Anne Rice turns to Jesus (who then sucks her blood and...)

[Ian David]

Anne Rice turns to Jesus

Vampire Chronicles' author returns to faith, writes new book

Tuesday, November 8, 2005; Posted: 5:01 a.m. EST (10:01 GMT)

(AP) -- After stupendous sales for her tales of vampires, witches and lust, novelist Anne Rice has turned to Jesus -- personally and literarily.

Her innovative new novel "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt" (Knopf) depicts Jesus as a 7-year-old lad, speaking in his own words as the holy family moves from Egyptian exile to Nazareth.

"What did it feel like to be God and man as a child?" Rice asked herself. Oddly, the question carries an echo of her first supernatural thriller three decades ago, which explored a vampire's first-person perspective.

Rice said in a telephone interview that she has no regrets about writing her Gothic novels, which include "Interview with the Vampire," later a movie, and "The Vampire Lestat," theme of an upcoming Elton John musical.

"I see this as a journey," she said. "They were written with complete commitment."

But that's all behind her now, she stressed; her 2003 vampire novel, "Blood Canticle," was her last. Why give it all up?

"I wanted to write only for Jesus Christ," she replied, noting that the current novel is intended as part of a series.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/11/07/books.anne.rice.ap/index.html

[shenmue]

1. She was on MSNBC the other day

The Scarborough show, to be exact. Joe was asking leading questions, as usual, about how poor Anne should expect to be persecuted by all the supposed god-hating creepazoids out there. Rice said something to the effect that the fans had been very supportive and she believed they would like the new book.

[meegbear]

4. Anne's right ...

she knows how to tell a good story and I'm sure she'll do well.

[FreedomAngel82]

29. Oh yes

I think so too. Of course I get so tired of this "I'm being persecuted" nonsense. :eyes: I'm a Christian and have never been or felt persecuted in my life.

[Spinzonner]

2. Coming soon: The Gospel of Anne

what's one more incompatible bible story ?

[Chiyo-chichi]

3. I wonder

whether this series will be the next "Left Behind" or whether the people who buy those kind of books will overlook her erotic writings and vampire/witch/demon books.

[malta blue]

5. I would like to know how she feels about

the books she penned as A.N. Roquelaure...

[waiting for hope]

6. oohhh

Those were juicy weren't they? I still am trying to get my head around The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty ....:evilgrin:

[insane_cratic_gal]

8. I might have it

if I do, do you want it? I am to re read again.. to get your head around *snicker*

You did see the Parody Movie Exit to Eden based on Anne's book?

:-)

[waiting for hope]

15. I've still got it....

and no, I didn't see it .... is that the one with Dana Delany?

[insane_cratic_gal]

17. yes

and Rosie O'Donnell.. who knew she could pull off a leather?

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[insane_cratic_gal]

7. I'd read it

Only because I know Ann has a unique way of presenting and bring to life a character.
I'm not a religious person, I guess I am agnostic. I don't do organized religion, I despise it.

Given all of that, I'd still like to hear the story of Jesus in the perspective of Anne Rice. It's history, meets mythology, meets folk lore, meets religion, meets man. Jesus (pun intended) you couldn't ask for a more interesting set of characters and ideas.

I think she might get snubbed by a lot of fundies, but I think there are christians that would read her, even given her erotica and witches, and vampires. They tend to forgive such past transgressions if someone has not only found Jesus, but wrote an entire series about him.

She's gonna be rolling in Money .. watch out Rowlings. :evilgrin:

[Ladyhawk]

25. Transgressions?

Why is it a "transgression" to write about erotica, witches and vampires? I enjoyed those works, but I am so not into religion. I'm sure Anne will continue to make plenty of money, but she's lost me as an audience. I'm just not into religious books. I had enough religion forced down my throat as a kid.

To each his own, but I think I prefer erotica, witches and vampires, oh my.

[insane_cratic_gal]

26. I think you may want to reread

what I wrote..

It was sarcastic .. considering I've read all of her works including the erotica, I'd doubt I'd call her work transgressions. Your reaction leads me to believe you misunderstood what I wrote.

I was being snide to about her "new" audience being able to forgive her "transgressions" most may see her pervious list of works as something of sinner. I personally do not.

Even given all of that, I'd read it, she may have some different perspective into the type of person Christ was vs this sort of sterile form of worship. She's tolerant of the gay community, and as a spiritual growth perspective I might not have read.

I'd like to see a Louie type of character, all self loathing but with heart.

ps I'm hardly a religious person myself.

[Ladyhawk]

30. I'm sorry I misinterpreted what you wrote.

Sometimes it's difficult to convey attitude through writing, or to infer it. Careful reading is always a good idea. Bad Ladyhawk...read carefull! Bad!

As for Ms. Rice's books, this is still a free country and she can write whatever she likes. :) If people enjoy her new subject matter that's all well and good, but I probably won't be purchasing any of her religious books. :shrug: I guess I'm weary after having been force-fed a steady diet of fundamentalism in school, home and church until I was 18 and even thereafter. We had bible class every day in school from second grade through twelfth. I haven't cracked a bible since college except to look up something I already knew existed.

