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Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf
Anne Rice’s second book in her hugely ambitious and courageous life of Christ begins during his last winter before his baptism in the Jordan and concludes with the miracle at Cana.
It is a novel in which we see Jesus—he is called Yeshua bar Joseph—during a winter of no rain, endless dust, and talk of trouble in Judea.
Legends of a Virgin birth have long surrounded Yeshua, yet for decades he has lived as one among many who come to the synagogue on the Sabbath. All who know and love him find themselves waiting for some sign of the path he will eventually take.
And at last we see him emerge from his baptism to confront his destiny—and the Devil. We see what happens when he takes the water of six great limestone jars, transforms it into cool red wine, is recognized as the anointed one, and urged to call all Israel to take up arms against Rome and follow him as the prophets have foretold.
As with Out of Egypt, the opening novel, The Road to Cana is based on the Gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book’s power derives from the profound feeling its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the presence of Jesus.
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| Anne Rice Exposed. Best Novel on True Love. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I never really enjoyed Anne Rice's novels until I read this one called
The Road to Cana. But within a short time, her powerful description of the
two young boys who were caught under the same blanket and then stoned
to death by the Jewish villagers for what one assumes was a typical love
affair a la San Francisco style.
For the first time I began to understand what the Christian path to
a more human philosophy of life was all about. With a very short novel,
she has expressed via her key characters what hate, anger, greed,
and true love are all about.
No doubt the dedication of this book to her son Christopher has
a deeper meaning that can only be appreciated after also reading some
of his novels.
I hope that the Southern "profits" like Joyce Meyers can read
this book for a better understanding of the meaning of "love thy
neighbor as thyself."
Great book. James Albertson, Morgan Hill, Calif.
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| Divinity in the making |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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2nd installment in highly attractive Anne Rice story about Jesus Christ, finds God at around age of 30 in Nazareth, where not so young anymore, Yeshua the Sinless is still struggling to discover his divinity amidst problems in his village and arrival of new Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The book is beautifully written in first person with Jesus discovering the sense of humanly love for the woman and finding the way to his destiny. 75% of the book deals with issues unknown from the Bible and is the most intriguing. The last few chapters depicting the baptism in the river Jordan, miracles on the road to Cana, and gathering of the first disciples is much more recognized to us, but still interesting. Despite deep knowledge of the bible, I am eagerly awaiting the continuation of the Jesus story expecting Anne Rice to interlace a bit of her own imagination to help a common reader to understand a possible struggle between Jesus' humanity and divinity.
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| Can't wait for the next one! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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When I first saw this book, I was sceptical but excited at the same time. After all, I was worried about what path Anne Rice might have taken when writing about the life of Jesus. I sought out and read "Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt" first and then this one.
Anne Rice does a great job of growing and developing the character of Yeshua bar Joseph, from a young boy unaware of the mystery and history of his birth, to a 30-year-old man, where we are when this novel opens up.
All I can say is it is very worth the read. She does a great job of interweaving the stories from the bible into her books. She really painted a terrific visual picture of what life might have been like, but, at the same time, you are seeing it through the life of an observer, a man, Jesus.
Even though we know what happens next, I can't wait to read the next one. I am so excited about it. Can't believe I have to wait!
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| Good Book (the last third is Excellent) |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Anne Rice has pulled off another well written depiction of the life of Christ. In this volume, the author imagines Jesus (Yeshua) just before he takes off on his preaching career that would change the world. Christ still struggles with his identity and over whether he can ever love in the sense of taking a wife. Meanwhile, tiny Nazerath is a place of gossip and at times mob violence. Overall the first two thirds are well written but generally not as good as Rice's original in the series. The last third or so is generally excellent as Christ undergoes the temptation in the wilderness and finally truely begins to understand he is God incarnate. One of Rice's better writing talents seems to be characterization as well as generally smooth storytelling that is able to hold my interest. As good as Lew Wallace's "Ben-Hur" or Douglas's "The Robe" were at times, they could be slow at times as well. While not yet on the level of "Quo Vadis" or Maier's "The Flames of Rome" in my opinion, I think Rice's series is well done and has potential to reach greater heights than it currently attains. I really hope she writes some more in this series and I especially want to see how she would do the Passion and Resurrection. As a person who generally likes history, I was pleased Rice alluded to the battle at the Teutonburg Forest in 9 A.D. (C.E.) though readers not interested in ancient military history might care less on that count. I am wandering about a couple of minor details in the story however.
1. People are often seen outside at night in both books. In the first century there were still some lions around parts of Judea to my knowledge and I believe leopards live in parts of Israel to this very day. And then there are the raiders Rice mentions. Would it be safe to be out late at this time?
2. Where is Peter's wife? His mother-and-law is mentioned but I don't remember any mentioning of the disciple's wife.
On the whole though, good writing and excellent characterization. I recommend it.
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| Easy to get sucked into this great book! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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It's amazing to me how Anne is able to bring you immediately into the life of Jesus as the narrator of this incredible book! Her exhaustive research is evident, but it doesn't interrupt the story. You truly get a sense of what this part of Jesus' life may have been like. I found myself thinking about it for days after I finished it!
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