Publication
Ballantine, c2005.
Series
Status
Available
Description
Having completed the two cycles of legend to which she has devoted her career so far, Anne Rice gives us now her most ambitious and courageous book, a novel about the early years of Christ the Lord, based on the Gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book's power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story.
Media reviews
Personal
Usually you couldn't pay me to read a religous based book but Anne Rice is not everyone's common author. She does her research, and sets the tone of the time in which her characters lived. It is more of a human perspective than a religous one. Jesus is a child and he knows he is different but not
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the backstory. His family is protective and we follow him as Herod the king who has sought him since birth for assignation has died and the fight for the succession to the throne of David. It is a multi level plot line; the life of jesus and his family members, the plaques, the warring of the Romans and the Jewish fight back in Alexandria. The fear of being Jesus and the miracles and the unexpected reaction by the community when Jesus raises a member of the clan who has died. His fears at the direction of his power and the temptation by the devil to use it for otherwize appropriate needs. Not a sucky book and everyone should know that Anne Rice takes her writing very seriously no matter the subject. it will not be what you expected at all! Show Less
It doesn't really matter about accuracy - a novelist should be free to play with the facts to get nearer to the truth. What's wrong is the lack of skill in imagining and then depicting a time, a place and a person. In Christ the Lord, Anne Rice has conscientiously taken all the drama, elegance and
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urgency of the Gospels and the Apocrypha, and flattened them into a tedious and mediocre potboiler. Which is a pity, because it's still a hell of a good idea for a novel. Show Less
As for the plot, it's a year in the life of a rather plodding 7-year-old boy. As for suspense, he discovers that several mysterious events attended his birth, but we already know that, and so do all the other characters, who are made entirely of cardboard. Mary is innocent; Joseph steadfast; Mary's
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brother Cleopas laughs so continuously that he might as well be at a vaudeville show; and James, the savior's older brother, glowers throughout the book with big-time sibling rivalry. Show Less
Rice's Christ reads like a bland young-adult novel, written in language that's supposed to be unadorned and poignantly simple but is instead as flat and leeched of poetry as the Good News Bible.
The book's steady attention to such details slows its progress. It stops frequently for scenery, not all of it the kind that a young boy might notice. "It seemed that the women of this place used a loom with one pole to it," he says of Sepphoris, a town near Nazareth, "and one crosspiece at which
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they had to stand. But we had brought back from Alexandria bigger looms, with two sliding crosspieces, at which the woman could sit, and the women of the village all came to see this." This gives the book a hint of museum diorama. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member hredwards
Fictitious account of the young life of Christ.
Has some interesting insights into the time period.
Has some interesting insights into the time period.
LibraryThing member gwendolyndawson
This is the story of Jesus's adolescence as told through his own eyes. Although the premise is compelling, this book is not very well-written or well-crafted in my opinion. I was bored, which is shocking considering the rich story Rice had to work with.
LibraryThing member ragwaine
Nothing happened, couldn't finish. Jesus in the 1st person is probably always a bad idea.
LibraryThing member ebnelson
Probably the driest of all good novels I have completed recently. I almost gave up on the book, but I'm so glad I didn't.
Although it wasn't as exciting as Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles that I enjoyed in high school, it did have the hallmark detailed historical descriptions that I loved about
Sticking with it paid off as the book turned the story of the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple into an amazing climax which pulls together the narratives in Matthew and Luke's gospels in a way that ingenious and faithful to orthodox thought. If nothing else, the author's afterward contains her testimony--which alone is worth reading even if you don't read the book.
Epilogue: Reading Road to Cana fully redeems this book. The sequel reveals the scope and majesty of her endeavor. Road to Cana reveals that Out of Egypt was a necessary setup to a literary masterpiece.
