I Read Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice So You Don't Have To!

[@freebotnowify]

"It's just really, kind of...I don't know....an hallucinogenic fever dream with theological dread." NAILED IT! I consider Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis to be kind of a sister book to Memnoch and think you'd like it. Cool new characters and some real trippy revelations that flip the Vampire Chronicles universe on it's head.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

O cool! Eventually I’ll get to that one.

[@TheKrabbyPattiez]

I read the book but watched this video to make sure I actually understood it. Truly a fever dream of a book. You tell this book exactly how I was telling my bf about it lol

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Haha! It’s a real wild ride.

[@thaheeraalthaf1970]

It's Paradise Lost but vampires, and I am reminded once again how utterly stupid Lestat can be, and I love him for that.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Haha! Things just always turn out ok in the end for Lestat.

[@darkservantofheaven]

Hmm....I always saw at as Leatat's Devine Comedy......but your summary is better

[@nursemain3174]

As someone who loves paradise lost and a huge fan of Anne this does not remind me of paradise lost

[@terribleeditor4556]

This is the closest I have been high, without actually being high. Out of all the things I suspected from this series. "Lestat getting stalked by Satan" was not one of them. I'm so confused.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Seriously. It felt like a stand-alone book that got added to Vampire Chronicles last minute.

[@misspenguinsupreme9923]

It's Dante's inferno with vampires

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

You’re not wrong!

[@Aurora-bx4wn]

Oh well, where do I even begin... to me, the Body Thief marked a point where the Vampire Chronicles started to go downhill. I loved the first two books and liked the Queen of the Damned a lot, but the concept of body switching was just too much for me... somehow, the events in QoD seemed much more believable, despite the fact that the pages are crowded with demons and six thousand year old vampires flying around like Superman with telekinetic powers. And, by the way, if body switching is possible in Anne Rice's universe, what a bummer for Claudia that she never heard about it! Anyway, Lestat's Dante-esque journey through Heaven and Hell in 'Memnoch' makes 'Body Thief' feel like kitchen sink realism in comparison... as you said, it really is like a theological fever dream. On the other hand, I've always found Memnoch's story about the Creation and the philosophical aspects of it interesting - just not as a part of the Vampire Chronicles! Which is kind of frustrating considering the fact that Anne Rice started to write 'Memnoch' as a standalone novel but it wasn't going anywhere... until Lestat showed up and convinced her that he absolutely needed to be a part of the story. I wrote something similar - that Memnoch's story is interesting but not as a part of the Vampire Chronicles - in a comment on Anne Rice's Instagram page a couple of years ago when she asked her fans about their honest opinion about 'Memnoch'... and boy did she get pissed off. Didn't know that she was famous for being extremely sensitive to criticism... anyway, God rest her soul, she is still one of my favourite authors. And thanks for not getting into that gross stuff! That scene with the period blood... no.! Just NO. 🤢

[@hollyvanwye9294]

Yes, Memnoch might have functioned better as a stand-alone metaphysical novel. Yet that begs the question: what KIND of metaphysical novel? It isn't something that, say, C.S. Lewis or Charles Williams would've written. It's way too bitter and satirical and it's very critical of God. The way it's structured, there must be a cynical and disaffected antihero to be tempted by the Devil's argument. For that, Lestat certainly fills the bill. There are no easy, black-and-white answers to the questions posed here. Is God really God and is Memnoch really the Devil or something else? By the end of the book Lestat and his friends end up as confused as ever about the final destination (if any) of the human soul. Lestat subsequently retreats into la-la land, and poor old Armand tries to off himself! Not exactly a happy ending. What strikes me about the Chronicles is that Lestat's long, unfolding story mirrors Anne Rice's own long, spiritual journey through life. In the early books Lestat mockingly calls himself "the devil" when actually he believes in neither God nor Satan. His atheism pretty much reflects how Anne herself must have been feeling in the wake of her daughter's death, back when she first starting writing about the undead. But by the second book Lestat becomes her mouthpiece in his praise of human creativity. There may be no real meaning in the universe but hey, artists, writers and actors can put it there for us. Marius, for example, "makes magic" through painting, and Nicolas and Antoine do the same through music. And ditto for Lestat himself, first as an actor and centuries later, as a rock star. During his debut concert Anne calls him a "Christ figure" to his fellow bloodsuckers. Devoid of her original faith, she now worships Art instead, like so many her own characters! But by Memnoch the Devil, she has come full circle, I think, and is expressing her own indecision about the Catholic Church. Should she or shouldn't she rejoin? The book neither proves nor disproves the validity of Christianity, leaving Lestat in a state of confusion (like Anne herself). Memnoch is a crazy ride and a very hard read. But in the final analysis, I think it has its place in the Vampire Chronicles because it's a major part of Lestat's spiritual evolution. Because like it or not, he "gets religion " here, even if he's being duped by an evil spirit and/or elaborate con! P.S. I both loved and hated this book!

