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Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts

Called Out of Darkness Review

Anne Rice, Biographies & Memoirs, Catholicism, Christianity, Fiction, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Personal Growth, Religious, Self Help, Visionary, Women’s

Called Out of Darkness

Published: 2008
Author: Anne Rice
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Catholicism, Christianity, Fiction, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Personal Growth, Religious, Self Help, Visionary, Women’s

Check the summary of this book here:
Called Out of Darkness Summary


The Review:

In Called Out of Darkness, Anne Rice walks us through her life, from her childhood in an intellectual New Orleans family where she developed a deep love of her beautiful Catholic Church, to moving to Texas and California, where she and her new poet husband rejected all religion and lived on the outskirts of the San Francisco hippy movement, to her surprisingly hugely successful career writing books about witches and vampires (I read all of these, she sold 100 million of them). Finally, she brilliantly portrays her sorrowful return to the Jesus she still loved but couldn't believe in, as well as to the Church of her upbringing.

"Honesty" is the term that comes to me when I think of the book. Her concluding articulation of what it means to fully follow Jesus and how tough it is to just love rather than obey man-made laws moved me deeply. I enjoy reading biographies and would give this one a thousand points if I could.

I'm at a loss for words to explain how much I like and respect the transparency and honesty shown here. I know a lot of individuals who are becoming more informed and open-minded about Church politics and just loving Christ who have had some of the same experiences here.

In the middle of all this turmoil, they walk out of the Church doors, and in doing so, they walk out on Christ. In a gloomy and seemingly hopeless catacomb, Anne Rice is a bright lamp.

She expresses her pain as well as her blessings, and most importantly, she teaches the Love of Christ, emphasizing the need of loving, forgiving, and not judging people, including our family, friends, neighbors, and even adversaries.

She demonstrates how to be guided out of the shadows. I am eternally grateful to Anne Rice for her beautiful stories, and I must thank her once more for this wonderful work.

This is the book for anybody who has ever wondered what happened to Anne Rice and why she quit writing vampire novels around the time this book was published. It's not a tough book to read, yet it's quite intimate.

This novel reads quite amateurishly. However, it is simply the author's thoughts flowing directly into the pages, which gives it a stronger feeling of its own unique personality.

You have the impression that a friend has just informed you that she has regained her religion. It's not flowery or overly ornamented, and it's quite down to earth. I also appreciate seeing individuals tie their faith to their daily life, so I found that to be interesting to read.

Even if you've never read Anne Rice's works, you can tell she was a superb writer based on the popularity and reviews of her books. Because of the darkness and vampire subject matter, I read any and all of her work because I enjoy reading these kinds of books when they are written well and by an author like her.

I came upon her more recent works about the life of Christ and warily read her article at the conclusion of Christ the Lord out of Egypt about how she studies for her books.

I felt good reading what she had to say about Christ's life since it was so eloquently written. As soon as I finished the first book, I went on to read the sequel Christ the Lord the Road to Cana, and then I came upon her Called Out of Darkness A Spiritual Confession.

Incredible! A truly remarkable account of a remarkable spiritual journey, and as a non-Catholic, it answered many of my questions about the Catholic Church simply because I want to learn more about all of the major religions because I believe they are all essentially one religion with many branches or versions of the same story.

Each of these three books has had a spiritual impact on me, and I frequently suggest them. Anne Rice is one of my top ten authors, and she may be the finest. Her writing is engrossing, enthralling, graphic, thought-provoking, and not at all monotonous!

Careful readers, it appears to me, strive to comprehend the metaphors at work in her novels and delve deeper into the volume's content. There's no need to hunt for metaphors in this totally unusual reading experience since she talks so honestly and invitingly.

It's practically irrelevant if one can relate with her individual experience or revelation about God within the context of the Catholic experience. In these days of high tension, numerous wars, political correctness, random killings, broken marriages, and so on, it is both invigorating and challenging to read about another's search for the deepest meanings in a happy existence.

It all starts with her background in New Orleans, where she grew up in a neighborhood where everyone she knew or encountered was a devout Catholic.

Author was so committed to religion that she determined as a child that she wanted to be a Catholic priest. She went to Catholic schools, went to church several times a week, and was so eager to devote her life to the Church that she would not even consider becoming a nun and was shocked to learn that becoming a Catholic priest would be impossible.

Called Out of Darkness is a remarkable memoir in which the author shares intimate details about her upbringing, including the tragedy of her alcoholic mother, her enormous difficulties in learning to read effectively, her marriage, the deaths of her young daughter and husband, and her deep love for the city of New Orleans and its architecture.

