Reviews for Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana

The average rating for Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-06-04 00:00:00 Millicent Sullivan I would NEVER in a million years have predicted that I would even read this book - much less like it. I've picked up a couple of Anne Rice novels in the past and simply couldn't get into them. This, of course, was back in her "vampire" days, and that topic never has really turned me on. I even tried as a child to like Dark Shadows, but it just didn't work for me. A couple of months ago, though, I heard a review of this book on NPR. I vaguely recalled that Rice had had some sort of conversion experience, but I was somewhat skeptical and hadn't given it much thought time. The reviewer, however, caused my ears to perk up. My curiosity was amply piqued, and I began to think I might like to give dear old Anne one more chance. I wouldn't risk buying it, but I'd certainly check it out from the public library. The reviewer's comment that provided the impetus for my change of heart was (and I'm paraphrasing - so apologies to the reviewer) that many writers of religious fiction attempt to tap into the "human" side of Jesus, and thus diminish the "divine." Conversely, others attempt to protect the "divine" aspects of Christ, and are never able to help the reader realize him as "human." Rice somehow manages to tap into both sides of Jesus' character, without diminishing either side in any way. He was right. I'm not sure how she did it - but it is a testament to both her long touted brilliance as a writer, as well as the depth of her conversion experience. Jesus is portrayed during that time of which we know little of his life - just before he started his ministry - as a man with emotions, needs, humor, daily concerns, questions. He is approachable and someone to whom you can relate. Yet one never questions the divinity that lurks beneath the surface. And the fact that we vividly witness him experiencing all that we in our humanity experience, makes it all the more plausible that he truly can (as divine) empathize, not just pity us in, our joys and pains. It's a quick read, and she's done her history research, so the historical fabric that weaves it all together adds a further measure realism to the story. Biblical scholars may shun the fact that a few miracles appear "out of order" - and some Marianites will appreciate the Mary's virginity remains intact. But as historical/biblical novels go, she really makes it work. I may read the first of the series, AND I may actually go out and buy my own copy . . .

Review # 2 was written on 2008-12-27 00:00:00 Stanley Walker The Road to Cana is a novel and does not pretend to be otherwise. It is the story of about a year in Jesus' life, and ends at the wedding at Cana. Some of the characters are known from scripture; others are creations of Ms. Rice. Jesus is portrayed as being a somewhat strange, but very loving member of a large extended family. James is named as his brother, but it is noted that he was Joseph's son by his first wife, not by Mary. Further the book, which is written in the first person and told from Jesus' point of view, describes his kinship relationship to several people and then notes "they are my sisters and my brothers". A main character in the book is the bride at the wedding at Cana--Jesus loves her but realizes that marrying her is not his vocation. Throughout the book Jesus speaks of feeling like something was just beyond where he was. Finally, after his baptism, when He is in the desert, the book says "The dawn came. And the dawn came again, and again. I lay in a heap as the sand blew over me. And the voice of the Lord was not in the wind; and it was not in the sand; and itw as not in the sun; and it was not in the stars. It was inside me. I'd always known who I really was. I was God. And I'd chosen not to know it. Well, now I knew just what it meant to be the man who knew he was God." Next, Rice does a great job of fleshing out the story of the three temptations in the desert. I think a very real temptation in writing a novel about Jesus is to make Him in your image; rather than to allow Him to remake you in His. However, I think Rice does a good job of expanding on the Biblical Christ rather than remaking Him. The scene between Mary and Him at the wedding was almost funny. He didn't want to "go public" but she knew it was time. If anyone is hesitant about reading this book because of the content of Ms. Rice's vampire books (or some others I'll not mention)I have read that at the the time she wrote the vampire books, she was an atheist and/or agnostic. Since that time she has reverted to her Catholic faith and written these two books about Jesus. Her latest book is about her reversion, and it is on my to be read list.