North Parish Book/Movie Group

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

This is the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is  rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes  narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies  her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict,  humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana’s pent up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome’s occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas.  She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts  her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in  unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most  impactful in human history. 

Contact is Suzanne Adams, sue@gndhome.com