I am of two minds about this book. It is divided into sections based on divisions in the character's life and her location. The first one, in which she is a young woman (teens), I found pretty dismal. The language felt stilted, although that was probably an attempt to give a historical feel. However, to people living in any time, their language is natural and this device felt like artifice and a barrier to embracing the narrator's reality. Most characters were introduced without much nuance- they were good or they were evil. A few historical notes rang false as well. Why would it be odd that a woman in her 40s looked old? The average life expectancy was lower in biblical times and living conditions would have been harsh. Why would the fictionalized character of Jesus not be called Joshua or Yeshua? Everyone else went by either their Hebrew names or an anglicized version of the their names. Jesus is the Greek version of that name. I also found it odd to assign modern female sensibilities about women's roles, rights, lives, etc. to a character who would be very unlikely to have these thoughts. We are creatures of our times; ignoring that takes the reader out of the story.
Good news: as the plot advances, so does the quality of the writing and the appeal of the novel. I liked very much how the author embraced the "fully human" Messiah story. I thought she did that well. It was also interesting to read about Alexandria's history.

I love Sue Monk Kidd and had very high hopes for this novel. It did not let me down. Don't let the religion aspect affect you in any way. I'm not religious, but got so much out of this book!

For even attempting a novel about the wife of Jesus, I give the author 5 stars. That she managed to write it believably, compassionately, with an historically accurate setting and a realistic portrayal of the life of women at that time is amazing. Obviously Jesus is part of her narrative but his wife, Ana, is really the main character around whom the story revolves. She has written a great book, one that inspires reflection and brings life to a 2000 year old story.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC to read and review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is based upon a possible wife of Jesus Christ. The storyline is written respectfully and I feel that Jesus's character remains Christlike. The manner in which women were devalued in that time period is shocking, but realistic. Ana is a strong woman, a loving wife, and a gifted writer. She loves Jesus, but she also has dreams and aspirations for herself.

This would make a great discussion novel for a bookclub.

Well written, provocative, yet in essence a simple story. The writing was quite good, the pacing was quite slow for the first third, but overall a good story. I just....was not a fan of the protagonist. I am very picky with my historical female characters and found Ana to be too much of a reach for a modern feminist type character. I found her fire and will to be remarkable, but very unrealistic for her age in the beginning. It was very interesting to read of a fully human Jesus, yet I confess it to have been a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps that is a good thing, books should make us think.

A unique novel about a Jewish woman, Ana. Told through her voice, I learned about the life of Ana and how she meets and eventually marries a Jewish carpenter, Jesus. I liked how the author blended scripture and fiction to weave a story. It brought to life the people in the Bible and made them seem more realistic.

Different subplots kept the story moving. At a fast pace.. With twists and turns. Until The climatic end.ing.

I was so excited to read the new Sue Monk Kidd book and The Book of Longings did not disappoint. What an interesting look at a woman's life in ancient times. Ana's struggle to be heard was as real as women who struggle today with the very same issues. A classic character in the making for sure. Excellent choice for book clubs looking for a different yet relevant historical fiction.

I really enjoyed this book. Sue Monk Kidd imagines if Jesus was married and not just to any woman, it an intelligent, scholarly, and spiritual woman in her own right. The power of women’s spiritual voices and men’s efforts to silence them are strong themes in this beautifully written novel.

I can see there being so much petty controversy surrounding this book, but I really enjoyed it. Beautifully written, well thought out, engaging from start to finish.

This novel supposes that Jesus has a wise and intellectual wife named Ana. She is a writer, a poet, and a recorder when women were supposed to be silent. The story follows the himan side of Jesus through the crucifixion
It is a beautiful love story.