Although it wasn't as exciting as Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles that I enjoyed in high school, it did have the hallmark detailed historical descriptions that I loved about
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Rice's writing, and this alone kept me from casting the book aside. In fairness to Rice, writing the story of Jesus as a child in the first person is exceedingly ambitious and constrains her ability to manufacture narrative excitement or reflect upon internal struggles is greatly hampered when the story's narrator is the sinless boy son of God worshiped by two billion people. Sticking with it paid off as the book turned the story of the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple into an amazing climax which pulls together the narratives in Matthew and Luke's gospels in a way that ingenious and faithful to orthodox thought. If nothing else, the author's afterward contains her testimony--which alone is worth reading even if you don't read the book.
Epilogue: Reading Road to Cana fully redeems this book. The sequel reveals the scope and majesty of her endeavor. Road to Cana reveals that Out of Egypt was a necessary setup to a literary masterpiece.
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LibraryThing member hprather
Couldn't finish - very bland story and not being familiar with Rice before this book, I don't know if she always writes that laboriously or what, but it really took a lot of words to get nowhere.
LibraryThing member mkstansbery
I was totally prepared not to like this book, but instead, was amazed at the beauty of this book. Anne Rice is an incredible story-teller and excellent writer. The book exhibits many, many, many examples of what must have been copious amounts of research, yet Ms. Rice's ability to imagine what
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might have gone on in a young man's mind as he was coming to grips with abilities and gifts that were clearly not shared by others. This was a beautiful book that I didn't want to put down and was very sad to see close. My hat is off to Anne Rice for this labor of love. Show Less
LibraryThing member musicalmary
I thought this book would be much better than it actually was. I was expecting "more" information about the life of Christ.... what it turned out to be was 300 pages that probably could have been written in 100 pages. I wouldn't recommend.
LibraryThing member actinide
Though the subject of Jesus' life seems something that would never fit into the same sentence as Anne Rice's name, this book shows the revival of her voice after her work on the Vampire Chronicles declined after her husband's death. With her typical exhaustive research behind it, Christ The Lord
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portrays the story of young Jesus in a convincing and almost heartbreaking manner. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jeyra
A sensitive and obviously loving telling of Jesus's early years, drawn mostly from Apocryphal writings. Not at all what one would expect from Anne Rice, but a touching and wonderful story. Contains nothing questionable.
LibraryThing member Brandie
Interesting perspective ... you have to wonder, what did Jesus know as a child? How did he feel? Rice's attemtp's to answer those questions seem very plausable and not far out there or outrageous. Good read.
LibraryThing member kattepusen
This is not a literary masterpiece by any means; however, the story had quite an impact on me. It made me actually visualize the life and times of Jesus. As I was reading the book, I became embarrassingly aware of the fact that I had never really used my imagination very much to go beyond the stale
Furthermore, I wish that there had been a map included that showed clearly all the places mentioned in the text - at times I had a hard time following their travels.
Recommended, despite its unsofisticated and often quite dull language. (I have never read Ms Rice's vampire novels, so I have no idea if this is her writing style in general). However, just the fact the she is able to infuse such a level of suspense in a story that "everybody" knows and yet constrict it in such a tight scholarly way is quite remarkable.
I am curiously awaiting the next book in the series.
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old bible verses we read in Sunday school - I had never even thought about the fact that the Jesus figure was once a child growing up. In this regard I found the whole concept of the book quite tantalizing and clever. I am also grateful that Ms Rice has tried to present the Jesus figure according to her religious belief and not downgraded him into a literary or social spectacle. That said, I do wish she had put a bit more "spunk" into her protagonist. I can understand the trickiness of making Jesus seem like a real child while maintaining his divine nature; however, couldn't she have snuck a smidgeon of juvenile mischief into the character...? Furthermore, I wish that there had been a map included that showed clearly all the places mentioned in the text - at times I had a hard time following their travels.
Recommended, despite its unsofisticated and often quite dull language. (I have never read Ms Rice's vampire novels, so I have no idea if this is her writing style in general). However, just the fact the she is able to infuse such a level of suspense in a story that "everybody" knows and yet constrict it in such a tight scholarly way is quite remarkable.
I am curiously awaiting the next book in the series.
