Christ the Lord : Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

The former vampire novelist's latest book garnered as much attention this year for its author as for its subject. But readers familiar with Rice's oeuvre as well as new devotees will be absorbed by her depiction of the life of Jesus at age seven. Her novel begins as Jesus' family leaves Egypt and returns to Nazareth, and traces a year in the life of the young Jesus as he slowly learns about his unusual origins and begins to experience his unique powers. Rice's meticulously researched book paints a vivid portrait of life in first–century Palestine. In an author's note that's almost as gripping as the book itself, Rice shares her recent return to her childhood Catholic faith and explains the historical sources she consulted when writing the book. Christians already familiar with narratives about Jesus's life will find Rice's version moving and revealing, while non–Christians curious about this pivotal religious personality will enjoy experiencing the young Jesus as a literary character. For its creativity, its unique spin on one of the world's most important religious figures, and for its impact on Christians and other readers, "Christ the Lord" is Beliefnet's 2005 Book of the Year.

Review :

There is so much that needs to be said about Anne Rice, "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt." As a work of narrative fiction, it is deeply moving. Her portrayal of a seven–year–old Jesus grappling with the mysterious stories of his birth and the even more mysterious powers he seems to possess manages to animate his humanity in heartbreaking ways. This fictional boy––who lies on his back and looks at the clouds, who misses his friends, who tries to understand the brutal world of Roman and Jewish conflict in which he lives––seems wholly believable as the child Jesus. The woven story is almost too perfect. Such is the writing that it is easily imaginable that young Jesus wished for snow and that it appeared. Yet it is the very revelation of this humanity that magnifies the reality of his future betrayal, torture and crucifixion. At points this makes the book hard to read.

Rice's portrayal of historical Palestine circa the year 20, where she believes the young Jesus to have come of age, is gripping. Lawless hordes rape, pillage and terrorize in the name of bringing freedom to the Jews. Roman soldiers arrive to quell uprisings––killing and crucifying the innocent alongside the guilty––all in the name of efficient peacekeeping. Man, it seems, hasn't changed very much in 2,000 years.