The Book of Longings cover art

The Book of Longings

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Book of Longings

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò, Sue Monk Kidd
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

The New York Times Best seller

From the author of the multi-million-copy-selling The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times best-selling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings.

'I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.'

In her mesmerising fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman called Ana.

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 18-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.

©2020 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Ancient Biographical Fiction Fiction Destiny Inspiring Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

"Superlative.... From a writer at the top of her game.... A practically perfect historical novel." (New York Journal of Books)

"A bold, imaginative reworking." (Sunday Times)

"Brilliant.... Brava!" (The Daily Mail)

What listeners say about The Book of Longings

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    107
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    102
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    87
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this!

This is a most interesting and thought provoking novel, based on aspects of Jesus’ life and imagining him to have married. It follows Anna, his wife, from childhood to old age, and gives a remarkable insight into various strata of society in the years before Christ’s crucifixion. Beautifully narrated. A compelling listen, and I highly recommend it. Make sure you listen to the author notes at the end for context.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful!

A historical story that we’ve all heard but reimagined and brought to life through the beautiful fictional character Ana. I’m not a religious person but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and would recommend to anyone who likes a lead female character with a heartfelt story that will probably make you cry.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A captivating story, narrated beautifully

Enjoyed this thoroughly. couldn't put it down. Beautifully written and we'll researched SMK has taken me on a journey through ancient lands and within myself. I loved the narration- I'd seek out this narrator again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book.

absolutely loved this book and by whom it is told by.
thank you for such a beautiful story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic, intricately woven story

Sue Monk Kidd has done it again. This narrative speaks for the unheard voices of women from the time of Jesus.It is told in first person by his wife, it's not only an enticing story, but an enlightening journey of the times. Kidd explores and unearths the life of women in that era with exquisite and heart felt story telling that has been thoroughly researched, so you feel you are truly in those times with the characters. She cleverly peppers the birth of Christianity throughout the story with poignancy.
Highly recommend the story and the narrator!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The female perspective

This was a lovely narrated novel. A satisfying perspective from the female side about a history we know very little about.
Interesting historical and enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a gem!

Enriching, exquisitely thoughtful, poetically beautiful and momentously uplifting, especially for women! How wonderful it would have been if Jesus had been married to a woman such as Anna .. and that history had acknowledged her! The role of women today would have been so different.. surely!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story

I highly recommend this audio book. Full of wonderful characters this beautiful story allows one to consider another side to this biblical story. Narration was brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisite in it’s telling.

This books opens you to search for the longings that lay deep within your heart, to journey alongside Anna as she comes to know herself, her deepest desires and the eternal flame of love & passion in her heart. As the wings of her heart unfurl, so too will yours.

This book opens the heart and mind to Jesus the man and holy being as one. You will see through new eyes as you behold his life through a new lens.

Though fictional, you will feel the tendrils of truth woven into the fabric of this magnificent telling.

The characters will become your friends and your enemies. You will smell the earth and spikenard, the love and struggles, you will feel the pulse of this story in the beating of your heart.

This is a joy to listen to the narrators voice is perfect for the telling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To give a voice to the wife of Jesus is brilliant!

Beautifully written so that I could believe it was the voice of the woman who was the wife of Jesus. I loved how the author gave Anna a voice and the longing for her words to be recognised in a time when the female was not recognised. I enjoyed her story of love for Jesus the man and her own longing and call to God. Highly recommended!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.