Review: "The Book Of Longings"
The Book of Longings is a brave book, tackling issues of birth control, women’s rights, sexual choice, family relationships, tyranny, and slavery, from a historical lens that somehow manages to mirror back to 2020.
The Book Of Longings
Written By Cindy Dineen
Sue Monk Kidd’s latest novel, The Book of Longings, is one to savor, inviting the reader into a biblical world where women have a voice and a brain. A beautiful, sad, strength-filled story told from the perspective of Ana, the daughter of Herod’s chief scribe. Kidd deftly spins her well researched tale of a girl who’s father wishes she were a boy, but values Ana’s intelligence enough to provide her with education far above standards of the day. Ana’s ambitious mother is only interested in social status, power, and compliance to social norms, even if it means consigning her daughter to concubine status. And Ana,well, Ana only wants to be free to write, to create and to choose for herself what her life will become.
As blasphemous as it may sound, Jesus is a minor character in the novel. Kidd weaves historical biblical events into Ana’s life and relationships to shine a light on Ana’s character, and her relationship with Jesus shows Ana’s strength, her honesty, stubbornness, and her tenderness. There is no co-dependency in their relationship, but rather a mutual respect and understanding that each had a life to lead that was not predicated on dominance of one partner’s needs. It is a gift to see how Ana and Jesus support each other’s calling without forsaking their own journey. Judas’ role as Ana’s adopted beloved brother stays true to biblical tradition. Ana shows the reader her heart as she grieves Judas’s actions while understanding his compulsion.
The Book of Longings is a brave book, tackling issues of birth control, women’s rights, sexual choice, family relationships, tyranny, and slavery, from a historical lens that somehow manages to mirror back to 2020.
The very best novels cause one to think about the book long after the last page has been read. This is that kind of book for me. I find myself thinking as I ponder current events, “what would Ana do?” Perhaps it will have a similar impact on you. Regardless, I invite you to read Ana’s story in The Book of Longings...perhaps you will find strength, wisdom and new courage on your journey.
Book Review "Native"
In her new book, Native, Kaitlin Curtice shares her unique perspective as an Indigenous Christian woman. She shares her journey of rediscovering the parts of herself that had been pushed down or dismissed because they didn’t fit the dominant narrative of the white evangelical spaces…
Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God
Review by Lindsay O’Connor
“Decolonizing our table means recognizing that sacredness moves and breathes all over the place, in all people, in all creatures, in all things, so communion becomes the space in which we say everyone and everything is loved.”
—Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God, by Kaitlin B. Curtice
In her new book, Native, Kaitlin Curtice shares her unique perspective as an Indigenous Christian woman. She shares her journey of rediscovering the parts of herself that had been pushed down or dismissed because they didn’t fit the dominant narrative of the white evangelical spaces in which she spent the latter part of her childhood. She speaks with a combination of boldness and gentleness as she invites us into new, more expansive ways of understanding ourselves, God, and all of creation.
Curtice tells about the ongoing work of decolonizing her faith by disentangling the parts of her belief system that were tied to white, western/European culture. She challenges systems of oppression that have been upheld by the Christian church but communicates very clearly that we all must do this work together; everyone belongs. At the same time, we see her reconnecting with Indigenous ways of understanding the Divine, which she often refers to as Mystery. Throughout the book, she weaves language and stories from her Potawatomi heritage, along with her own original poetry.
As she tells her story, Curtice makes space for readers to consider their own journeys. She shares personal experiences vulnerably, emphasizing the importance of all people entering into the work for the common good, whether you are part of a marginalized group, a dominant group, or some combination. This was an important read for me as I work to separate out my culture from my understanding of Christianity, God, and the Bible. In experiencing God through a different cultural lens, we are given the gift of a broader, richer, more beautiful understanding of the Holy that is sure to be transformative.
This is a textured, beautifully written book that challenges and inspires Christians to envision new ways to make more room at the table. In the words of Kaitlin Curtice, “Our work is to call each other home, to call to one another’s spirits and say, ‘This is for you. This is what it means to be human, to love and be loved. Let’s learn from one another as we go.’”