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LibraryThing member metra_fiction
It's gutsy for anyone to write a first person retelling of the life of Jesus. While Anne Rice's attempt is certainly not the most groundbreaking retelling of Christ's life, she successfully accomplishes her goal of portraying the fully divine Jesus as fully human. She also successfully places him
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within a distinct historical context. Unfortunately, her writing is sloppy. There are a number of grammatical errors and awkward sentences that should have been caught before publication. The first person prose, which Rice is (or at least was) capable of writing exceptionally is dull. Interesting in some ways. Dissappointing in others. Show Less
LibraryThing member rainbooks
Ann Rice was the author who birthed America’s love for vampires. She has written thriller/horror novels, but since 1998, she has turned away from her atheist perspective back to her Catholic roots. “Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt” is Rice’s first novel since her transition.
Rice extensively
After Jesus was born, his family fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. At age 7, Jesus started to notice the power of his prayers and the miraculous power his hands held. He turned a clay bird to life, knocked the life out of another boy and healed his uncle of illness.
At this same time, Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, had a
dream that the family was to move to Nazareth. The journey out of Egypt put the family in Jerusalem at the same time as the Feast of the Passover, which was an important holiday for the Jews.
King Herod had passed away, and his son, Archcelaus, was to succeed his cruel father. The people wanted vengeance from the devastation they had endured under Herod.
Jerusalem was dangerous as people rebelled against the monarchy, and the soldiers started murdering people at the temple. Jesus witnessed a death that he recalls many times throughout his childhood.
On the road, Jesus was frightened by the hostility he witnessed from fellow Jews. He saw brutal events, and he saw a side of his family he had never seen.
Once the family was settled in their new home in Nazareth, Jesus spent his days learning scripture in the Temple and working alongside his family as a carpenter. The rabbis thought Jesus was special, and they found favor with him.
The fear that had gripped Jesus since he had been in Jerusalem started to fade as he gained confidence in his workmanship and in his relationship to God.
One year later, the family journeyed to Jerusalem, again, for the Feast of the Passover; this time there was no danger. After the usual Jewish ceremonies, curiosity pulled Jesus toward the Temple.
Alone, he found a rabbi who was teaching; Jesus joined the group.
Jesus questioned the rabbi about a tale of a child born that the angels called Christ the Lord. The rabbi tells the story, and Jesus learns of King Herod’s decree to have every child younger than 2 slaughtered.
Jesus was devastated to learn that many lives were taken because of his birth. He fell into a state of despair. He questioned his parents about the events, and they explained everything to him: the visiting angels, the trip to Bethlehem, escaping to Egypt, and the reason for the return to the Nazareth.
This novel is wonderfully crafted through historic events and Jesus’ perspective seems true for a child his age. I would never attempt to place thoughts in the mind of the Son of God, but Rice has done her research, and she knows her scriptures. The story unfolds as Jesus realizes where his life is headed. Through Jesus’ innocent perspective, Rice captures the frailty of his young mind and reminded me that it is not a sin to be fearful. I will read the sequel, “Christ The Lord: The Road To Cana” and am excited to see how Rice continues this story.
Rice extensively
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researched the first century AD in order to place this story during Jesus’ childhood. Jesus is the narrator. Jesus tells the story of his life as it might have been.After Jesus was born, his family fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. At age 7, Jesus started to notice the power of his prayers and the miraculous power his hands held. He turned a clay bird to life, knocked the life out of another boy and healed his uncle of illness.
At this same time, Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, had a
dream that the family was to move to Nazareth. The journey out of Egypt put the family in Jerusalem at the same time as the Feast of the Passover, which was an important holiday for the Jews.
King Herod had passed away, and his son, Archcelaus, was to succeed his cruel father. The people wanted vengeance from the devastation they had endured under Herod.
Jerusalem was dangerous as people rebelled against the monarchy, and the soldiers started murdering people at the temple. Jesus witnessed a death that he recalls many times throughout his childhood.
On the road, Jesus was frightened by the hostility he witnessed from fellow Jews. He saw brutal events, and he saw a side of his family he had never seen.
