I am Ana.
I was the wife of Jesus..
– The Book of Longings
The day has finally arrived….
The exceptional and extraordinary new novel The Book of Longings, by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Sue Monk Kidd, is published today with Tinder Press.
I was very lucky to have received an advance copy of The Book of Longings from the publisher which I reviewed last week where I wrote that….
The Book of Longings is a fascinating and incredibly researched piece of work, written passionately and from the heart by Sue Monk Kidd. The Book of Longings is an extraordinary book with the most unique premise. Ana’s character feels very real as her story is interwoven into the life of Jesus. From a historical perspective it provides some very authentic depictions of ‘the turbulent resistance to Rome’s occupation of Israel, partially led by her (Ana) brother, Judas.’ The Book of Longings is an exceptional read, one that will stir up the imagination and ask the question…what if? It is a wonderful reading experience, a remarkable blend of fact and fiction, a book I expect to return to in the future. The Book of Longings is a glorious read, an inspiring tale of one woman’s search for her own truth and the journey of discovery she embarks on in her search.
Today I have the honour of joining the Audio Blog Tour and sharing with you all the first of six EXCLUSIVE 10-minute audio clips, with the remaining five to be shared over the next few days by a selection of bloggers. This will give you all the exciting opportunity to listen to a full hour of this powerful novel read by actress Mozhan Marno. The Book of Longings is a book that is just exquisite in every way so I do hope you will be tempted to delve in and continue reading/listening to this unique and powerful tale.
“You are about to meet Ana, a brilliant and rebellious young woman in the first century who becomes the wife of Jesus. Living in a time when women are marginalized and largely unheard within the histories of men, she struggles to realize her passion and potential and to have a voice. Remarkably, the story has relevance even today, women still struggle for greater empowerment. The quest for one’s voice, one’s bravery, one’s freedom, one’s largeness is timeless”
– Sue Monk Kidd
[ Exclusive Audio Clip from The Opening Chapter of The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd read by Mozhan Marno ]
[ About the Book ]
Ana is a rebellious young woman, a gifted writer with a curious, brilliant mind, who writes secret narratives about the neglected and silenced women around her. Raised in a wealthy family in Galilee, she is sheltered from the brutality of Rome’s occupation of Israel. Ana is expected to marry an elderly widower to further her father’s ambitions, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything: his ideas and his passion are intoxicating.
Taking Ana on a journey she could never have imagined, The Book of Longings is a glorious evocation of a time and a place where astounding events unfolded, and of one woman’s fate when she fights to make her voice heard.
[ Final word – Sue Monk Kidd ]
“Writing this novel was a labor of pure love. The story is, above all, Ana’s testament. It began with her, and it is her spirit and her heart full of longings that drive the narrative. In the end The Book of Longings is the account of a woman who loves and impacts a singularly remarkable man and who resists the invisibility and silencing of women to boldly decide her own fate.
My hope is that you’ll find inspiration in her story.”
– Sue Monk Kidd
I very much want to read or listen to this one at some point soon!
If you get the opportunity you will not regret it!