Christ the Lord by Anne Rice (2005, Hardcover)

Anne Rice is a wonderful writer, who lost her faith in college, wrote many books about vampires, and found her faith again following the death of her husband of many years. Since then she is devoting her life to novels, imaginings if you will, about the early hidden life of Jesus. The first installment: "Out of Egypt" is told from the perspective of Jesus recalling when he was seven years old with his family in Alexandria and just beginning to understand. The first line of the novel: "I was seven. What do you know when you are seven?" The story follows the family's return journey to Nazareth in Galilee after Joseph's dream that King Herod is dead and it is safe to return home.

It is an amazing story. In an author's note following the story Rice outlines he personal journey and her meticulous research into the history of the Holy Land in the 1st century. I loved this book. For people of faith, I believe this story will bring you to deeper understanding of the humanity of Jesus for it is truly the story of a little boy. For unbelievers, it might just make you think.

Anne Rice recently published her second installment: The Road to Cana. Equally wonderful.

I was given a copy of this novel by my sister and am most grateful to her for receiving it. Anne Rice is a most outstanding author, the book is fantastic. She gets one actively involved and makes one feel that they are right there experiencing the same things right along with the characters and really draws one in, to the point that you are totaly immersed with all surroundings and what is happening. The amount of historical background research that has gone into the preparation to the writing of this great novel far surpassed anything I expected. I most highly recomend this novel for it will give all an entirely new way to critically look at the young life of Christ, epically by showing in detail what all the characters have gone through and cannot but help to stimulate ones brain to thinking much more crictcaly of the time and events that actually took place. One senses get heightened to the point that you seek, feel, and hear the emotions of the characters and the physical surroundings and come to feel you are actually living the experience right along with the characters in the novel. I most highly recomend this novel to all who have a desire to learn more about the human boy, Jesus the Christ and what it must have been like for him to grow up in such a close and very large family unit where there was so much love & respect shown for each other.
Thank You Anne Rice for writing such a thought provoking,prayerful and beautiful novel. I am hoping that there will be a sequel to it.
Sincerely,
Jim Logan, Cedarburg, WI - A New devoted reader.

I have always been a huge fan of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I devoured those books. I would finish one and immediately pick up the next. I was so excited when I learned she had a new book coming out, as I was all out of vampire stories to read.

I have to say, I was a tad bit apprehensive because I knew the book was going to be written in first person. Because, how do you write for Jesus? I was concerned that she would fill the character with what some might consider to be dogma or her own personal beliefs.

I was so happy to see that was not the case. The story was written in a matter of fact way. It was so compelling that I could not put it down. Thank goodness it was the holiday season so I had the time to just read. Each time I did have to be away from the book, I couldn't wait to get back to it. It drew me through. I got involved. I could see everything as if I were there.

She did an excellent job handling material that could have been otherwise controversial. It is a wonderful story and I would love to see a follow up to it. Whether you're a believer or not, this story will captivate you.

When I was finished with this book I sat down and sent an email to Anne Rice to thank her for it. (Which she graciously responded to, personally.)

This story is an amazing account of what the life of Jesus as a young boy could have been like. Anne's usual detailed research pays off in that the history you see is what WAS happening at the time that Jesus would have been a 7 year old boy, and the story is plausible.

Whether you're a believe or just one of Anne's long time fans, I think that you will be greatly impressed by this work. It is a page turner and you find yourself ALWAYS reading at least half an hour past bed time.

I look forward to next installment.

As a new Christian, I bought the book because I am trying to learn everything about Jesus I can. This is the first time I have ever been provoked to think about him as a child. Anne Rice does a wonderful job of creating a historically and culturally relevant setting that helps the reader relate to the story. It is a very moving story and helps one gain even more appreciation for Christ Jesus.