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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 Biography Destiny Inspiring Heartfelt Middle East

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)

All stars
Most relevant  
This is a most interesting and thought provoking novel, based on aspects of Jesus’ life and imagining him to have married. It follows Anna, his wife, from childhood to old age, and gives a remarkable insight into various strata of society in the years before Christ’s crucifixion. Beautifully narrated. A compelling listen, and I highly recommend it. Make sure you listen to the author notes at the end for context.

Loved this!

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A historical story that we’ve all heard but reimagined and brought to life through the beautiful fictional character Ana. I’m not a religious person but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and would recommend to anyone who likes a lead female character with a heartfelt story that will probably make you cry.

Beautiful!

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Enjoyed this thoroughly. couldn't put it down. Beautifully written and we'll researched SMK has taken me on a journey through ancient lands and within myself. I loved the narration- I'd seek out this narrator again!

A captivating story, narrated beautifully

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absolutely loved this book and by whom it is told by.
thank you for such a beautiful story.

amazing book.

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Sue Monk Kidd has done it again. This narrative speaks for the unheard voices of women from the time of Jesus.It is told in first person by his wife, it's not only an enticing story, but an enlightening journey of the times. Kidd explores and unearths the life of women in that era with exquisite and heart felt story telling that has been thoroughly researched, so you feel you are truly in those times with the characters. She cleverly peppers the birth of Christianity throughout the story with poignancy.
Highly recommend the story and the narrator!

Fantastic, intricately woven story

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This was a lovely narrated novel. A satisfying perspective from the female side about a history we know very little about.
Interesting historical and enjoyable.

The female perspective

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Enriching, exquisitely thoughtful, poetically beautiful and momentously uplifting, especially for women! How wonderful it would have been if Jesus had been married to a woman such as Anna .. and that history had acknowledged her! The role of women today would have been so different.. surely!!

What a gem!

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I highly recommend this audio book. Full of wonderful characters this beautiful story allows one to consider another side to this biblical story. Narration was brilliant!

Beautiful story

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This books opens you to search for the longings that lay deep within your heart, to journey alongside Anna as she comes to know herself, her deepest desires and the eternal flame of love & passion in her heart. As the wings of her heart unfurl, so too will yours.

This book opens the heart and mind to Jesus the man and holy being as one. You will see through new eyes as you behold his life through a new lens.

Though fictional, you will feel the tendrils of truth woven into the fabric of this magnificent telling.

The characters will become your friends and your enemies. You will smell the earth and spikenard, the love and struggles, you will feel the pulse of this story in the beating of your heart.

This is a joy to listen to the narrators voice is perfect for the telling.

Exquisite in it’s telling.

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Beautifully written so that I could believe it was the voice of the woman who was the wife of Jesus. I loved how the author gave Anna a voice and the longing for her words to be recognised in a time when the female was not recognised. I enjoyed her story of love for Jesus the man and her own longing and call to God. Highly recommended!!

To give a voice to the wife of Jesus is brilliant!

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