[@user-martinpd]

If it's any consolation you've succeeded in being mildly irritating to me

[@marti9734]

These books are so bad its not even funny anymore

[@oliviajeanette1065]

Obsessed with this series, keep them coming!! You get me through my work day♡♡♡

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Aww thank you. The next episode on The Vampire Armand is coming soon.

[@KimC657]

That was a wild ride! You had me cracking up at your retelling of the conversations between God and Memnoch. I’ve always been curious about this book, but hesitant to dive in. Thank you for your review. It was fun!

[@TheWildWahine]

Memnoch to god-“Who hurt you?” 😂😂😂😂

[@YoRouable]

This book is what caused me to stop reading The Vampire Chronicles! I disliked it so much I was like, That's it. I'm done. I'm tapping out. I *eventually* went on to read the next two and a half books in the series ('The Vampire Armand'...yikes! And 'Blood and Gold' was okay but just felt like rehashing stuff we already read in previous books, while 'Merrick' was, I mean, I didn't even finish the book) but ...uh.....the "magic" of the series, everything I liked about it, was GONE by 'Memnoch the Devil'. For me, The Vampire Chronicles are the first three books and that's about it.

[@zoebrugg7594]

And Anne Rice was against fanfiction…. 🙃

[@samanthacharlton4123]

😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@IsabellaCoelho]

FR 😂

[@darqjade]

I love reading but I KNOW I wouldn't have enjoyed this half as much as I did listening to you explain it . Merci!

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charlieenriquez]

Hello naughty librarian nice to binge watch your series on the Mayfair witches and the Anne Rice’s vampire books. I delight in people still reading a hard copy of books and your retelling it holding a glass of wine. I love it. Thank you for making part of my Easter so fun!

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!!! 😸

[@therecalcitrantseditionist3613]

I dont know if you'll continue with the series or not. Most people stop around this area. But i would say if you do decide to any, Blood and Gold is by the far the best of the later books and worth the read

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

I’m continuing! I’m read The Vampire Armand this month. 😸

[@therecalcitrantseditionist3613]

@@TheNaughtyLibrarian cheers. i hope you enjoy it. im not the most huge fan of it. i dont really like armand in general. But i really sets up learning more about marius, who is one of my favorites. as you'd imagine a 1000 year old vampire has some baggage lol

[@vonniedemers5683]

Memnoch is my favorite book of the series... Not sure I'll watch this bc you can be harsh... I read this out loud to my ex hubby at the time he loved it too. The conversations are so fun. I love the idea of God and the devil sitting at a Cafe talking like old friends with a difference of opinion.. It made the element of religion interesting instead of a boring lecture. Its so interesting... I love it. The point is showing how religion is the cause of more wars and death all in the name of a God... Its 2 friends having coffee and arguing about who's right.. It's a neat way to learn about religion without having to be board at church. Bc AR wrote this with a slight twist on the Bible lore. For some on like me who is not religious it was an interesting way to learn that stuff. You'll love it.

[@Virginia14919]

This video was far more entertaining than the actual book!

[@samanthacharlton4123]

I'm only 4:00 in and I already agree

[@joyful]

i read this book such a long time ago. you're right, it's a super weird book. as a high school student it kind of blew my mind, but i also didn't know what to make of it. i still don't lol

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

it felt a bit like a passion project for Anne where she needed to work out some religious trauma.

[@sharcon3891]

@@TheNaughtyLibrarian She seems to have been brought up Rabid Catholic, decided she was an unbeliever, became an alcoholic, went back to the church and who knows where her head was when she died....A lot of her writing is like this, trying to Understand the Meaning of Life. And when she starts one of her Sessions, it makes me drop a book before I finish.

[@swordofkings128]

I love this comical re-telling! It was a crazy book but it's a good read imo. Maybe it's because I was 16 or so when I read it but not a lot of books interested me back then but I went through that one pretty fast. Haven't read the other Vampire Chronicles books though.