Anne Rice has had a fascinating existence, one that most of her long-time followers have only had a passing knowledge of.

This biography shows how she went from writing novels about vampires and witches to creating fiction committed to portraying the story of Christianity, a change that surprised her readers (Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana and Angel Time: The Song of the Seraphim, Book 1).

Fans of Anne Rice's novels will like her memoir, but her narrative is so unique that even those who haven't read her books will be intrigued by what she has to say.


Final Thoughts:

This is a fantastic book about a fantastic author who shocked the world when she returned to her Christian faith, then shocked the world again in July 2010 when she said she couldn't stay in a group of people who were disputatious, homophobic, and believed they were the only ones going to heaven while secretly relishing the thought that everyone else was going to hell. Although she still believes in Jesus, she refuses to call herself a "Christian!"

I'm always happy to state that I've read all of Anne Rice's books. This is just because she's so incredibly talented, and I'm drawn to the realm of myth and vampires.

I chose to read this because I wanted to read a book by someone who has gone through multiple pathways of religion, someone who has wandered but not lost, and most importantly she is Anne Rice, who writes amazing books.

This was a fantastic book to read. I would suggest it to everyone, whether they are a protestant, a Catholic, an agnostic, or an atheist.


Synopsis:

“Anne Rice’s first work of nonfiction—a powerful and haunting memoir that explores her continuing spiritual transformation

Anne Rice was raised in New Orleans as the devout child in a deeply religious Irish Catholic family. Here, she describes how, as she grew up, she lost her belief in God, but not her desire for a meaningful life. She used her novels—beginning with Interview with a Vampire—to wrestle with otherworldly themes while in her own life, she experienced both loss (the death of her daughter and, later, her beloved husband, Stan Rice) and joys (the birth of her son, Christopher). And she writes about how, finally, after years of questioning, she experienced the intense conversion and re-embracing of her faith that lie behind her most recent novels about the life of Christ.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

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Rating: 85/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)

Queen of the Damned (2002) (R)

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Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana Review

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana Review

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana

Published: 2008

Author: Anne Rice

Book 2 of 2: Life of Christ

Genres: Biographical, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Inspirational, Jesus, Jewish, Religious


Check the summary of this book here:

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana Summary


The Review:

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice depicts the events of Jesus' adult life prior to the wedding at Cana, as reported in St. John's gospel chapter 2. This is where we discover a completely human, flesh-and-blood Jesus. One who has been tested in every manner but is without sin. This is not the Jesus of Relativism, molded and altered to suit our preferences. Anne Rice's meticulous research—her particular and distinct discipline for every book she writes—handles this portrayal sensitively.

After finishing Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, I immediately began reading Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, and I was not disappointed. Anne Rice took on the tremendous task of producing a first-person flow of thought narrative of Jesus' experiences and activities right before and during his public ministry commencement.

It will irritate a lot of people but it was a huge success in my opinion, both in terms of reminding us of Jesus' humanity as revealed in the New Testament and in terms of confirming the overwhelming historical evidence that he was more than human. I recommend reading it as a book by a brilliant author and nothing more, so you don't get the impression that it's the last word on Jesus' life.

The first volume Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt provides the fictitious tale of Christ from birth through the scene in the temple when he was 12 years old, based on what we know from scripture and other historical texts. This second book takes place a year before Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, temptation in the wilderness, and the first significant miracle, the transformation of water into wine at the wedding of Cana. Anne Rice is able to explore His views since the tale is recounted in the first person, in the voice of Jesus.

I felt this was an intriguing take on Christ's life that stayed loyal to the gospels. The first-person narrative aimed to show us how Jesus grew aware of his chosen role throughout time. Despite the fact that this is a work of fiction, I found it to be a strong and uplifting read.

While reading this book I couldn't help but recall the incident in the novel Memnoch the Devil where Lestat meets The Lord in the middle of the desert. The reader may anticipate the addition of a first-person narrative from The Lord himself at this point. Instead, Anne Rice has delivered on that promise with two novels concerning Yeshua bar Joseph's youth and adulthood up to the age of thirty.

I've read both volumes in Anne Rice's Christ the Lord series several times, as I have all of her works, and I've always enjoyed them. I've also listened to the audio versions. She was really a gifted writer. I believe the series was supposed to be a trilogy, and I thought Anne Rice would return to finish it, but she never did until her death.