:shrug:

It's just a personal preference. If I'm going to read for fun, I want it to be fun. :) You could be right that Ms. Rice's books will be very liberal and therefore, a lot more fun than Pilgrim's Progress and Hind's Feet in High Places and some of the other stuff I had to read. I can't remember much about those books and it's just as well, I think. :)

[bleedingheart]

9. I don't see any problem with her writing whatever she wants

the public can choose to buy her book or not...

[Stephanie]

10. Ummm, what about Sleeping Beauty?

And how does she feel about Beauty's Punishment now? Did Jesus enjoy those books? :evilgrin:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0452156610/ref=pd_lpo_k2a_1_txt_T2/104-5391017-8557556?%5Fencoding=UTF8

[teenagebambam]

12. I'm sure Jesus has more to worry about

than what Anne Rice might have written in her youth. He is, after all, pretty keen on forgiveness.

[Algorem]

11. saw her on tv,she dresses like a plain-clothes nun now

she needs a quart of O-negative

[waiting for hope]

16. She had a real bad time

managing her diabetes and at one point I think she almost died. Used to live in NOLA and she was great for staging parties (especially Halloween) and doing book signings. She owned St Elizabeth's in the Garden District - it used to be a Catholic run orphanage. I think she's been leaning toward this bent for some time now. She's got a website up to help hurricane victims http://www.annerice.com/nu_katrina.htm

[Ladyhawk]

27. Organized religion is about fear, both creating it and allaying it.

Whenever I see a conversion like this, it usually follows a very vulnerable time in a person's life when he / she isn't thinking clearly. It's a purely emotional response, based on fear and the need for security. And yes, it's a very human response. Most of us can only take so much before our minds break down and we insist upon some kind of emotional fix, whether it be religion, alcohol, drugs, etc. Some religions, like some drugs, are benign or even helpful; others can be quite harmful.

I will probably get flamed for saying so, but "religion" to me is just another external way of controlling fear. It's a way to fool oneself into believing things that aren't true in order to alleviate fear and find peace of mind. It's a mind-altering "experience," just as alcohol and drugs are mind-altering substances. It has no basis in reality, but works wonderfully as a placebo--but only if you really believe it.

I grew up on religion. I know what niche it filled in my life. It gave me a purpose, albeit a fictitious one. It made me feel like I was in control when, in actuality, the religion was in control. The fundamentalist version of religion made me quite dangerous. I believed I had a direct line to god. I believed he talked to me directly and gave me power to denounce others in his name. I believed I could speak in heavenly tongues and cast out demons. Hell, I actually thought I saw demons. I can't say I was insane because it was a figment of my imagination. It was a make-believe construct that ruled my entire life. When I rejected the religion, I stopped hearing the voice of god. I stopped seeing demons.

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it doesn't go away."-- Philip K. Dick

Even though I categorically reject the idea of the "supernatural," I understand the difference between dangerous fundamentalist religion and religion that is more benign and in some cases, benevolent. Although I may not agree with liberal Christians, I don't have a quarrel with them. As Thomas Jefferson said, “t does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

I just hope Anne Rice chooses a version of religion that is not injurious to others or herself. Before her conversion, she already believed in the supernatural, so it wasn't much of a step to take to believe in a certain religion. If it helps her and doesn't hurt others, more power to her. But I've had my fill of religious books, so I'll be reading something else, Ms. Rice. Sorry. I still wish you luck and all that.

Since rejecting religion, I've been through some serious shit in my life and have managed (so far) to keep my thoughts free. May it continue to be so. May it continue to be so.

[librechik]

13. well, He did ask His followers to drink His blood and eat His flesh

supposedly.

I'm just sayin.

[ismnotwasm]

14. Not a big fan

But she can write what she wants. If I want Jesus/Christian info I'll read Elaine Pagels.

[chalky]

18. Whaaa....? Elton John's making a musical out of "The Vampire Lestat"?

THIS should be interesting.

[NNadir]

20. Vampire novels, Jesus novels. What's the difference?

Personally I have no interest in either.

[insane_cratic_gal]

21. Looks like she's a progressive catholic

the post above mine posted her site, I went and poked around.

"Emails continue to pour in. Most of them are truly wonderful; many are from new readers who have Christian experiences to share.

A very few are negative and some contain hatred of gay people, which I can not abide and I try to keep my patience as I answer them and explain that my role now is to be part of my church, and to fight for acceptance of gays by the Catholic Church and by all Christian religion. I recommend that those of you who are troubled by my stance study some of the new books which are so very good at analyzing what little the Bible really has to say about gay people."


She's willing to challenge a religion on it's long standing exodus of a community of valid followers. I think I'll read that book and support it.

[leftofthedial]

22. now she gets to drink blood in church

AND she gets to add cannibalism to the mix

still worshiping death

[XanaDUer]

23. She was on Air America's Morning Sedition this past week

She is not a born-again fundie at all and repudiates that.

[sproutster]

24. Kudos to her

Peoples religion is a personal thing. I don't think anyone should heckle her for her choice.

She believes in Jesus and his teachings - Is that a bad thing? I hope they are best sellers knowing they will teach tolerance on all levels. She loves the beauty that is human.

[NancyG]

28. She is working to change the church from within,

which can be a good and effective way to do so.

Once again, she walks the walk.