Comments on: A Review of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

By: Gregory Ashbolt

Gregory Ashbolt — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:11:20 +0000

I’ve just read the book (Oct 1020) and I was disappointed by the timidity and shallowness of the ‘creative effort’ that went into it. It wanted to play safe and as a consequence is boring. Is this really supposed to be the greatest story ever told? Tons of research on irrelevancies and virtually none on the spiritual grit that I expected. And I doubt that it was written for a movie since it’s not story-worthy enough for a film. The film project collapsed over ‘artistic differences’ – code for the poor director wanted to overlay a decent story over the top of it and the author objected. If this is the story Anne Rice just had to write, I fail to see why. I think the story was smothered by the humility of a writer reconverted to a faith that tolerates no criticism or creative speculation. If Jesus was the wishy-washy person conveyed here, you have to wonder if Yahweh sent the wrong messenger.

By: James

James — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:55:55 +0000

“It does not take full advantage of the medium of the written word, but rather seems like it was made to be a movie (and that, no doubt, will happen).”

I have not read the book and just have no interest in doing so. I however fully understand Sowin’s point, which I increasingly find present in other literary works. Is it a sign of the times? Our culture appears to have been moving away from written artistic communications to cinematographic/videographic ones for quite some time (or at least literary pieces emulating cinematography/videography).

As Josh on June 26th, 2010 says, “Thank you, Anne Rice,” for giving Sowin another example of contemporary American culture. Thank you also, Joshua Sowin, for confirming that I am not the only person with the aforesaid perception.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:31:19 +0000

Whoa this is amazing, 3, 4 years on, and people are still replying. I am a Christian who happened to chance upon this book whilst my friend was searching for a chick-lit novel haha. At first, I couldn’t believe that Anne Rice would actually write such a novel. But the more I read, the more I was compelled by the storyline, but not compelled to believe everything she wrote. IMO, she saved the best part of the book for the last: that is, her testimony as an individual in the ‘author’s notes’. That just blew me away. I think people are cynical about her research because they don’t think they can do a research as in depth as hers. So cynicism about that aside, I can only see the testimony of an individual’s struggle with God, and her honest conclusion of it. Full stop. While I may not fully agree with her portrayal of Jesus, I must say that this book has opened my eyes to a deeper spiritual understanding of the great mystery that all of us (ALL of us) call, the Gospel. Thank you, Anne Rice.

By: Carole

Carole — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:04:01 +0000

I’m an athiest who prays. I’m a liberal, big city, secular girl in a book club with conservative, small town, religious ladies. I suggested this book because it is GOOD! How boring would a perfect God-as-human be? What’s the point of God coming to earth in human form at all – if not to set a great example to which we can bumblingly aspire to occasionally emulate? Anne Rice beautifully presented a human Jesus living and learning – as we all must do – and He struggled through many difficult life tests, landing, ultimately, Divine side up. Can any toddling baby win the New York Marathon? Oh, if only, metaphorically, we all could. At our best (and made in God’s image, we are) we have to step-step-stumble-and-fall before we run-run-keep running – and win. It’s been a couple years since I read Out of Egypt – am currently getting through The Road to Cana (not as good as Part One, by standards of literary suspense, I’ll say…but it’s a trilogy I’ll stay with). I’ve lent out my copy of Out of Egypt but will definitely read it again. I loved the account of Jesus’ world in Egypt as well as the historical facts of Isreal during Jesus’ time. The telling of Jonah’s story has stuck with me, and it is this strong belief in the power of STORY that has united and sustained Jews for centuries and centuries ongoing. WOW. Don’t we all feel swallowed up in darkness at times? I want my Jesus to know that uncertainty, fear, and despair. I want the example of Jonah’s faith – and Jesus’ in the same tradition – to lead me to a brighter place. Anne Rice painted a beautiful Joseph, too, by the way. She gave him dignity and strength; God wouldn’t pick a putz to raise His son on earth. Read the book. Think for yourself – be bigger and better somehow for any critical reading that you do. There’s Divinity in each of us, and with a very good read like this one, we sometimes discover just a little bit more of what we’re meant to know and be.