I read all of her other works, such as Angel Time, Of Love and Evil, and Cry to Heaven, and was struck by how broad her literary range was; she wrote about the Lord and the Devil, vampires and werewolves, and even extraterrestrials and people from the past who existed outside of time.

The voice of Jesus in this story, presented in the first person, is very different from that of the seven-year-old Child in the first novel, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. In fact, every character in this book has their own distinct voice, making them all unforgettable as it was in the first book in this series.

In Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana we pick up Anne Rice's daring attempt to continue the tale of Jesus as a young man who knows who He is and what is going to happen to Him in the near future. Jesus is a man, a guy who is powerful, manly, and attractive. Anne Rice in no way makes Him weak and everyone around him knows it. He is a hardworking and vital member of a working-class family, and as such, the girls are staring at Him. He is clearly marriage material.

His feelings are expressed in an honest way. There's no denying that Jesus the man is a human being who is attracted towards the other sex. The emotions of Jesus are dealt with honestly, and you can see that He was tempted in every way that we are.

As we observe Jesus the Man die to his body and wants while choosing the utmost good for others, the sub-narrative threaded throughout brings him to life. During Jesus' forty days and forty nights in the desert, He is tempted with all of the emotions that every man experiences. Anne Rice discusses them all in such a way that the reader is forced to examine his own flaws and failings.


Final Thoughts:

I'm sure Lestat famed from Interview with the Vampire is the number one character for almost all Anne Rice fans, but for me, Jesus in these two books is the number one character she has portrayed, and I want all Anne Rice fans to try listening to the audio as well as reading both books in this series, without thinking about religion, to understand what I mean.

Anne Rice has masterfully produced a historical fiction of Jesus' life that is fascinating, historically related, and authentic to the vision of Jesus in the Gospels in her second book in the Christ the Lord series. With its earthy portrayal of an adult, Jesus referred to in the book by his Hebrew name Yeshua or Yeshua bar Joesph,

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana captivated my mind and inspired my desire to discover more. Anne Rice's excellent blending of Jesus' actual humanity and true divinity continues in The Road to Cana with vivid detail. Anne Rice provides the reader a new view into Jesus' inner life, His thoughts, fears, and longings with Jesus as the narrator.


Synopsis:

“NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The second novel in Anne Rice's hugely ambitious, moving, and masterful portrayal of the life of Christ, following Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt.

It’s a winter of no rain, endless dust, and talk of trouble in Judea. All who know and love Jesus find themselves waiting for some sign of the path he will eventually take. After his baptism, he is at last ready to confront his destiny. At the wedding at Cana, he takes water and transforms it into red wine. Thus, he’s recognized as the anointed one and called by God the Father to begin a ministry that will transform an unsuspecting world. ”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Anne Rice, Bar Joseph, Christ The Lord, Highly Recommend, Life Of Christ, Life Of Jesus, Lord Out Of Egypt, Lord Road, Road To Cana, Son Of God, Vampire Chronicles, Water Into Wine, Wedding At Cana, Yeshua Bar


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here


Free With Free Audible Trial


The Young Messiah (2016) (PG)


Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R)


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Blackwood Farm Review

Blackwood Farm

Published: 29, October 2002

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 9

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, History, Horror, Inspirational, LGBTQ+, Literary, Men's, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Renaissance, Saga, Spirituality, Thrillers, Urban, Vampire, Witches, Wizards


Check the summary of this book here:

Blackwood Farm Summary


The Review:

Quinn Blackwood, a recently formed immature vampire, is the protagonist of Anne Rice's novel Blackwood Farm. He's attempting to figure out the ins and outs of the covens. But he's also carrying a nasty monster! (For real) He sought the assistance of the Vampire Lestat in order to free himself of this strange influence that has been with him from boyhood and has only grown stronger and more dangerous. Lestat enlists the aid of Merrick, a strong vampire witch. Can their combined abilities assist Quinn in achieving his goal of freedom?

This story combines vampires and witches. Anne Rice, our cherished author, has created another excellent story. The Vampire Quinn Blackwood's story is both enthralling and terrifying.

One of my favorite aspects of this story is that you don't have to have read the other eight books in the series to enjoy it. But to have a better understanding of Lestat, I recommend reading Interview With The Vampire first, I am confident you will read all of the prior novels since once a reader starts reading this series, he/she won't be able to stop.

If you're a fan of Anne Rice's Vampire and Mayfair series, this novel will provide you with some intriguing updates on the Mayfair Clan, so if you haven't read that series yet, you should.

