The Book of Longings

A bold, imaginative reworking of the Christian tale from a female perspective

Sunday Times

Brilliant ... the familiar characters brought to vivid life

Daily Mail

"This novel has an intriguing premise . . . The novel's evocation of life in Galilee is fascinating, and clever, rebellious Ana is a memorable character."

—The Times (UK)

This is not Jesus' story, but Ana's. [...] The Book of Longings is the testament of a bold woman, and the story of many stolen female voices.

Irish Times

Superlative . . . from a writer at the top of her game . . . A practically perfect historical novel

New York Journal of Books

Kidd uses her unexpected narrator to reveal new perspectives on an endlessly parsed era.

The Washington Post

Riveting . . . Telling the story of an extraordinary life in one of the most startling pieces of historical fiction you're likely to set eyes on this year

Sunday Business Post

Imaginative . . . Charts a young woman's struggle to confront the ways in which society dictates what she can and cannot do.

TIME

'A wonderfully researched novel ... reimagining the past through the eyes of a creative, curious and defiant woman'

Culturefly

'A testament to the author's talent for creating both compelling characters and intriguing story lines ... The intensity, bravery, and strength of character of Ana ... will inspire readers ... to live authentically and remain true to oneself'

Library Journal

An inspiring story of a strong woman living in a society bent on her silence

Good Housekeeping (US)

Kidd's bold narrative revisionism allows her protagonist to be in every respect the equal of her husband while posing this question: How would Western culture be different if men and women had grown in appreciation of each other's spirit?

O, The Oprah Magazine

This is Ana's story . . . Well-researched and a cracking good read

Church Times

Ana's ambition and strong sense of justice make her a sympathetic character for modern readers ... A vibrant portrait of a woman striving to preserve and celebrate women's stories - her own and countless others

Publishers Weekly

Kidd describes a first-century world full of political and religious tensions, which feels simultaneously ancient and freshly awake with spiritual possibility. [...]The message about the importance of kindness and the power of women's voices should resonate strongly with today's readers'

Booklist

· A master of literary women's fiction, Kidd always strikes a chord with her strong, feisty female protagonists . . . [The Book of Longings] is an engaging story about a young woman defying the odds to make her voice heard, a story that remains relevant today . . . [and] underscore[s] what's lost when one group - be it one gender, race or religion - gets to write the history for all.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

No other writer has fleshed out a partner who can stand on her own, who is intellectually and spiritually well matched with Jesus . . . Kidd's research into first-century Jewish life, along with her vivid descriptions of the villages and terrain, make Ana's story come alive

Christian Science Monitor

Praise for Sue Monk Kidd's earlier novels

'Exhilarating. . . powerful'

Washington Post

'Moving, original, and accomplished . . . It is wonderfully written, powerful, poignant, and humorous'

Joanna Trollope

'The tale of one motherless daughter's discovery of what family really means - and of the strange and wondrous places we love'

Washington Post

'Wonderful - well-written, moving and engaging by turns, and always compelling'

Daily Mail

'A resonant, illuminating novel'

Observer

This year's The Help - but even better

Fabulous

'A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman - slave or free . . . a conversation changer' - Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine

Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine

'The stunning metaphors and realistic characters are so poignant they will bring tears to your eyes'

Library Journal