Once the family was settled in their new home in Nazareth, Jesus spent his days learning scripture in the Temple and working alongside his family as a carpenter. The rabbis thought Jesus was special, and they found favor with him.
The fear that had gripped Jesus since he had been in Jerusalem started to fade as he gained confidence in his workmanship and in his relationship to God.
One year later, the family journeyed to Jerusalem, again, for the Feast of the Passover; this time there was no danger. After the usual Jewish ceremonies, curiosity pulled Jesus toward the Temple.
Alone, he found a rabbi who was teaching; Jesus joined the group.
Jesus questioned the rabbi about a tale of a child born that the angels called Christ the Lord. The rabbi tells the story, and Jesus learns of King Herod’s decree to have every child younger than 2 slaughtered.
Jesus was devastated to learn that many lives were taken because of his birth. He fell into a state of despair. He questioned his parents about the events, and they explained everything to him: the visiting angels, the trip to Bethlehem, escaping to Egypt, and the reason for the return to the Nazareth.
This novel is wonderfully crafted through historic events and Jesus’ perspective seems true for a child his age. I would never attempt to place thoughts in the mind of the Son of God, but Rice has done her research, and she knows her scriptures. The story unfolds as Jesus realizes where his life is headed. Through Jesus’ innocent perspective, Rice captures the frailty of his young mind and reminded me that it is not a sin to be fearful. I will read the sequel, “Christ The Lord: The Road To Cana” and am excited to see how Rice continues this story.
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LibraryThing member clparson
As a long-time fan of Anne Rice, I pretty much buy anything with her name on it. This book starts a new chapter in Rice's life to devote her writing to Christ. "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt" is a fiction novel about Christ's life as a child. I believe Rice did a great job in meshing the stories
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from the Bible and other religious works with her own words and creativity. Christ jumps off the page as a little boy, who not only must cope with growing up, but growing up as the one son of God. I think the most important message of this book is that Christ was a human. He was human and divine, but most people concentrate on the divine part. Rice does an excellent job is showing Christ's human side. I will read this one again and I urge all Christians and Rice fans to read this. You will not be disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member asfoora_abla
Like any attempt to chronicle the life of a major world figure in fiction, this novel has its presuppositions and therefore its debatable points, or some might say its flaws. Anne Rice depends heavily upon apocryphal literature for the core of her plot, and says so plainly in her endnote. While
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this may give some pause from a theological standpoint, this is a powerful and thought-provoking take on the childhood of Christianity's founder. Show Less
LibraryThing member navets
I finished reading my latest night-read-novel, “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt” by an author I never thought I’d read a book by - Anne Rice.
I was THOROUGHLY pleased with this book!
It was just a month-or-so ago that I was telling my buddy Glen Robinson that I was suddenly struck with the wonder
Earlier this month I stumbled upon the recently launched, “Book Mooch” - and I placed this book’s title in my “wish list”. A week later, I was e-mailed and told that the book had come up on the site and with a simple click, I confirmed that it was being sent my way. I received it a few days later and quickly poored through it’s pages.
Reading a fictional book that was written after careful research and Rice’s study of extra-biblical accounts has sparked something natural, again, in my curiosity of Christ - the person. Reading about his 7th year of life, his visit to the Temple in Jerusalem, his interactions with people, his relationship with his mother, father and brother James - all of these things have given me a new curiosity and intrigue into Jesus, the man - an area that gets less and less attention when we admit the diety of who Jesus was and is as Christians. I like thinking about Jesus as the man that he was. I like “laughing” at the silly phrases in Christmas Carols that tell us of this “little Lord Jesus, no crying he made.”
This book gave me that “material” to spark my imagination to allow me to dream of what Jesus might’ve been like as a child - as a student of the Law, as the child of a carpenter, as a young Jewish boy. These areas, again, are quickly “forgotten” in the story of the crucifixion and the glorious truth of the resurrection.