Those who like adult vampires with real themes will like this book. Anne Rice works by opening in the future, delving into the past, and then concluding in the near future. Lestat is almost always involved or invoked, whether in a significant or minor capacity.

When I ponder the circumstances of her vampires' life, I am frequently distressed and sad. But still, I end up with artwork to look at, music to listen to, and moral dilemmas to deal with.

I understand that thinking about and reading about drinking human blood, or any kind of blood, is unpleasant, yet her characters' sensuous connection is enthralling, and the reader is never left feeling alienated. In essence, the reader forgets or forgives them for doing it because it is for their longevity, elegance, and sustainability.

And then the sadness of these characters' lives makes the reader mourn at the conclusion of each book. You'll probably appreciate the Vampire Chronicles if you prefer your chocolate bitter.

It holds the reader in fear the whole time it is being read. The historical accuracy is incredible! Anne Rice went above and beyond the call of professionalism. After reading this work and learning about Merrick, readers will be more interested in learning more about the Mayfair Witches.

Anne Rice creates a universe that you don't want to leave, as she usually does. Her characters leap off the page and into your heart. I realize she can't constantly write about Louise and Lestat, even though Lestat is neglected in this novel. Her imagination is far too complex for us to limit it to our personal preferences. I appreciate every syllable she writes, and I always feel bad about ending one of her novels.


Final Thoughts:

This novel is full of wonderful detail, engaging characters, and stunning magical energies, as is typical of Anne Rice. And, of course, The Brat Prince's aristocracy. Tarquin's narrative is a fascinating tale of good and evil, not necessarily in the manner you think, thanks to Goblin's dark friendship and Aunt Queen's lovely light.

I really liked this book, however, like a handful of her other works, most of it is Quinn recounting Lestat his narrative from beginning to end. I believe the last three chapters were the conclusion to the story at hand.

The backstory, as with all of her books, is extremely detailed and full of information that you can take or leave. The ups and downs on the roller coaster are masterfully written, but that is to be expected from an Anne Rice novel.

This is an obvious step up from her previous Vampire Chronicles volumes, which was a nice relief and a sign for those who doubted her tremendous writing ability.

I would suggest this book to anybody who likes vampires, the paranormal, witches, dark fantasy, or is just finished the Vampire Chronicles series .


Synopsis:

“In her new novel, perennial bestseller Anne Rice fuses her two uniquely seductive strains of narrative -- her Vampire legend and her lore of the Mayfair witches -- to give us a world of classic deep-south luxury and ancestral secrets.

Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, bright, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelgänger, “Goblin,” a spirit from a dream world that Quinn can’t escape and that prevents him from belonging anywhere. When Quinn is made a Vampire, losing all that is rightfully his and gaining an unwanted immortality, his doppelgänger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself.

As the novel moves backwards and forwards in time, from Quinn’s boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present-day New Orleans, from ancient Athens to 19th-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the specter that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.

A story of youth and promise, of loss and the search for love, of secrets and destiny, Blackwood Farm is Anne Rice at her mesmerizing best.”



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Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:

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Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):

Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):

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The Vampire Armand Review

The Vampire Armand Review

The Vampire Armand

Published: 10, October 1998

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 6

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, History, Horror, Inspirational, LGBTQ+, Literary, Men's, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Renaissance, Saga, Spirituality, Thriller, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

The Vampire Armand Summary


The Review:

Anne Rice's The Vampire Armand explains to us how Armand became a vampire and why he committed the horrors he did to Louis and Lestat. If you appreciate the Vampire Chronicles and Anne Rice's works, you should not miss this opportunity to read it. To put it frankly, I'm not sure why this book received so many negative reviews. It was a fantastic novel that I thought was a worthy addition to the Vampire Chronicles. If you haven't yet read this novel, do it right now!

Armand is a genuinely interesting character, and it was excellent to discover why he was the way he was in this edition of the Vampire Chronicles.

This book covers so many of the voids left by the previous Vampire Chronicles, such as Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, Tale of the Body Thief, and Memnoch the Devil. The story opens in the present, with Lestat ruling the roost, and follows Armand's descent into decadence in his late teens, through his vampiric leadership in Paris, and ultimately back to the present, with a display of just how graceful and powerful he has become.

Above all, I feel that this novel best exemplifies Anne Rice's genre, topics, and writing style. With the storyline, twists and turns, and casual supernatural coincidences, Anne Rice has one of the most unique writing styles out there. I'm fascinated with her narrative abilities throughout the book.

This sixth Vampire Chronicle is all about Armand, and it starts with his desire to be near Lestat, who is now immobile on the chapel's marble floor. The scholar vampire, David Talbot, persuades Armand to narrate his narrative in exchange for his writing it down.

