With this book I have read all of Kidd's Fictional works (who knew she has four non-fiction books too??). I enjoyed all of her books, and this one is no different. Kidd's book provides a window into what could have been if Jesus had been married. This book is not a story about Jesus, it is about his wife.
[However, this one was so reminiscent of Geraldine Brooks that I had a hard time remembering which book I was reading. I LOVE GB and have read several of her books and highly recommend them all. It is her book The Secret Chord that struck a chord - haha - with me while reading this book. While The Secret Chord is about King David, the biblical time frame was very similar. I find it fascinating as a Christian to read fictional novels about biblical times and have often wondered what life was really like during Jesus' time. If you do too, go check out The Secret Chord.]
It took me a while to get into The Book of Longings. The presentation is very dry, very factual. We meet young Ana at about age 14, when her parents are arranging her marriage to a much older widower. She balks, a nice young man helps her when she literally falls for him as she runs away from this match, and so it begins. And we have the basis for how women are treated, mistreated, ignored and owned that prevail throughout the novel for Ana, her mother, her aunt, and let's be real, EVERY SINGLE FEMALE.
Hold that thought.
So Ana and Jesus end up getting married and live a happy little life for several years even with Ana's transition from little rich girl to carpenter's wife on the family complex. She faces jealousy from others and watches as her husband, with whom she shares a rare true love and level of respect, is conflicted by his calling. When at age 30 he finally goes to work with John the Immerser, she goes another way for reasons of her own safety. (She is a fiesty one, this Ana, and causes trouble with her big mouth!) She plans to meet up with Jesus on his ministry as soon as it is safe for her to do so.
One year turns to two, and she begins to enjoy her life of study and scribing in a place called Therapeutae - she is talented and educated and valued here. At this special place, they study the word of God and pray to God's female spirit, Sophia. What I liked here is the focus on Ana, on the women she calls family, and on her intelligence and relationship with her husband. It does beg the question of how things might have been different for centuries after for women had it been publicly known that Jesus had an equal partner who he adored in his life, and had she been by his side during his ministry. Fascinating to ponder!
So overall, an interesting posit about what could have been/might have been a true story about women during Jesus' time, and a little about Jesus too. I'm a history major so I loved being transported to a time so long ago and reading about daily life and what women faced. Kidd weaves in other biblical characters too in a fun way. One thing I did not like was the supposition that no one knew he was the Messiah - it ended up being a big surprise to everyone, including his mom. Or maybe she just didn't mention the whole Angel appearing thing, and that story came later. So many ways this could have gone down, I guess, if you are willing to read this separately from the well known Bible versions.
Which, to me, is the whole point. What IF, indeed??
Definitely read the author's note, too. This may be fiction, but not everything she wrote about in this book was fictional.
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