I will be thinking of this book for years to come and I know this is a story I will revisit and read again and again. Perhaps that's the highest praise that can be awarded to any book.

The Book of Longings focuses on the fictional wife of Jesus, Ana, who is not just his wife but his partner and equal in her own mission. Ana wishes to write the stories of women who have not been allowed a voice - women from scripture and women from her own life.

Jesus is an important figure in the story and the author portrays him as fully human, in what might be the most convincing and heart-rending portrayal of Jesus that I have yet read. The novel does not dispute his divinity, but simply doesn't touch on it. In this story, Jesus doesn't hear God speak to him from age 12 to age 30 and thus comes into his identity over the course of time, accepting who he is and is to become instead of having the knowledge thrust upon him from birth and hanging over him for his entire life. This idea of Jesus gives me so much to think over and I have no doubt those thoughts will make for some wonderful sermons.

But this is truly Ana's story. And Tabitha's and Yaltha's. Even Mary's. It is the story of women in first century Palestine. I encourage you to put aside any preconceived notions you might have about Middle Eastern women and any worries you might have about how Jesus is portrayed and simply go on this journey with Ana and her loved ones.

You'll leave the book a better person for having read it.