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Jan 14, 2010

Kelly rated it:

I just want to say that before I started writing this review, I read the reviews of others, and numerous people who wrote on this wrote that it was their least favorite, or gave it the least stars of any of the Vampire Chronicles novels. A precious few gave it the five stars that I did.

May I just say: You all are completely and utterly insane?

This is by far the /best/ of the Vampire Chronicles novels. It shows the most scholarship, learning, understanding, and beauty by / More...

18 comments like (28 people liked it)

May 10, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

Memnoch the Devil was nothing like what I was expecting as the next installment of The Vampire Chronicles. Absolutely drenched in theological argument, Memonch the Devil is not for anyone who dislikes religion in their fiction.

Only two things happened in this entire book. Lestat stalked a victim for the first third of the book. He then spent the last two thirds of the book talking to the devil (and occasionally God). It was written as what appeared to be an extremely long-winded interv More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 16, 2007

Allison rated it:

At the time that I read this book I was an agnostic, pagan, ex-catholic, confused about religion person. Anne Rice's technique and passion is so persuasive that I was a true believer after reading this book. And this was before she converted back to Catholicism! She is just so powerful, her narrative technique is, I want to say, loving towards her reader. I think her love for the characters she's created makes that happen. Anyway, this one is a must for followers of the chronicles and fans of Le More...

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 27, 2008

Misty rated it:

This is one of Anne Rice's best works in my opinion. It is part of the vampire series, but you should be able to understand & enjoy the book without reading the others.
The vampire, Lestat, is taken to heaven, hell, and back in time to creation and during the Christ era by Memnoch, the devil. The story told is one very different than the Bible, but it's good. I love Anne Rice's books because she tells the story in a way that it could be true. Anyways, it's a good book, but if you get upset More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Sakura rated it:

This was the last Anne Rice book that I ever personally plan to read, because after reading this I went into a three month fit of depression.

The events in this book were just so powerful and terrible in some cases that my mind couldn't take it. While I'm not going to say that I wouldn't recommend the book to people, I would at least put up the warning that a person may want to be weary about it if they aren't of any particular religion.

Also, by the end of the book, Lesta More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 09, 2011

Wendie added it

I like this book for the ideas in it and of course the writing style of the author. The interpretation of heaven, hell, religion etc. It's very fascinating and offers a great perspective on the "what if's" in the universe. I was horrified at the end until I read the next book in the series. It is truly remarkable what Anne Rice can do. The ending almost requires you to pick up the next in the series and begin it immediately. This book could be read by someone who is not familiar More...

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Feb 17, 2009

Alexis added it

memnoch the devil is a compelling story of betrayl pursuit and darkness;vampires.The lead character lestat from the previous ann rice book chronicles tells his story of dark paranoia.He tells of first himself and how he has gotten where he is today."I don't like myself you know. I love myself. I'm devoted to myself till my dying day. But I don't like myself."-lestat
Thus forth continuing the story, He pursuies an accomplis so he turns a distant stranger into your dark erie vampire More...

1 comment like

Nov 28, 2011

Rodriqueze rated it:

Embora o livro tenha um início lento, com algumas descrições cansativas e momentos que não prometem uma leitura cativante, a verdade é que esta situação vai sendo revertida gradualmente. Por um lado, o leitor vê o implacável Lestat a ser confrontado pela dualidade do bem e do mal por duas personagens apaixonantes: a angelical e Dora que aceita o vampiro sem medo, o temível e antigo Memnoch, com toda a sua sabedoria e história.
O leitor é levado numa viagem pela história da Céu, Inferno e T More...

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Aug 09, 2011

Lidia rated it:

This is a book that made me think about what I felt about religion (since at the time I was trying to figure out what I thought about a lot of things). It's intersting to note that Anee Rice has also had some conflict with religion, and the way the story is written reflects that quite a bit. I can't say I like the ideas she presented, but some of the characters were interesting. I think the reason I didn't enjoy this book as much is because Lestat more or less gives in to the experiance he has a More...