So, I guess I want to say a “thank you” to Miss Rice - for her careful attention to Jewish heritage and time-period details.
If you get a chance - pick this book up (did I mention I found it on Book Mooch?) And don’t fail to read Anne Rice’s notes at the end of the book - they give great insight into her conversion and study habits and sources to write such a work!
I was THOROUGHLY pleased with this book!
It was just a month-or-so ago that I was telling my buddy Glen Robinson that I was suddenly struck with the wonder
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of questioning when Jesus knew that he was the Son of God. It was just a question that appeared from nowhere and yet it perplexed me in such a way that I couldn’t get it out of my head. Glen and I had a good chat about the possibilities and the conversation quickly went to the knowledge that Glen had about Anne Rice’s transformational Salvation and her new book, “Christ the Lord”. I saw it at a bookstore for almost $30 and said, “nah!”Earlier this month I stumbled upon the recently launched, “Book Mooch” - and I placed this book’s title in my “wish list”. A week later, I was e-mailed and told that the book had come up on the site and with a simple click, I confirmed that it was being sent my way. I received it a few days later and quickly poored through it’s pages.
Reading a fictional book that was written after careful research and Rice’s study of extra-biblical accounts has sparked something natural, again, in my curiosity of Christ - the person. Reading about his 7th year of life, his visit to the Temple in Jerusalem, his interactions with people, his relationship with his mother, father and brother James - all of these things have given me a new curiosity and intrigue into Jesus, the man - an area that gets less and less attention when we admit the diety of who Jesus was and is as Christians. I like thinking about Jesus as the man that he was. I like “laughing” at the silly phrases in Christmas Carols that tell us of this “little Lord Jesus, no crying he made.”
This book gave me that “material” to spark my imagination to allow me to dream of what Jesus might’ve been like as a child - as a student of the Law, as the child of a carpenter, as a young Jewish boy. These areas, again, are quickly “forgotten” in the story of the crucifixion and the glorious truth of the resurrection.
So, I guess I want to say a “thank you” to Miss Rice - for her careful attention to Jewish heritage and time-period details.
If you get a chance - pick this book up (did I mention I found it on Book Mooch?) And don’t fail to read Anne Rice’s notes at the end of the book - they give great insight into her conversion and study habits and sources to write such a work!
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LibraryThing member Grandeplease
Although Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt is an interesting and thought provoking historical novel, it failed to deliver for me a "wow" moment. The author's research is evident in her portrayal of the culture of the era and this carries the novel.
I was disappointed with the sparseness of opportunity
I was disappointed with the sparseness of opportunity
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provided Christ, as a 7-8 year old, to sin. Although Anne Rice lets Christ's divinity leak out and does a credible job with Christ (in the first person) struggling with who he is, there is little (although once in startlingly manner) in the way of potential "bad" behavior. An issue that this reader finds fascinating and unexplainable. Show Less
LibraryThing member Antoniogarcia
I don't review books. But this one was bad, very bad.
LibraryThing member bleached
Absolutely incredible. A new take on the story of Jesus. Not much is said in the Bible about how Jesus grew up and Anne Rice gives a riveting and completely possible scenario of what it could have been like to grow up to find out you are the son of God.
LibraryThing member misticat57
I didn't care for this one. It was boring.
LibraryThing member snowowl551
Interesting. Not sure how biblically correct Ms Rice is, though.
LibraryThing member raggedtig
Another powerful book by Anne Rice that left me in jaw-dropping shock and tears. The book is a fictional work written in first person chronicalling Jesus' life from the time he was 7 years-old. Jesus is unaware of the tremendous powers he holds along with tragedies surrounding his historical birth.
A great read that tears your heart out at the end.
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A great read that tears your heart out at the end.
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LibraryThing member jenbooks
It was all right, and I'll probably read the next one, but Orson Scott Card does bible character fiction (Women of Genesis) better.
