Summary:
“I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.” So begins the new novel from the number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings, an extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny in a time of great despair and great hope.
My take: 3 looks
I have long believed that Jesus had a wife, for how could he know of the complex nuances of this most important relationship in an adult life, had he not experienced it. It is with this kinship in belief with the author that I jumped into this book.
Kidd handles the very delicate matter of the Messiah taking a companion with respect, intimacy, and a great regard for the Bible. Told from the perspective of Ana from the time she is a teenager, to the time she reaches old age, the familiar stories and characters are woven expertly through the narrative, giving life to otherwise flat and fleeting biblical personalities.
I particularly appreciated the amount of research that must have gone into the crafting of the story, along with Kidd’s summary in the ending notes of literary license and why she chose to change a very few details.
Ana’s longing for education, literacy, and her passion for writing were the very essence of her being, compared only to her incredible love for her husband. When Jesus starts his ministry in earnest, her own self awakening is in full force. What a power couple they would have been in the modern age!
Surrounded by a number of strong female characters, this was an empowering read, and one that I recommend.
Recommended
