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The Mona Lisa of the Galilee mosaic at Sepphoris
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The Book of Longings: A Live Zoom Tour of Ana's World

A virtual journey through the real Galilee and Jerusalem of Sue Monk Kidd's novel, led live from Israel.

You've read Ana's story. Now see the world beneath it.

Join me live from Israel for a Zoom journey through Sepphoris, Nazareth, the Galilee, the Jordan River and Jerusalem. We'll place scenes from Sue Monk Kidd's The Book of Longings beside the archaeology, geography and daily life of the first century.

See the mosaics of Ana's Sepphoris, the hills around Nazareth, the Jordan River and the Jerusalem of the novel's final chapters. Historical photographs, maps and archaeological discoveries help rebuild the world Ana might have known.

The experience is created for readers, book clubs, libraries, women's groups and historical fiction lovers. There will be time for questions and book club discussion.

Format: one hour, live on Zoom

Price: $300 for a private group of up to 20 readers, larger groups by arrangement

When: sessions arranged on request

Included: the free interactive companion map for every participant

Explore the world of the novel first

The free interactive story map of In Ana's Footsteps, showing the places of The Book of Longings across the Galilee, Judea and Egypt

🗺️ Open the free interactive story map

An independent literary experience inspired by the novel. It is not affiliated with Sue Monk Kidd or her publisher.

Book a private book club tour Reading on your own? Write to me

About the Zoom tour

What is The Book of Longings virtual tour?

It is a live Zoom journey through the real places behind Sue Monk Kidd's novel, including Sepphoris, Nazareth, the Galilee, the Jordan River and Jerusalem.

Can my book club book a private Zoom tour?

Yes. Book clubs, libraries and reading groups can arrange a private session at a time suitable for their country and time zone.

Can individual readers join?

At the moment the Zoom tour is booked privately, by book clubs, libraries and reading groups. If you are reading on your own, write to me and I will tell you when a session with room in it comes up.

Where is The Book of Longings set?

Sue Monk Kidd's novel is set in real places you can walk today: Sepphoris (Tzippori) in the Galilee, where Ana grows up among the mosaics; old Nazareth and the first-century world of Nazareth Village; the barley fields and hills of the Galilee; the Jordan river at Qasr al-Yahud; and Jerusalem, where the last chapters unfold at Gethsemane, the walls of the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Is this tour connected to Sue Monk Kidd?

No. It is an independent literary experience inspired by the novel. It is not affiliated with Sue Monk Kidd or her publisher.

The places you will see on the Zoom tour

The zodiac mosaic floor at Sepphoris (Tzippori)Centaur mosaic at SepphorisA mounted Amazon on the mosaic floor at Sepphoris (Tzippori)Greek inscriptions and fruit garlands on the mosaic floor at Sepphoris (Tzippori)The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth
Inside the dome of the Basilica of the Annunciation, NazarethSculpture on the Basilica of the Annunciation, NazarethNazareth Village, a reconstruction of first-century Galilee lifeBarley fields in the Galilee, the landscape of Ana's worldOlives ripening on the tree in the Galilee
Spring flowers above the Galilee valleyThe Jordan river in the GalileeThe ancient olive trees of Gethsemane, JerusalemThe shore of the Sea of GalileePomegranates ripening on the tree in the Galilee

Bring your book club to Ana's world

Tell me when your group meets and how many readers are coming, and I will set up the session.

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