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A review by venusinlove
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
that was really cool!
i'll start this review with the fact that despite being raised in a Christian family that is pretty religious, I, myself am not. I've never liked the idea or just plainly didn't have an interest at all in jesus and his doings or/and god. that being said, my god, this book was so good!
the plain idea that jesus could have had a wife and writing a book entirely from her point of view was so damn interesting! i have never considered the fact that when we talk about the "jesus times" we mainly talk about men and only men, the women that I know from that era are his mother, alledged wife and that's basically all? and I never questioned it! which is really insane since the world cannot function without us (I mean that literally and for sake of the book). to quote sue monk kidd "if jesus actually did have a wife, and history unfolded exactly the way it has, then she would be the most silenced woman in history and the woman most in need of a voice.". sue monk kidd is incredible for that! she gave Ana a voice, a power that was so much needed! not only for us women but for men too - to know that there was someone who was standing next to jesus, supporting him only the way a woman can do that. the name does not matter, it matters that if there was such a woman she really would have been silenced and shut down.
aside from everything about the plot, that was magnificent, i cannot imagine how a book about religion had me so engaged through it all, the writing was also spectacular! the topics this book covers are of such importance! of course, i think a little trigger warning is needed because they include rape and miscarriage, which i know are heavy for most if not all women. but bringing them along with jesus in a book, showing how REAL a woman has been and that isn't in any way documented is mindboggling! i really appreciate the way these topics were connected with the story itself, the way the author touched on the topic of women feeling weak and being next to each other for these hard times, supporting one another, that was so beautiful! i honestly don't think I'll ever read such a book ever again, that was one of a kind!
the writing itself, the style, really reminded me of Babel: An Arcane History but the theme of feminism and the power of women also really made me think of Circe. all three books are incredible. i advise everyone who liked them to try this one out! incredible.
i'll start this review with the fact that despite being raised in a Christian family that is pretty religious, I, myself am not. I've never liked the idea or just plainly didn't have an interest at all in jesus and his doings or/and god. that being said, my god, this book was so good!
the plain idea that jesus could have had a wife and writing a book entirely from her point of view was so damn interesting! i have never considered the fact that when we talk about the "jesus times" we mainly talk about men and only men, the women that I know from that era are his mother, alledged wife and that's basically all? and I never questioned it! which is really insane since the world cannot function without us (I mean that literally and for sake of the book). to quote sue monk kidd "if jesus actually did have a wife, and history unfolded exactly the way it has, then she would be the most silenced woman in history and the woman most in need of a voice.". sue monk kidd is incredible for that! she gave Ana a voice, a power that was so much needed! not only for us women but for men too - to know that there was someone who was standing next to jesus, supporting him only the way a woman can do that. the name does not matter, it matters that if there was such a woman she really would have been silenced and shut down.
aside from everything about the plot, that was magnificent, i cannot imagine how a book about religion had me so engaged through it all, the writing was also spectacular! the topics this book covers are of such importance! of course, i think a little trigger warning is needed because they include rape and miscarriage, which i know are heavy for most if not all women. but bringing them along with jesus in a book, showing how REAL a woman has been and that isn't in any way documented is mindboggling! i really appreciate the way these topics were connected with the story itself, the way the author touched on the topic of women feeling weak and being next to each other for these hard times, supporting one another, that was so beautiful! i honestly don't think I'll ever read such a book ever again, that was one of a kind!
the writing itself, the style, really reminded me of Babel: An Arcane History but the theme of feminism and the power of women also really made me think of Circe. all three books are incredible. i advise everyone who liked them to try this one out! incredible.