Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt: A Novel

Based on meticulous research, Anne Rice has written a beautiful account of a year plus in the life of Jesus as a young boy. She writes in the first person, which works better than I would have expected, and seems to have an intuitive understanding of how this boy might have pondered the things that made him different but which his family was not yet ready to explain to him.

The tone is reverent, but not mushy. Jesus is a real boy, with human thoughts and emotions, being brought up in the Jewish culture. Although there are flashes of his divinity and the role that he is destined to play, they do not predominate.

So whether you are a confirmed Christian or reading the book for other reasons, there is much of value here.

Also be sure to read Rice's notes about why she wrote the book,I found them inspiring.

I read this book last summer and was super excited that I have the second installment in the trilogy, and will be reading it next week.

I love Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and while the Gospels are wonderful to read, there is something special and wonderful reading Anne's creative version of what Jesus was like as a child. She is such a talented artist, and her ample research is very evident.

I think anyone that loves good fiction will enjoy this book. However, if you love Jesus, and if you also love the Holy Family, then you will treasure the experience of feeling your love for Jesus, and his mother, and his earthly stepfather stir within you while reading this book.

Anne Rice has shifted subject matter -- to put it mildly -- with skill and grace. Her telling of Jesus' boyhood is at times moving and illuminating. Without forcing her readers to buy into any of this Christian story with which they are not comfortable, Rice gives humanity and a visual sense of Jesus' life as he discovers who he is. Some of the stand out parts for me were her forshadowing of familiar New Testament stories-- the money changers outside the temples and the Roman use of crucifixion, to name but two. Some of the storytelling is a bit uneven in a few moments, but the book brings the reader into the era, the settings and the person with new insight. Worth the read for anyone interested in this story no matter their religions background.

Good read. I liked Out of Egypt better. This seemed as if it was almost geared for Middle School reading.

I loved Anne Rices' other stuff but was really bored with this. I read 100 pages and gave up on it. I wish she'd go back to the Vampires.