Each Tuesday at 6 p.m., author Adriana Trigiani hosts, Adriana Ink, The World’s Largest Book Club on Facebook. She hosts an impressive lineup of authors via zoom and since tuning in, my TBR (to be read) list has increased drastically. I’ve always been a huge fan of author Sue Monk Kidd so I anticipated her appearance when she discussed her new title, The Book of Longings. I bought the book, read it, and now I’m excited to tell you about it! It’s a historical fiction novel about the wife of Jesus.
The book follows Jesus’s fictional wife, Ana, on her journey to meet her beloved and finding a voice for herself, especially through her writing. I admit I was skeptical to read a title written about the first-century because of the early language style, but Monk-Kidd created a beautiful dialogue that was inviting and a pleasure to read.
Ana was born into a wealthy family. That fact didn’t exclude her from encountering many obstacles such as an undesirable arranged marriage, a brother that was ostracized from the family, and the fact she wanted to share her passions and dreams in a civilization that silenced her gender. The characters introduced in the book and their relationships with Ana and Jesus drew me into the story.
In my opinion, it’s a wonderfully portrayed novel, a history lesson, and a good choice to read during the Easter season. It’s meticulously researched and written with respect. Adriana’s Facebook interview with Monk-Kidd, certainly piqued my curiosity. If you’re looking to find new books to read, try watching Adriana’s Book Club. It’s great hearing straight from the heart of the author and the conversations are entertaining. It’s most likely you’ll find a great read as I did in The Book of Longings. Enjoy!
Melanie Riley
Interesting about that book club on FB! I’m also a huge fan of Sue Monk Kidd. I think I’ve read all of her books including this one, The Book of Longings. Unfortunately, this was one I didn’t care for though. I thought the first third of the book was interesting and engaging, but then the story droned on. I also thought too many characters were introduced and it was hard to keep track of them. Oh well, I know everyone is different with their reading tastes. Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
Judy Palermo
I’ve read many of Sue Monk-Kidd’s books too! I really enjoyed this book, but you’re right. Everyone has their own taste. Thanks for reading and commenting!