The Book of Longings

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Sue Monk Kidd describes The Book of Longings as both “controversial” and “incendiary.” How did you feel about the premise of Jesus having a wife, and how did your reaction to this idea evolve throughout the novel?

2. How did you respond to Kidd’s portrayal of Jesus as both fully human and spiritually significant? In what ways does this portrayal differ from other fictional depictions of Jesus, such as in The Da Vinci Code, where his marriage is treated as a hidden conspiracy rather than a love story?

3. Which elements of Ana’s journey resonated most strongly with you, and which aspects challenged your previous understanding of the historical period or religious narratives?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Ana writes in her incantation bowl, “Bless the largeness in me, no matter how I fear it” (13). What “largeness” within yourself have you sometimes feared acknowledging or pursuing?

2. Throughout the novel, Ana struggles with balancing her role as Jesus’s wife with her ambitions as a writer. Have you experienced similar tensions between personal relationships and creative or professional aspirations?

3. Ana describes her longings as a driving force in her life. What longings have shaped your own life’s journey, and how have they influenced your decisions?

4. The relationships between Ana and her female mentors and friends (like Yaltha and Tabitha) sustain her through difficult times. Who has served as a mentor in your life, and how have they helped you find or express your voice?

5. Ana finds strength in writing even during her most difficult times. What creative or personal practices have helped you through challenging periods in your life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel presents a world where women’s voices are systematically silenced, from Tabitha’s brutal punishment to the exclusion of Ana’s writings from the historical record. What similar patterns exist in contemporary society, and how have things changed since the time period the book portrays?

2. How does Kidd portray the tensions between Roman occupation and Jewish resistance? What parallels do you see between these power dynamics and political conflicts in today’s world?

3. Throughout history, religious institutions have often determined which voices are preserved and which are excluded from official narratives. How has this practice shaped our understanding of history, particularly regarding women’s experiences?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Consider the structure of the novel, which follows Ana through different locations (Sepphoris, Nazareth, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Lake Mareotis). How does each setting contribute to Ana’s development as a character and to the story’s themes?

2. The novel incorporates the historical discovery of The Thunder: Perfect Mind, attributing its authorship to Ana. How does this connection between fiction and historical artifact enhance the novel’s impact or deepen its meaning?

3. In what ways does Ana’s character arc reflect the künstlerroman tradition—a novel about an artist’s development? How does her evolution as a writer parallel her personal growth, and how does it compare to protagonist arcs in other novels focused on female artists, such as Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye?

4. Discuss the symbolism of the incantation bowl throughout the novel. How does its meaning evolve as Ana’s circumstances change?

5. How does Kidd humanize Jesus while still acknowledging his spiritual significance? What techniques does she use to balance these aspects of his character?

6. The novel presents Judas not as a villain but as a complex character motivated by political idealism. How does this portrayal affect your understanding of betrayal and its consequences in the story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Which character from The Book of Longings would you most want to have a conversation with, and what questions would you ask them?

2. The archaeological discovery of Ana’s writings would transform our understanding of early Christianity. Compose or outline a brief newspaper headline and article announcing this momentous find.

3. Ana’s story gives voice to a woman who might have existed on the margins of one of history’s most influential narratives. What other historical or religious figures’ unknown partners would make compelling protagonists for a novel?

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