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lokilledrome's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Blood, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Rape, Classism, Death, and Domestic abuse
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
kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Child death
emscozyreadingcorner's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
I randomly stumbled upon this book in the Goodwill bookstore and I was fascinated by the cover art. Upon reading the back and realizing that it was Biblical fiction, I knew I had to read it.
This book was by far and away one of my favorite books I've ever read. The main protagonist, Ana, is courageous and fierce. The author uses Ana's story to explore what it might have been like to be a feminist woman at the time of Jesus, yet she does not shy away from the idea that Ana has desires for things that are expected of her as well.
That is all I will say in the non-spoilery review of this. Just read it.
There are so many things I love about this book, but I'll start with Ana's relationship to the other characters, especially the women. Ana's changing perception of Tabitha throughout her life is my favorite. She goes from dislike to tolerance to considering Tabitha a sister. I thought that there was something so special about that, especially because Ana's dislike of Tabitha mainly stemmed from Tabitha's desire to get married as was expected of her, while Ana sought to escape marriage. As Ana went through her life, bearing witness to Tabitha's rape, later becoming Jesus's wife, she seems to grow a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Tabitha. Yaltha was also a favorite character of mine and I deeply appreciated that whilst we went through so many sadnesses in this book, Yaltha was given the happy ending of an old-age death. She provided so much humor and all the wisdom of a mother figure never given to Ana by her own mother. Ana's relationship with Mary and Salome as a mother and sister figure were also endearing. I cried as they held hands with Ana during the crucifixion and helped her to anoint her husband's body in the tomb.
The theme of found family was especially prevalent. Ana never felt as though her birth parents really cared for her; in fact, their trying to sell her to Antipas as a concubine was proof of that. But Ana was able to find a family who truly did care for her. Yaltha, Mary, Mary Magdala, Diodora, Tabitha, and of course, her husband, Jesus.
I enjoyed reading of Jesus as a human. He was the first to have an open acceptance of Ana as who she really was. He accepts her truth without question. When she says she does not wish to have children, he respects her decision. When she gets pregnant and suffers a miscarriage, he defies custom and comes to her when she is considered religiously "unclean." Ana's relationship with Jesus is a remarkable exploration of the prejudices seen in Christianity and a profound way of saying that Jesus would have accepted everyone as they were.
Ana's relationship with Judas was another point of intrigue. After he betrays Jesus and kills himself, Ana chooses to mourn the version of Judas she knew as a child. She understands that Judas hated Rome more than he loved Jesus, but does not forgive him for what he did. As someone who has family members I love but don't talk to because of differing beliefs among other things, I thought this was a touching testament to how we do feel when people we love wrong us. We choose to remember and mourn the people they were when they were kind.
Ana and Yaltha are a cunning and intelligent pair. Repeatedly, they find ways around the confinements set upon them by society. Their resilience and determination to find happiness in a world which seems to defy is is nothing short of inspirational. As Yaltha says, "Life will be life and death will be death."
For me, the ending was the sweetest part. Ana found a purpose and a happy life with Tabitha and Diodora. She was enough as she was. And I think that message is incredibly important, especially for someone who spent her life looking for her purpose and not knowing what it was.
This book was incredibly well-researched. It was driven as much by Ana's own self-discovery as it was by time. I thought that the character development and world building were well-paced and balanced with each other. I did not feel the need to rush through this book; however, I did feel the need to take my time with it and let Kidd's storytelling unfold. .
This book was by far and away one of my favorite books I've ever read. The main protagonist, Ana, is courageous and fierce. The author uses Ana's story to explore what it might have been like to be a feminist woman at the time of Jesus, yet she does not shy away from the idea that Ana has desires for things that are expected of her as well.
That is all I will say in the non-spoilery review of this. Just read it.
The theme of found family was especially prevalent. Ana never felt as though her birth parents really cared for her; in fact, their trying to sell her to Antipas as a concubine was proof of that. But Ana was able to find a family who truly did care for her. Yaltha, Mary, Mary Magdala, Diodora, Tabitha, and of course, her husband, Jesus.
I enjoyed reading of Jesus as a human. He was the first to have an open acceptance of Ana as who she really was. He accepts her truth without question. When she says she does not wish to have children, he respects her decision. When she gets pregnant and suffers a miscarriage, he defies custom and comes to her when she is considered religiously "unclean." Ana's relationship with Jesus is a remarkable exploration of the prejudices seen in Christianity and a profound way of saying that Jesus would have accepted everyone as they were.
Ana's relationship with Judas was another point of intrigue. After he betrays Jesus and kills himself, Ana chooses to mourn the version of Judas she knew as a child. She understands that Judas hated Rome more than he loved Jesus, but does not forgive him for what he did. As someone who has family members I love but don't talk to because of differing beliefs among other things, I thought this was a touching testament to how we do feel when people we love wrong us. We choose to remember and mourn the people they were when they were kind.
Ana and Yaltha are a cunning and intelligent pair. Repeatedly, they find ways around the confinements set upon them by society. Their resilience and determination to find happiness in a world which seems to defy is is nothing short of inspirational. As Yaltha says, "Life will be life and death will be death."
For me, the ending was the sweetest part. Ana found a purpose and a happy life with Tabitha and Diodora. She was enough as she was. And I think that message is incredibly important, especially for someone who spent her life looking for her purpose and not knowing what it was.
This book was incredibly well-researched. It was driven as much by Ana's own self-discovery as it was by time. I thought that the character development and world building were well-paced and balanced with each other. I did not feel the need to rush through this book; however, I did feel the need to take my time with it and let Kidd's storytelling unfold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Grief, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death and Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
It's set during the time of Jesus and follows the life of Jesus. Click the spoiler tab for a list of scenes. No character names will be mentioned, but what happens to them specifically will be.busy_izzi's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death of parent
Minor: Slavery and Suicide
shostakofish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, and Misogyny
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