The Book of Longings: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd

The Book of Longings: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd is the story of Ana, a rebellious and ambitious girl from Gallilee who became the wife of Jesus. Yes, that Jesus. And, Ana’s adopted brother Judas, was that Judas.

Ana’s story was told in the first person, fittingly, since her heart and soul were filled with the burning need to have a voice, to tell the stories of the women around her and the stories of women from her history. The women whose stories inspired her to write included Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah and Esther. Ana also wrote the story of her friend Tabitha, who had her tongue cut out and was sold as a slave after she was raped and brought shame to her family by speaking of the crime against her.

Ana learned to write from her father who was the head scribe to Herod Antipas, however as a female, she had no value or rights. Ana’s parents arranged for her to marry a cruel old man, whom she despised. He unexpectedly died before they married and when Ana was almost stoned to death by an angry crowd who believed her to have had a hand in his death, Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth saved her.

Ana fell in love with Jesus almost at first sight. He was a poor man who sometimes worked as a labourer, and other times as a fisherman, carpenter or stonemason. Their marriage was happy, although I was amused that the author clearly approved of a woman’s right to choose whether or not they would have children, since Jesus accepted Ana’s choice to use herbal contraceptives.

After marrying Jesus, Ana became the daughter-in-law of Mary, who by the time she entered the story, was a widow. Ana’s sister-in-law, Judith was also in love with Jesus but as he hadn’t loved her in return, had married his brother James. Other relations by marriage included Martha, Lazarus and Salome.

When Ana’s life was in danger again due to political intrigue, she and her aunt Yaltha escaped to Egypt, where Ana visited and worked in the grandest library in the world, the great Library of Alexandria. In Egypt, Ana encountered different religions and ways of life. Later, the women had to leave Egypt, again for their own safety. They moved to Therapeuta, a community for philisophers and spiritual seekers, a place where Ana felt almost entirely in her element, aside from missing her beloved husband who had since become a travelling minister.

Jesus’ story was secondary to Ana’s although his religious growth formed part of the story, especially after he was baptised by John the Baptist whose mission he took on after John was beheaded.

Back in Gallilee, King Herod’s ambition was to be the King of the Jews, however according to Jesus himself and the local community, Jesus took the title of the Messiah after he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey before starting a riot in a temple, protesting against corrupt temple workers.

The rift between Jesus and Ana’s stepbrother Judas was caused by their differing opinion of how best to establish God’s Kingdom. Jesus believed this could be done peacefully, but Judas thought that a war was the only way to do this. In betraying Jesus, Judas believed the ensuing war would be the means to an end.

At one very low point in Ana’s life her aunt Yaltha told her, “All shall be well”…”I don’t mean that life won’t bring you tragedy, I only mean that you will be well in spite of it. There’s a place in you that is inviolate. You’ll find your way there, when you need to, And you’ll know then what I speak of.” Comforting stuff.

Sue Monk Kidd’s writing is very good. The Biblical background was fascinating and I liked being reminded (although I am not at all religious) that these characters or names from the Bible including Jesus, were human and had their own faults and failings, as well as their strengths. The story however, belonged to Ana, whose story was strong enough to stand on its own.