There is no experience quite like Armand's, which is completely engrossing and exhilarating throughout, with Armand sharing his own views with us. It takes us from the beginning, when Marius turned him into a vampire and named him "Amadeo," God's Beloved, to the previously unknown grotesque details of Claudia's last moments at his blundering hands, to the happy ending, when all his love is returned, by his Master, Marius, his companion, Louis, and his much-loved Lestat, and most importantly, by his "children," Sybelle and Benji, who love him like no one else has ever loved.

Armand is without a doubt one of my favorite characters in the entire series. This unfortunate character's life has been tormented, but he still manages to keep going. It's one of those rare novels that I can read again and again.

The narrative of Armand deserves your undivided attention! It's a narrative of a tortured soul trying to find its place in the world. It's an engrossing and profound story for people who can comprehend inner battles, love troubles, and tumultuous history.

Anne Rice devotes a significant amount of time to exploring Armand's connection with his Maker, Marius, set against the vibrant background of Renaissance Italy, particularly Venice. I wish she'd stayed longer, but that's just the greed in me that wants more from her on this topic and place. I was enthralled by all of the zeal and creativity... 

Anne Rice's pen brings Renaissance Italy to life, but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody who has read any of her prior books.

Some readers warned me that this book would be uninteresting and contain explicit themes. I believe these individuals are merely reading the words without understanding them in context. I'm also perplexed by the term adult because this book and the series were never intended for children. So why are people claiming it's an adult novel? 

This is now my favorite book in the series, and it deserves a lot more praise than it is getting!!


Final Thoughts:

The works of Anne Rice are transformative, deep, informative, and complicated. I like Anne Rice more than any other fiction writer when it comes to the Vampire Genre, perhaps with the exception of Daniel Quinn for fiction in general.

Her characters and interactions are so skillfully crafted that I have no doubt that she was listening in on these talks as they unfolded. Vampires from six thousand years ago to the "now," from all across the world, present readers with intriguing insights into histories and cultures that must have taken a lot of time and effort for Anne Rice to explore. As lyrical as that may seem, her works are romantic and gloomy, and they discover the spark of poetry in even the most stoic of souls.

It's a book worth buying and reading. This is a must-read for anybody who enjoys delving into the darkest corners of a character's mind.


Synopsis:

“In the latest installment of The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice summons up dazzling worlds to bring us the story of Armand - eternally young, with the face of a Botticelli angel. Armand, who first appeared in all his dark glory more than twenty years ago in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire, the first of The Vampire Chronicles, the novel that established its author worldwide as a magnificent storyteller and creator of magical realms.

Now, we go with Armand across the centuries to the Kiev Rus of his boyhood - a ruined city under Mongol dominion - and to ancient Constantinople, where Tartar raiders sell him into slavery. And in a magnificent palazzo in the Venice of the Renaissance, we see him emotionally and intellectually in thrall to the great vampire Marius, who masquerades among humankind as a mysterious, reclusive painter and who will bestow upon Armand the gift of vampiric blood.

As the novel races to its climax, moving through scenes of luxury and elegance, of ambush, fire, and devil worship to nineteenth-century Paris and today's New Orleans, we see its eternally vulnerable and romantic hero forced to choose between his twilight immortality and the salvation of his immortal soul.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Aaliyah, Akasha And Enkil, Akasha, Alain Delon, Ancient Egypt, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Blood And Gold, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Bruce Spence, Cher, Christian Manon, Christian Slater, Claudia Black, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Dark Gift, Darren Wilson, David Talbot, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, God and the Devil, Heaven And Hell, Highly Recommend, Hollywood's Homophobia, Hugo Race, Indra Ové, The Interview with the Vampire, Jerk, Jesse, Johnathan Devoy, Jonathan Davis, Julian Sands, Khayman, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lena Olin, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Lorimar Productions, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş, Mael, Maharet And Mekare, Maharet, Marguerite Moreau, Marius, Matthew Lassall, Matthew Newton, Mayfair Witches, Memnoch The Devil, Michael Rymer, Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Characters, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Pandora, Paris Vampire, Paris, Paul Mcgann, Pia Miranda, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Rachael Tanner, Raglan James, Read Interview, Robin Casinader, Rowland S. Howard, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Serena Altschul, Stephen Rea, Stuart Townsend, Sybelle And Benji, Thandie Newton, Tale of the Body, Thandiwe Newton, The Vampire Lestat, Thought Provoking, Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Vincent Perez, Warner Bros, Years Ago, Young Jesse, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):