By: ted

ted — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:36:45 +0000

“The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of reason.” Benjamin Franklin

“But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Thomas Jefferson

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:26:00 +0000

I do understand some of the criticism but must disagree with your theory that this book does not change the reader as has been my experience. No doubt though, my journey of faith is in a much different place than yours.

While I cannot argue with your thesis that an adult Jesus would be more insightful, I found myself looking past that and experiencing it through the lens of a seven-year old. In this manner, whether it was Rice’s intention or not, I found the humanity of Jesus to be a wonderful way in which to view God in His human form. For me, seeing Jesus’ humanity, or as you have referred to it as his innocence, deepened my current understanding of Jesus. That the possibility existed that Jesus struggled-this does not imply sinning-as a human is validating.

While it is your job to dissect, and will not disagree with the concerns you presented about the author’s interpretation, I caution readers of the review to become too caught up in this debate of concerns (as seen in the book, there was constant debate about the meaning of scripture) and allow themselves to have their own experience of a Jesus who is 100% Divine and also 100% very much like all of us.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:33:34 +0000

I’ve never read this book, and I’ve only read a large portion of the second, while looking around a bookstore. You may want to at least read the verbal fight between Satan and Yeshua. It was fun to read.

While I do understand what you mean sometimes, I do have a theory as to why some ‘miracles’ are exercised when ‘He’ desired it and why some did not happen.

Perhaps if we consider that because Jesus is God the Son and thus deferential to God the Father, so even ‘His’ desires had to be in line with the Father’s will, just as our prayers have to be before they are answered affirmatively.

That may explain the above supposed contradiction, though some may disagree. Of course, that is just a thought, that’s all.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:32:52 +0000

I believe this a work of fiction. I too, had a difficult time with the thought of Jesus being so fearful and then becoming ill. I found it funny that he killed his bully. The idea that He did not fully understand who He was is very believable. This is a work of fiction. With each miracle I got excited and anxious for the next. I did not view Jesus as a liar. I appreciate her desire to embrace an area of Jesus’ life that we have only wondered about and imagined. It makes it tangible and real and I appreciate that, all the while knowing it is fiction. I bet her future works will only get better. I suggest you give it a try!!

By: Berry Valentine

Berry Valentine — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:36:51 +0000

I don’t think this review is suitable or helpful.
You [author of the review] did not grasp the gist of the novel at all.
There are a few items that you mentioned which I agree with, but other than that, this review was rather awkward.
Do you honestly believe that “the adult Jesus is narrating”? Rice’s idea was to have Jesus narrate as a seven year old. That explains the limited and simplistic approach to the vocabulary and sentence structure of the story.
This story was made to make Jesus look human. All humans sin. Jesus could therefore not by fully human if he did not make some mistakes, which explains the incidents occurring related to the bully. Jesus was young and unable to foresee the wrongness of his actions, such as wishing the bully were dead or lying to Mary about how hurt he was. Even then, however, his intentions were good. Self-denfence and sheltering others from harsh realities are not immorral sins!
Your review was through, so good job for that!
But I really don’t think you quite understood the idea/concept behind this novel.

By: Leah

Leah — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:25:25 +0000

Thanks for this review. It was very helpful. You mentioned in your review, “…if you are looking for a well-written story along with an accurate portrayal of Jesus, you will have to look somewhere else.” For an excellent story that is both biblically sound and spiritually uplifting, I would recommend Walter Wangerin’s novel, Jesus. It was my lenten reading last year. I’ve never experienced a Resurrection Sunday like that ever! Because of the story, which is a narrative version of the Gospel of John (the story is told interchangeably by John and Mary) and very true to Scripture, I had a more complete and nuanced understanding of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. The book helped me to fully sppreciate the meaning of the sacrifice he made.