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>