Compare Kindle E-readers on one page:


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Memnoch the Devil Review

Memnoch the Devil Review

Memnoch the Devil

Published: 3, July 1995

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 5

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, History, Horror, Inspirational, LGBTQ+, Literary, Men's, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Saga, Spirituality, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

Memnoch the Devil Summary


The Review:

Anne Rice's Memnoch the Devil is, in my view, one of her greatest works in this series. She creates a breathtakingly gorgeous piece of literature and adventure that only she could bring to life. Some readers have criticized this work, however, I believe these critics read a completely different book than Memnoch the Devil.

With courageous and brilliant tales that are amazing in their depth and simplicity, she takes on all of Creation and its Creator. Our favorite Brat Prince is the ideal figure to carry such a heavy message, and he does so with style and emotion.

Except for cell phones and other modern advancements, the story is as relevant now as it was all those years ago. Anne Rice is a gifted writer, with a lush and vivid imagination that shines through in every word of this spiritual and historical trip.

I couldn't be happier with a novel and would suggest it to anybody who enjoys reading for both pleasure and education. It's one of my favorite books in general, as well as Anne Rice's. It's completely enthralling and thought-provoking.

I'd want to discuss the readers who disliked this book and the prior book in the series once more so that new readers may determine whether or not to read it.

Memnoch the Devil became the next book to read in this amazingly deep, rich, and complicated vampire mythology, just when I thought it couldn't get any deeper. I'd heard from some readers that the previous book in the series, The Tale Of The Body Thief, is when the series starts to go downhill and that this book is where it all comes to a halt and becomes nearly unreadable, and I used to be perplexed as to why these individuals thought the way they did, but now I believe I've discovered the answer to my suspicion that we didn't read the same book, but it's more than that, as I'll explain now…

If those critics were expecting a straight-up vampire tale, they were most certainly disappointed in that regard and if the very religious read this book and are the sort that can't separate their own views from reading a work of fiction, they were likely offended by it and would not appreciate it.

Memnoch the Devil is an unquestionably disputed work in that it examines the Christian religion, with Lestat as the main protagonist (I don't refer to him as a hero because he is an antihero.) who is confronted with his greatest moment of self-reflection and questioning of everything he has ever believed true in his two hundred plus years of existence as the Devil himself guides him through the stories of God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, and creation.

Do I agree with the opinions in this book? Do I believe this book is a true revelation of what is going on in the spiritual realm? The answer to both of those queries is non of any ones concern but yes I have brain enough to recognize it is simply a novel like any other fictitious or fantasy book, religious or not.

I do believe, however, that Anne Rice crafted a profound work of fiction, one that, if one is open-minded enough, may instill in you a sense of creative wonder about how little we truly know about the afterlife, creation, how we got here, and other topics you may never have considered before. And to me, stories like that, are the most finely written works you can possibly read!


Final Thoughts:

What I discovered about Anne Rice from my reading experience is that, in case you didn't know, she is mostly a romance novelist. For example, Anne Rice will devote three pages to what another author describes in a single phrase: "He entered the room."

In Anne Rice's novel, no one simply enters the room or does something in a single sentence; they open the door and the doorknob reminds them of something, a shape, the texture of the knob, or the sound the door will make. The velvety carpet they walk on transports them back to their childhood in France, complete with rich odors of burning leaves and pine in the room and its environs, and in many cases, a friend, a family member, or even a servant may be remembered at the same time.

Her descriptions are full-bodied, robust, and rich. Do you want to expand your vocabulary or discover new word meanings? Anne Rice has more to say and you’ll learn a lot just by reading her novels. It's exactly what I'm looking for from her, and she delivers. I enjoy her portrayal of the Devil as well as the narrative between God and the Devil.

Her descriptions of paradise and hell were particularly interesting. Memnoch is an intriguing character who makes you want to learn more about him. I liked him as a character and Anne Rice's account of the events leading up to his transformation into the Devil.

If you have any reservations about this novel, read it! You could find yourself as impressed as I was. I thoroughly loved this book, so much so that it may be my favorite in the series so far!


