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alex_readsbooks 's review for:
The Book of Longings
by Sue Monk Kidd
5/5
I did not expect to enjoy this story so much but it has turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. This is told from the perspective of Ana, the fictional wife of Jesus, and chronicles her life and poses the question of how different the world would be if Jesus did, in fact, have a wife and her story, like most women’s, was buried.
Sue Monk Kidd weaves an intricate and important story. I loved that is was told from a historical perspective but didn’t lessen the importance religious belief had on the narrative. The portrait painted of Ana’s experiences as a young girl, adulthood, and through the crucifixion of her husband are poignant and detailed and some of the most intriguing pieces of writing I’ve ever read.
The relationships between Ana and the other women in her life were particularly interesting and heartwarming to read about and the camaraderie we see in how they work together against beliefs of women at the time were extremely empowering. I worried I would get bored, but as the story covers such a large portion of time it is very fast-paced and there were plenty of heavy and riveting scenes to keep me engaged.
Most people do not read the author’s note so I’d like to include this small portion from this one that felt particularly strong to me and, I won’t lie, definitely made me cry:
“The day Ana appeared, I knew one thing about her besides her name. I knew that what she wanted most was a voice. If Jesus actually did have a wife, and history unfolded exactly the way it has, then she would be the most silenced woman in history and the woman most in need of a voice. I tried to give her one.”
And give her one she did.
I did not expect to enjoy this story so much but it has turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. This is told from the perspective of Ana, the fictional wife of Jesus, and chronicles her life and poses the question of how different the world would be if Jesus did, in fact, have a wife and her story, like most women’s, was buried.
Sue Monk Kidd weaves an intricate and important story. I loved that is was told from a historical perspective but didn’t lessen the importance religious belief had on the narrative. The portrait painted of Ana’s experiences as a young girl, adulthood, and through the crucifixion of her husband are poignant and detailed and some of the most intriguing pieces of writing I’ve ever read.
The relationships between Ana and the other women in her life were particularly interesting and heartwarming to read about and the camaraderie we see in how they work together against beliefs of women at the time were extremely empowering. I worried I would get bored, but as the story covers such a large portion of time it is very fast-paced and there were plenty of heavy and riveting scenes to keep me engaged.
Most people do not read the author’s note so I’d like to include this small portion from this one that felt particularly strong to me and, I won’t lie, definitely made me cry:
“The day Ana appeared, I knew one thing about her besides her name. I knew that what she wanted most was a voice. If Jesus actually did have a wife, and history unfolded exactly the way it has, then she would be the most silenced woman in history and the woman most in need of a voice. I tried to give her one.”
And give her one she did.