Book Review: Anne Rice: Christ the Lord Out of Egypt

This review is based on the paperback edition ofabout the Jesus Christ I knew from reading
Anne Rice's novel, 'Christ the Lord Out of Egypt'.Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
I must admit that as a past reader of Anne RiceWithout a doubt, I am overjoyed that I read the
vampire novels, I was prepared for a differentbook right to the end. It cleared up a mystery that
experience than what I encountered by reading thishas plagued me for years: Why did Jesus have to die
book. My son gave me my first Anne Rice novel atto save me? This answer had been given to me
Christmas a few years ago, and he followed up withmany times in sermons and in the Bible itself.
more of her paperbacks on subsequent birthdays,However, I never completely understood it until I
Mothers' Days, and Christmases.read this book.
Many of Anne Rice's previous novels are dark, yetWhatever you do - don't skip to the end of the
strongly compelling, reading. You might find your mindnovel to discover the answer. Without absorbing the
wandering as you wade through paragraph afternarrative, chapter by chapter, you will not
paragraph of descriptive details that, while setting thecomprehend the last two pages.
scene, sometimes distract you from the storyline.Anne has wavered from Roman Catholicism to
However, her stories always seize your interest. Youatheism, and back to Roman Catholicism. She relates
might skim over the flowery descriptions, but youin the paperback edition why she made a promise to
are always entranced by the characters in theirdedicate her life to God.
search for something bigger than themselves.The introductory pages of the novel include a map
In this book Anne talks about something bigger thanshowing the northern part of Egypt and the areas of
all of us - and succeeds in eliciting strong emotionsthe Holy Land that are mentioned in the story. The
accompanied by occasional tears. This is a simplyback of the book includes an 'Author's Note' and
written account, narrated from the point of view of'Note to the Paperback Edition'. Here, Anne describes
a young Jesus.a bit of her background, her research techniques, and
Unlike earlier novels, she restricts the descriptiveher conversion back to Christianity.
language to a level which accurately depicts the time,No matter what your religious beliefs, you will find
customs, and surroundings - without distracting fromthis novel an interesting read. I intend to buy several
the story's progression. The book has been carefullyto give away to friends and relatives.
researched. Historical facts are intertwined withChrist the Lord Out of Egypt - by Anne Rice
dialogue and narrative in a way that makes themPaperback Edition ISBN: 0-7704-3013-9
come alive to the reader.Hardcover Edition ISBN: 0-6769-7768-5
Young Jesus surprisingly commits a huge sin in the*Anne Rice has kindly provided the following
third paragraph of the first page. This startled me! Mythoughts on this review:
perspective of Jesus has always been one of God'I do personally believe that Jesus was sinless, and in
personified in the flesh - and God would never sin!my novel the intention is to present Him as absolutely
That first page raised my hackles and I almost putsinless. In the opening scenes He does not kill anyone.
the novel down in disgust.He 'feels the power go out of Him'. Rather like the
However, it was a Christmas present from my son,similar passage of the Gospel of Mark when the
and I felt compelled to read it for his sake. I certainlyhemorrhaging woman is healed by touching His robe.
didn't think that Anne Rice was going to tell a story