Synopsis:

“"STARTLING . . . FIENDISH . . . MEMNOCH'S TALE IS COMPELLING."
--New York Daily News

"Like Interview with the Vampire, Memnoch has a half-maddened, fever-pitch intensity. . . . Narrated by Anne Rice's most cherished character, the vampire Lestat, Memnoch tells a tale as old as Scripture's legends and as modern as today's religious strife."
--Rolling Stone

"SENSUAL . . . BOLD, FAST-PACED."
--USA Today

"Anne Rice has penned an ambitious close to this long-running series. . . . Fans will no doubt devour this."
--The Washington Post Book World

"MEMNOCH THE DEVIL OFFERS PASSAGES OF POETIC BRILLIANCE."
--Playboy

"[MEMNOCH] is one of Anne Rice's most intriguing and sympathetic characters to date. . . . Anne Rice ups the ante, taking Lestat where few writers have ventured: into heaven and hell itself. She carries it off in top form."
--The Seattle Times”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Aaliyah, Akasha And Enkil, Akasha, Alain Delon, Ancient Egypt, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Bruce Spence, Cher, Christian Manon, Christian Slater, Claudia Black, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Darren Wilson, David Talbot, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, God and the Devil, Heaven And Hell, Highly Recommend, Hollywood's Homophobia, Hugo Race, Indra Ové, The Interview with the Vampire, Jerk, Jesse, Johnathan Devoy, Jonathan Davis, Julian Sands, Khayman, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lena Olin, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Lorimar Productions, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş, Mael, Maharet And Mekare, Maharet, Marguerite Moreau, Marius, Matthew Lassall, Matthew Newton, Memnoch The Devil, Michael Rymer, Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Characters, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Pandora, Paris Vampire, Paris, Paul Mcgann, Pia Miranda, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Rachael Tanner, Raglan James, Read Interview, Robin Casinader, Rowland S. Howard, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Serena Altschul, Stephen Rea, Stuart Townsend, Thandie Newton, Tale of the Body, Thandiwe Newton, The Vampire Lestat, Thought Provoking, Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Vincent Perez, Warner Bros, Years Ago, Young Jesse, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):


Compare Kindle E-readers on one page:


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Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
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The Tale of the Body Thief Review

The Tale of the Body Thief Review

The Tale of the Body Thief

Published: 4, October 1992

Author: Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles, Book 4

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, Horror, Inspirational, LGBTQ+, Literary, Men's, Occult, Paranormal, Psychological, Saga, Spirituality, Vampire


Check the summary of this book here:

The Tale of the Body Thief Summary


The Review:

The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice reads almost like a mystery novel. It is not required to be a vampire enthusiast to enjoy it. It's a fascinating novel to read since nothing happens as planned. Every turn brings a fresh adventure. As you might anticipate, the characters are constantly changing as he flows in and out of several bodies, hence the title "The Tale of the Body Thief." It's amusing to read and not at all terrifying.

I read it in one sitting and didn't even realize it. My advice is to read it over the course of a weekend; because once you start, you'll feel compelled to finish it Then you want it to continue on forever, but fortunately, you can read "Memnoch the Devil" the next book in the series once you've finished it.

The tale is now centered on Lestat thanks to Body Thief. There isn't much interaction with other vampires. Other vampires are only warning voices that will be ignored in any case. Lestat's failure to learn from anything other than his own sorrow and peril is the subject of this narrative. It's also part of what makes the narrative intriguing because his weaknesses are responsible for all of the adventures and misadventures we're reading about.

The Tale of the Body Thief is a simple way to re-enter Anne Rice's vampire universe, as it does not need the readers to re-acquaint themselves with the large cast of characters from the previous works. Lestat is back in the spotlight, and Louis, a New Orleans bloodsucker produced by Lestat two centuries ago, makes an appearance, as does the spirit of Claudia, the vampire kid they created and then lost.

Following the near-apocalyptic events of The Queen of the Damned, Lestat appears to be unhappy and dissatisfied with his vampire existence, distancing himself from his fellow vampires. His only friend is the elderly mortal David Talbot, the leader of the Talemasca, a group dedicated to the study of the supernatural.

In this novel, we are reminded why Lestat is one of contemporary fiction's most recognized anti-heroes in the book's last chapter. A lot of this book is Anne Rice at her best, especially when Lestat and David have long discussions about God and the Devil, and the nature of good and evil. This is something Anne Rice is known for, and it's clear that Lestat is her alter ego, especially when he talks about what he's learned after two centuries of observation of the human condition. 

Her vampires truly have a wonderful gift of gab; it's one of her signature traits. Although the reader may not always agree with what Anne Rice is attempting to convey via her characters, it is always worthwhile to read. The other key to her vampire books' popularity is that she subtly makes the reader feel as if they are one of the gorgeous immortals themselves as if Lestat is interacting with one of his own kind when he speaks to them in the first person.