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Jul 13, 2011

Bruce rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Feb 04, 2011

Austin rated it:

It's the fifth book in the Vampire Chronicles, and once again, the lovable Lestat is narrating his story. Only this time it's the devil who steals the show in Anne Rice's Memnoch the Devil.

Without spoiling any of the specifics, here's what you should know about the book: The Devil tells his side of the story. He takes Lestat on a journey through Heaven and Hell and into the past - where he witnesses cosmic history unfold. Needless to say, this version of events is different from More...

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Sep 10, 2010

Benjamin rated it:

I have had mixed emotions about the entire Vampire Chronicles. As in the first four books of the series, I found the language almost poetic, the story fascinating, the characters 3-dimensional, and yet, I wasn't satisfied. Most of our old friends make cameo appearances, including David, Louis and Armand. I was pleased to see that the author did not worry about negative press regarding Memnoch's views on Christianity, etc. She definitely pulled no punches. At a minimum, this novel serves as a com More...

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Sep 28, 2009

Suna rated it:

As far as I'm concerned the ONLY installment of the Vampire Chronicles that stands the test of time and Lestat's whinging nearly spoils it.

I say nearly, because at least in this novel his voice as the voice of humanity at large is vital to this particular plot; doubting, despairing, morally and spiritually wringing his hands.
Even though that's not who he was at first.

In essence Rice made a mistake with Lestat as far as I'm concerned:
We meet him in the first More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 14, 2009

Gregory rated it:

In Memnoch the Devil, Anne Rice has allowed herself to indulge in an orgy of purple prose. We hear so much about the lush greenery of the early Earth that we begin to forget what the story is about. And because of this, not much actually happens in the story. If this book were made into a film, in fact, it would probably be no more than 20 minutes long.

Aside from that, this isn't much of a "vampire chronicle." The purpose of this book seems not to be to tell a tale of t More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 30, 2010

Lori rated it:

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Oct 11, 2011

Adanic rated it:

This is my second encounter with Anne Rice’s novels. My first book was with “Vittorio the Vampire”, which was kind of crappy. Now let’s go back the “Memnoch the Devil”... Well I have to admit that I was impressed.
In my opinion, Anne Rice has a gnostical approach in this novel. It seems that this world was created by a stupid, ignorant, self-sufficient deity; we may call him in the way that William Blake called him “Old Nobodaddy”. This is the deity found in the Old Testament: the blood- More...

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Aug 03, 2010

Arun rated it:

When a writer pens down a plot based on the evergreen bestselling book, people are bound to sit up and take notice. This I suppose was Anne Rice's idea behind Memnoch the Devil. I haven't read even one of the Vampire Chronicles and the only other Anne Rice book I read to date was a load of crap named 'Violin'. Memnoch surprised me with its vast scope but starting off with an intriguing plot thread, it soon degenerated to a very flat and predictable ending.

Consider this, the devil tak More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 05, 2011

Dev rated it:

I deeply admired "Interview' w/its rich writing style of place and period, and its dispassionate portrayal of characters like Claudia, who after being a 6 year old vampire for decades has become a steely-eyed predator(ahem instead of a 100 year old vampire vegan w/an insatiable desire to...sit through high school english again and again). The Vampire Lestat was equally good w/a wonderful shift in perspective that gave a great new spin to the character an events that transpired. The books More...

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Nov 20, 2009

Lisa rated it:

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0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 14, 2009

Guri rated it:

i read some of the reviews and some ppl said that d book dint have a story and that it wasnt a vampire chronicle....and that all things abt earth and the beginning of time wasnt realted to vampirism....to those people get some imagination into ur head!
i think the book was amazing ...specially how rice has explained and described certain things...it just blew me away. for quite some time i could pick up a book because i felt really saturated after reading memnoch. the book talks about so More...

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Dec 17, 2010

Max rated it:

Not the book I expected or wanted. It had a great and engaging beginning. Usually Rice's pacing is like molasses, but for the last two books, she's quickened her pace. There were moments when I couldn't put the book down.

What turned me off from the book was the connection between vampires and Christianity. Blech. And the argument/battle between G-d and the devil. While Memnoch was sympathetic and the description of his devil form was perfect, I thought that Piers Anthony's "For L More...

