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random19379's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Suicide, Grief, Rape, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
cingram9's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Violence
maddiebusick's review against another edition
- 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
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
sarah_speaks's review
- 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
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
- 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
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."
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide, Blood, and Domestic abuse
death of partnerrysperez's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Sexual assault
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Slavery, Animal death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, Death, and Violence
bseigel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment and Physical abuse
mmarieritter's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and Classism
nickgalentine's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
And so it remained. For this book wasn't about him or his life directly (it especially wasn't about any of his purported miracles, as this book focused on his humanity, not his deification). It was about Ana, his (non-canonical) wife. She served as a stand-in for all the women silenced during the time, whether in the Bible or in history, due to their sex. Her relationships with other women in the book was a highlight for me. The things each woman offered to the narrative illustrated well how women were marginalized, overlooked, and forgotten during this era. Even Ana's cold mother represented the unfairness (or lack) of marital rights for women.
I am not Christian. If anything, I'm anti-religion. But this book was about women and their relationships with their gods, not a narrative solely featuring Christ's time among humanity. As a feminist, I found it powerful, significant, and captivating. I highly recommend The Book of Longings.
Moderate: Rape and Violence