You can also see where and how the groundwork for 'Memnoch the Devil' and some of the subsequent volumes in the series is being laid down.

Spoiler Ahead: The next paragraph contains information that will reveal the novel's main plot.

Raglan James, a young guy who claims to be able to exchange bodies, approaches the lonely Lestat and informs him that he is actually a 70-year-old man who has purloined the youthful body he currently occupies after hijacking it in a British mental institution where it was in a terminal coma. James has a proposal for Lestat: they swap bodies for a few days, allowing Lestat to reclaim his humanity while James enjoys being inside the incredibly strong body of a vampire for a brief period. What's the worst that might happen? Despite Louis and David's warnings that this is the worst of all possible ideas, and the reader can also clearly see that James is bad news, but Lestat is intrigued by the offer.


Final Thoughts:

Anne Rice continues the Lestat narrative with another fantastic story. Intriguing, with suitable twists and turns that complement what we already know about Lestat while also revealing more about Lestat and his closest associates.

Although certain places may appear to be dragging in "unnecessary information," I loved the change of pace and atmosphere offered for the participants. Another winner in the end!

This is a terrific novel, as is any book by Anne Rice, one of my favorite authors. I've read everything she's ever written at least twice, and for me, she's the gauge against which all other works of this genre (Vampires) are measured. Apart from Bram Stoker's "Dracula," no other vampire tale I've ever read can compare to Anne Rice.

Her characters are almost believable, almost human, flawed...and without a sparkle in their eyes...thank you, Anne Rice, for being a part of my life for so long.


Synopsis:

““Anne Rice is our modern messenger of the occult, whose nicely updated dark-side passion plays twist and turn in true Gothic form.”—San Francisco Chronicle

In a gripping feat of storytelling, Anne Rice continues the extraordinary Vampire Chronicles that began with the now-classic Interview with the Vampire. For centuries, Lestat—vampire-hero, enchanter, seducer of mortals—has been a courted prince in the dark and flourishing universe of the living dead. Now he is alone. And in his overwhelming need to destroy his doubts and his loneliness, Lestat embarks on the most dangerous enterprise he has undertaken in all the years of his haunted existence.

Praise for The Tale of the Body Thief

“Tinged with mystery, full of drama . . . The story is involving, the twists surprising.”—People

“Fast-paced . . . . mesmerizing . . . silkenly sensuous . . . No one writing today matches her deftness with the [sensual].”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Hypnotic . . . masterful.”—Cosmopolitan”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Aaliyah, Akasha And Enkil, Akasha, Alain Delon, Ancient Egypt, Anne Rice, Antonio Banderas, Armand, Body Thief, Brad Pitt, Brat Prince, Bruce Spence, Cher, Christian Manon, Christian Slater, Claudia Black, Claudia, Closer To The Truth, Daniel Molloy, Darren Wilson, David Talbot, Destrehan Plantation, Dollmaker, Domiziana Giordano, Drama, Estelle, French Quarter, George Kelly, God and the Devil, Highly Recommend, Hollywood's Homophobia, Hugo Race, Indra Ové, The Interview with the Vampire, Jerk, Jesse, Johnathan Devoy, Jonathan Davis, Julian Sands, Khayman, Kirsten Dunst, Laure Marsac, Lena Olin, Lestat De Lioncourt, London, Lorimar Productions, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, Louis, Lovers Forever, Madeleine Marcel Iureş, Mael, Maharet And Mekare, Maharet, Marguerite Moreau, Marius, Matthew Lassall, Matthew Newton, Michael Rymer, Mississippi River, Mother Gabrielle, Must Be Kept, Must Read, Neil Jordan, New Characters, New Orleans Whore, New Orleans, Oak Alley Plantation, Pandora, Paris Vampire, Paris, Paul Mcgann, Pia Miranda, Point Of View, Queen Of The Damned, Rachael Tanner, Raglan James, Read Interview, Robin Casinader, Rowland S. Howard, San Francisco, Santiago, Sara Stockbridge, Serena Altschul, Stephen Rea, Stuart Townsend, Thandie Newton, Tale of the Body, Thandiwe Newton, The Vampire Lestat Tom Cruise, Vacherie, Vampire Chronicles, Vincent Perez, Warner Bros, Years Ago, Young Jesse, Yvette


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy The Kindle Version Here:


Free With Free Audible Trial:


Interview With the Vampire (1994) (R):


Queen of the Damned (2002) (R):


Compare Kindle E-readers on one page:


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Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
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