LibraryThing member SamTekoa
"I've read and studied the Gospels many times and found Anne's portrait of Christ to bring a fresh and beautiful perspective to how it might have happened. It is both enjoyable and fasinating. You don't have to agree with everything to apprecite how she weaves her knowledge of history, theology and
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story telling ability to present an irenic, pure, and devine portrait of Jesus." Show Less
LibraryThing member DubiousDisciple
I'm trying to be fair; this really isn't my kind of book. It's highly speculative and it's fiction. Then I'm reminded of the book I just published about Revelation; it, too, is fiction (well, 1/3 of it is fiction) and it, too, will surely be considered highly speculative by many. I'd like to think,
Given, then, that we are discussing a purely fictional account of Jesus' years as a child, my review must be based upon whether or not the story held my interest. It did for a time; Anne Rice is a good writer. But I have a quest to learn (I seldom read fiction), and I really felt I was learning very little, so I nearly didn't finish the book.
I think readers who do not have a background in early Christian literature will be at a disadvantage. For example, in the story, the child Jesus sculpts a bird out of clay, then gives it life and it flies away. Um, really? But scholars will recognize the story from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which Rice latches onto and includes in her book, caring not that no historian of this gnostic gospel considers it to be true. The story is pure mythology, and not even Biblical myth.
Who, then, is the audience for this book? Not fundamentalist Christians, who will take offense at this portrayal of the Christ child. It isn't "biblical." Not historians, who will be unable to take it seriously. If Anne Rice is celebrating her return to Christianity with this series (the book is the first of a promised series) then it's an odd way to start out, wouldn't you think?
The answer, of course, is that Rice is writing mythology after the manner of Gospels; she collects stories, builds a personality for Christ as a youngster, then puts it all together in much the same way as Gospel writers did 2,000 years ago...honoring Christ not in fact, but in storytelling. And that's why I'm writing this review today, 5 days before Christmas. Today, as I drive down the streets of Minneapolis, I see manger scenes; scenes I know to be mythic, but beautiful and inspiring none-the-less. We have taken two contradictory Gospel renditions of Jesus' birth (Matthew and Luke), spliced them together, added some nice touches, and created an idyllic Christmas picture. In the same spirit of honoring Christ in myth, we can enjoy Anne Rice's fictive "gospel", and even give it ... well, four stars.
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however, that my book is grounded in more solid research than Rice's; mine is, after all, hailed by other scholars as historically plausible.Given, then, that we are discussing a purely fictional account of Jesus' years as a child, my review must be based upon whether or not the story held my interest. It did for a time; Anne Rice is a good writer. But I have a quest to learn (I seldom read fiction), and I really felt I was learning very little, so I nearly didn't finish the book.
I think readers who do not have a background in early Christian literature will be at a disadvantage. For example, in the story, the child Jesus sculpts a bird out of clay, then gives it life and it flies away. Um, really? But scholars will recognize the story from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which Rice latches onto and includes in her book, caring not that no historian of this gnostic gospel considers it to be true. The story is pure mythology, and not even Biblical myth.
Who, then, is the audience for this book? Not fundamentalist Christians, who will take offense at this portrayal of the Christ child. It isn't "biblical." Not historians, who will be unable to take it seriously. If Anne Rice is celebrating her return to Christianity with this series (the book is the first of a promised series) then it's an odd way to start out, wouldn't you think?
The answer, of course, is that Rice is writing mythology after the manner of Gospels; she collects stories, builds a personality for Christ as a youngster, then puts it all together in much the same way as Gospel writers did 2,000 years ago...honoring Christ not in fact, but in storytelling. And that's why I'm writing this review today, 5 days before Christmas. Today, as I drive down the streets of Minneapolis, I see manger scenes; scenes I know to be mythic, but beautiful and inspiring none-the-less. We have taken two contradictory Gospel renditions of Jesus' birth (Matthew and Luke), spliced them together, added some nice touches, and created an idyllic Christmas picture. In the same spirit of honoring Christ in myth, we can enjoy Anne Rice's fictive "gospel", and even give it ... well, four stars.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0345494393 / 9780345494399
Original publication date
2005