{
    "id": 368176,
    "slug": "book-of-longings",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "The Book of Longings",
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    "description": "<p><strong><strong>Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by </strong><strong><em>O, the Oprah Magazine</em></strong><strong>, Good Morning America/ABC-TV, </strong><strong><em>Good Housekeeping</em></strong><strong>, </strong><strong><em>Bustle</em></strong><strong>, </strong><strong><em>TIME</em></strong><strong>, </strong><strong><em>Marie Claire</em></strong> <strong>and</strong><strong><em> The Millions</em></strong><br /><br /><strong>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 bestselling author of </strong><strong><em>The Secret Life of Bees</em></strong><strong> and </strong><strong><em>The Invention of Wings</em></strong></strong><br /><br />In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine 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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, <em>The Book of Longings </em>is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.</p>",
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    "language_code": "eng",
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    "page_count": 384,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": "2020-04-28",
    "publication_date_latest": "2021-03-18",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [
        {
            "isbn": "9781472232519",
            "product_form": "BC"
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    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:31:10+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-11-04T00:30:11+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 4179,
        "slug": "penguin-us",
        "name": "Penguin US",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:08:37+00:00",
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            "key_names": "Kidd",
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            "contributor_role": "A01",
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    "subjects": [
        {
            "scheme_identifier": "32",
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            "subject_code": "300",
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