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15 narrators (Mozhan Marno)

In 1953 Tehran, a young man failed to meet his betrothed in a Tehran square. Sixty years later and half a world away, the woman, now grown old, is about to discover why. This sweeping love story spans 60 years and two continents, taking the reader between contemporary New England and 1953 Tehran, thoroughly immersing the reader in the volatile political climate of 1950s Iran. This is easily one of the best books I've read this year: listen to me recommend it on Episode 194 of What Should I Read Next ("No plot, no problem!"), and we'll be reading it in the MMD Book Club in January, where we'll pair it with A Place for Us. If you enjoyed either of these books, add the other to your TBR right now.
The Book of Longings requires more nuance, more explanation, and more caveats than I can squeeze into this limited space. This novel is about the wife of Jesus. When I found out this was the premise of the book, I wasn't sure this was a good idea, though it certainly was an audacious one. But I have a good bit of trust in Sue Monk Kidd, knowing that she's written historical fiction with care and sensitivity, even reverence. And so, hesitantly, I started reading. Our narrator is Anna, only daughter to a prosperous family, educated, and betrothed to another man when her attention is captured by a carpenter. Kidd imagines how they form a friendship and wed. As Jesus begins to explore and pursue his calling, let me tell you: whatever you're expecting Kidd to do, this is not it. The vast majority of the book's action takes place during the years when we have no record of Jesus' life. I went in afraid, but I found this book absolutely fascinating. If you're listening on audio, don't miss the author's note, where Kidd explains why she took creative license to make Anna his partner.
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