book.. one of the most interesting was 'what would the world be if in the Bible, Jesus had a wife? Would have change the way women are perceived in the world? Or not? ... it kept me thinking and I think is a very interesting subject to discuss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Violence, Rape, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
carolynbruce's review
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Rape
laskuhn's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Briefly, this is a first-person narrative from the perspective of Ana, and it begins with her as a strong-minded 14 year old girl if early CE Palestine. She becomes the wife of Jesus of Nazareth. It is an imagined tale (according to the author) of what her life could have been like. I had to take breaks while reading it because parts of it were hard, emotionally. It was thought-provoking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Miscarriage and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
eyedoc's review
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence
inked_in_pages's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
GENRE: Historical Fiction, Feminist Retelling
[Tw: sexual assault, forced marriage, graphic death of a loved one, in uterine fetal death]
Did you like the book?
This is the type of book that takes a lot of thought and a lot of stamina to get through. I liked it while reading but in the days since finishing it and after having more reflection about the content and the power of the story. I like it even more now.
Was there anything challenging about the book? Surprising?
Sue Monk Kidd has a way of writing that is both captivating and challenging at the same time. It was difficult at times to read a well-known (and widely debated) story from a different perspective and it challenged a lot of the beliefs that were instilled in me from a young age. Readers should be prepared to open their minds to new possibilities within well known stories.
What were your takeaways?
The strength, tenacity and bravery of the women in this story was absolutely the most important part. The humanity of Jesus, outside of his well known title of Messiah, is also a really important part of this story because it allows for the deeper humanity of the women in this story. This is not a story about Jesus or even Christianity, this is a story about the power of women and the influence we can have on historv.
Who would you recommend this to?
I think all women should read this honestly, but I know it's not for everyone. Anyone looking for an emotional story about the fierceness of the female experience. A perfect book for buddy reads and book clubs
[Tw: sexual assault, forced marriage, graphic death of a loved one, in uterine fetal death]
Did you like the book?
This is the type of book that takes a lot of thought and a lot of stamina to get through. I liked it while reading but in the days since finishing it and after having more reflection about the content and the power of the story. I like it even more now.
Was there anything challenging about the book? Surprising?
Sue Monk Kidd has a way of writing that is both captivating and challenging at the same time. It was difficult at times to read a well-known (and widely debated) story from a different perspective and it challenged a lot of the beliefs that were instilled in me from a young age. Readers should be prepared to open their minds to new possibilities within well known stories.
What were your takeaways?
The strength, tenacity and bravery of the women in this story was absolutely the most important part. The humanity of Jesus, outside of his well known title of Messiah, is also a really important part of this story because it allows for the deeper humanity of the women in this story. This is not a story about Jesus or even Christianity, this is a story about the power of women and the influence we can have on historv.
Who would you recommend this to?
I think all women should read this honestly, but I know it's not for everyone. Anyone looking for an emotional story about the fierceness of the female experience. A perfect book for buddy reads and book clubs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Miscarriage
julissadantes's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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
This book turned out to be completely different from what I had expected. It is truly the book of longings and the voice of Ana.
Ana, a young girl growing up in the Middle East and daughter of an important man, shares her ambitions and longings with the reader. Through her eyes, we witness the heart-wrenching things she had to endure. Just when she thought she had found salvation, I, as the reader, thought the story would shift to Jesus, but it didn't. The book continued to revolve around Ana's life.
Unfortunately, Ana found herself in the midst of political altercations and deceit and had to do her best to survive.
What surprised me was how the author made the book's events match the known events from Jesus' life but provided us with a different perspective. It is truly a remarkable piece of art.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Violence