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Mar 02, 2011

Kathryn rated it:

I'm having a tough time figuring out exactly what I thought of this book. The whole beginning section, with Lestat's fascination with the latest victim he was stalking, and then his subsequent conversation with the victim? That part I can read over and over again. But then...but then...

I just couldn't identify with anyone after that part. It all came across as manipulative, and God Himself just seemed petty. Maybe I was reacting to the fact that this was supposed to be Rice's final sto More...

1 comment like

Jan 09, 2012

Janet rated it:

On mysticism:

-Is Dora a mystic?
-No, Dora hasn't seen the face of God or heard his voice.

Description of Heaven: Chapter 10, pp. 206ff

p. 320 "At this her soul exploded like a blossom, the way fleshly souls had exploded when they had learnt to love each other! She warmed to me and opened.

p. 321-322 "We don't resent God anymore. We don't hate Him. We have forgiven Him. We accept that our lives have been wondrous experiences, worth the p More...

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Mar 09, 2011

Emily rated it:

Memnoch the Devil is a tale far more philosophical and religious than any of Rice’s previous Vampire Chronicles. Her vampires have always wrestled with these questions of religion, philosophy and Their Place in the Grand Plan of ….whoever. In this book, Lestat meets the Devil himself. And, God Incarnate. With so many capitalized pronouns, Rice lays out a reimagining of the struggle between these two entities. Frankly, I’d like to believe it as Gospel Truth. But, of course, Lestat is the Damndest More...

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Aug 20, 2008

Wendy rated it:

I "L O V E D" this book. Very intriguing with its ideas and topics, highly unusual and controversial to say the least. In short, an awesome story of the vampire chronicles that just continues to mesmerize its readers. Same series, totally different direction. A. Rice is a talented author. Hard to put this down.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 05, 2012

Mikamae is currently reading it

With my obsession with the book of enoch, the watchers, the nepholim, with fallen angels...This book is beautiful on a multitude of levels. I read it a long time ago and now I am revisiting it with fresh eyes....because of my theological research I find that I'm understanding it on a completely different level now.

I think this is one of my favorite books.
I'll post quotes soon....there are so many, so many that are just so beautiful when memnoch is describing the creation of earth, More...

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Mar 02, 2010

Tamcamry rated it:

• This is the kind of book that if it isn’t done exactly correct then it doesn’t make any sense at the end. I guess Lestat is used by the devil and all that, but how does that fit in with anything that was shone to Lestat? Even if it is all lies, the question is why? If Memnoch or God or anyone needed to get the veil of Veronica out to the public there were many easier and less time consuming way to do it. Why waste all this time and answer no questions? Again, it just doesn’t make much sen More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 06, 2011

Donna rated it:

I'm an Anne Rice junkie.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way I have to say that this is one of my favorite books ever. Rice sends her complex anti-hero Lestat to hell, and heaven and straight into the throat of Christ on His way to Golgotha as Memnoch the Devil seeks to seduce him into seeing things his way.
Rice's imagery and language is as always incredibly lush and rich but it's the raging philosophical debate throughout that leaves the reader in about the same mind state that More...

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Jun 04, 2011

Emily rated it:

This is my least favorite book of the vampire chronicles. The beginning and ending are good, with the thrilling chase and whole 'what the hell is going on?!' feeling, but... that whole middle bit gets too drawn out, too convoluted, and just too far out there and faux-religious-y, for lack of a better term. Parts of it are haunting, and I feel like if she'd just whittled the middle portion away a bit and toned it down some, it could be a four- or five-star book. I've reread most of the other chro More...

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Jul 08, 2011

Amanda rated it:

Those who know me, know that I am not a religious fanatic by any means. Would it be ridiculous to adopt my beliefs in theology from this Anne Rice novel?? This book delves deep into the idea of creationism as well as the eternal struggle between God & the devil since the beginning of time. All of the ideas revealed here were very intriguing and totally believable, despite their grandeur. Perhaps that is why I was so engrossed by the story.

I was especially drawn in by the introduc More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)