The Book of Longings

What is feminist theology? Investigate the role of women in Christian theology. How does Christianity limit the definition of women? In what ways is Christianity a patriarchy? How does Ana challenge that conception? Is that challenge heroic because it is futile? What do you make of the closing burial of Ana’s scrolls?

Investigate the character of Judas Iscariot. How does the novel repurpose Judas? How does the invented backstory of Judas give psychological complexity to his character?

How does the novel define motherhood? Using the characters of Ana’s own mother, Jesus’s mother Mary, and Yaltha, define this important element of the Christian definition of a woman. How does Ana challenge that definition in the devastating experience of her stillborn daughter?

What does the incantation bowl represent in Ana’s development as both a woman and a writer? Assess the implications of her inscription in the bowl and the image she draws of herself.

How does the novel balance the dual nature of Jesus Christ as divine and human? Are the scenes in which Jesus is a man and a husband heretical? Why does such a concept disturb Christians? Does being a friend, a loving husband, and a grieving father add to or diminish the idea of Christ as God?

How does the concept of a person’s “largeness” bring together the message of Jesus as preacher and Ana as writer? How does the idea of Ana finding her voice fit within Jesus’ perception of the worth of each person?

Explore the role of the two female secondary characters, Yaltha and Tabitha. How do their difficult and emotionally painful experiences parallel Ana’s? How does Ana’s evolution as a writer help define and transcend the experiences of these characters?

Discuss the implications of the title. What does the term longing suggest in traditional Christianity? How do Ana’s longings (plural) challenge those cultural preconceptions? In what ways are longings positive rather than negative here?