the book of longings: a novel  <p><b>"an epic masterpiece that is a triumph of insight and storytelling." (associated press) </b></p> <p><b>“a true masterpiece.” (glennon doyle, author of </b><b><i>untamed</i></b><b>) </b></p> <p><b>named a most anticipated book of 2020 by </b><b><i>o, the oprah magazine</i></b><b>,</b><b><i> good morning america</i></b><b>/abc-tv, </b><b><i>good housekeeping</i></b><b>, </b><b><i>bustle</i></b><b>, </b><b><i>time</i></b><b>, </b><b><i>marie claire</i></b><b>, and </b><b><i>the millions</i></b><b>.</b></p> <p><b>an extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one </b><b><i>new york times</i></b><b> best-selling author of</b> <b><i>the secret life of bees</i></b> <b>and</b> <b><i>the invention of wings </i></b></p> <p>in her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, sue monk kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named ana. raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. she engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. an encounter with 18-year-old jesus changes everything.</p> <p>their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in nazareth, where ana makes a home with jesus, his brothers, and their mother, mary. ana’s pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to rome’s occupation of israel, partially led by her brother, judas. she is sustained by her fearless aunt yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. when ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. </p> <p>grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to jesus’s life that focuses on his humanity, <i>the book of longings</i> is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman’s bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. it is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.</p>