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The Book of Longings

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The Book of Longings

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò, Sue Monk Kidd
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About this listen

The New York Times Best seller

From the author of the multi-million-copy-selling The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times best-selling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings.

'I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.'

In her mesmerising fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman called Ana.

Ana is a rebellious young woman, a gifted writer with a curious, brilliant mind, who writes secret narratives about the neglected and silenced women around her. Raised in a wealthy family in Galilee, she is sheltered from the brutality of Rome's occupation of Israel. Ana is expected to marry an elderly widower to further her father's ambitions, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the 18-year-old Jesus changes everything: his ideas and his passion are intoxicating.

Taking Ana on a journey she could never have imagined, The Book of Longings is a glorious evocation of a time and a place where astounding events unfolded, and of one woman's fate when she fights to make her voice heard.

©2020 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2020 Penguin Audio Ancient Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Destiny Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"Superlative.... From a writer at the top of her game.... A practically perfect historical novel." (New York Journal of Books)

"A bold, imaginative reworking." (Sunday Times)

"Brilliant.... Brava!" (The Daily Mail)

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I had no idea what this would be like. A superbe telling of part of the life of Jesus and so much more. A story allowing the voice of women to be heard, despite the context of powerlessness and subjugation of females of those times. I would recommend to all.

wonderful

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A n i n t e r e s t i n g p e r s p e c t i v e.

Loved this!

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Very impressive. Extremely well written - very plausible. I would recommend this title. to everyone.

Thought Provoking Read

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As a Christian I was slightly worried about this book but it was recommended to me by an evangelical Christian friend. There is no discussion about Jesus as both man and God. Anna marries Jesus but they are conveniently separate during his years of ministry.
The book is very good at showing the role of women in biblical times. Anna follows Jewish tradition. The purity laws, marriage laws etc are naturally part of the story.
This book is not life changing but worth a listen.

Learnt a lot about Jewish tradition.

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I thought this book was so well written, her turn of phrase is captivating and the way she weaves the story is a real delight to unravel. The fictional story of Jesus wife and it’s very far from being focussed on him but on her and life for women during this time.

Absolutely fascinating - I loved it

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Excellent storyline and narration, gripping all the way through with an important voice to be heard.

Outstanding

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A well-performed beautiful story about finding your innermost self, love and family. The author weaves fictional and historical figures together in a well-known story that gives a new interpretation of events, motives and emotions as seen through the eyes of the wife of Jesus.

A beautiful and moving story

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I found this novel quite captivating, the story of Ana fictional wife of Jesus.
The narration spoilt it for me though and I wish I read it instead of listened.

Interesting and compelling

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A beautifully written story highlighting the lost stories of women throughout the ages. Equally beautifully narrated making listening a pleasure. The harrowing experiences of the women made bearable by the strength, loyalty and friendship of the characters both women and men.

Excellent

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As a Christian with bias based on that which is tradition, decided to be open minded about this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the way the author concluded with her fictional thoughts, however only God and those around at the time would only know whether He had a wife......as per usual with the books I have listened to, it coincided with Easter...

The Wife of Jesus!

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