[@chrispytheBlindSocialist]

I need this movie. The script - dialogue & everything - needs to be exactly as she has laid it out here. And it needs to feature the cast of Black's Books. Also, why does The Librarian's voice sound familiar to me...?

[@triste1517]

YES, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE PERIOD BLOOD‼️‼️🤣 I was listening to the audiobook while I was working and that part came up. I GASP‼️😱🤣 BUT I ACTUALLY LIKED IT...HE IS A VAMPIRE SOOOO ITS NOT WEIRD

[@marti9734]

🤢

[@cassymr]

I´m obssessed by the way you tell the stories. Love it!

[@amandaluceroserenity4804]

I finished Vampire Lestat 3 more to catch up lol. I forgot the history I love was in this book and not Queen of the Damned for some reason. Maybe because the movie combined the two books

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

The movie is kind of a mash up of both books to the point where it doesn’t really resemble either. Haha

[@ms.erikavlogs1814]

I know I’m late to the party but I just finished the book as of yesterday and girl I love your review lol the whole cave thing had me rolling

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Yay! Thank you!

[@1.1797]

I wish they'd make a movie for this one. Would be so epic if done right

[@mewtant344]

Is anyone going to talk about the period blood situation?

[@IsabellaCoelho]

No, pretty please 😂

[@Nierez]

What a wild ride! thanks for taking the hit and making a short version.

[@kelleyodonnell8303]

Honestly, besides her sleeping beauty series first book, can I say wow Anne. Also my favorite book of series.

[@Aki-kh2qe-StreetKidZZZ]

I thought lestat was in love with her Also, imagine the devil himself being the sensible one and god acting like he's on weed and LSD combined

[@seonghwangel]

omg THANK YOU 😭😭😭 i have the book but WHOA this was so much better then reading it😭😭 !!

[@dominiquedevereux7205]

The Naughty Librarian: "Some people are methodist aaannnd some people are methodist . . . 🤷‍♀️" Me: 😵 ⚰️ 💐! 🤣

[@winterreader7690]

I remember now that this book was when I stopped reading this series lol

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Haha! I’m still going to continue on with the series for now. At least until I run out of books.

[@VenusRadha]

Me too. I didn't even finish this one. I quite a little over halfway through this book.

[@caprice28]

Your narration of the book was funny. I was laughing at your interpretation of lestat's reaction to seeing hell.

[@Anq_007]

I just finished this book and I am only questioning myself: WHY did Anne write this? It's a fever dream to me, too many religious details. The first half of the book was ok, but the second part was... unstasfying I'll be waiting to read Vampire Armand

[@chrismiksworld]

Love your review. I just finished it myself and you summed it up so well lol I loved it.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

Thanks for watching! My review of The Vampire Armand is coming soon.

[@candyvanityheals7715]

Wait how’s Maharets sister is Akasha? That’s not how I remember

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

She's not Akasha. She killed Akasha and took the spirit Amel into her own body making her the new Queen of the Damned.

[@Ross_England]

I like these cause I read it years ago and don't want re read them to remember

[@androd1279]

I found you through the IWTV series and have now gotten into your video's regarding the books. I absolutely love your synopses! I prefer your videos to the books so much, I quit reading the VC series after QOTD and just am listening to your summaries. I am curious how it ends, especially since there is now a series. Do you plan on finishing the rest of the VC books with Lestat?

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

I’m working on finishing the whole series. It just takes some time since the books are super long and editing also takes a lot. Soon I’ll have a video out on the last book in the Mayfair Witches trilogy and then I’ll be back to Vampire Chronicles.

[@1.1797]

Is it Memnoch or Body Thief where Lestat repeatedly flies into the morning sun in the desert?

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

He does that in Body Thief but only once.

[@1.1797]

@@TheNaughtyLibrarian ah ok. Yea, its been a decade since I read that book lol

[@JCResDoc94]

*23:23** yeah, he drinks jesus' blood.* something else hey. _JC

[@yolakin8210]

You hit it BANG on the nail!

[@Mrs_Beanbag]

I really hated the Book, like really hated it with passion 😂 for my taste it was way too much into religion and not fun. . . didn't even remember the period blood thing till you mentioned it again and to be fair for me that wasn't the most cringe Part 😅

[@Luusie]

This is so amazing! 😂😂😂

[@nranderson778]

I never read this one so this is very interesting!

[@larissadasilvamanara7383]

I think you might like The mummy from Anny Rice, It is about a real sexy imortal mummy.

[@fluffymadeupcat]

I did love The Mummy! It’s like a really good romance novel! Anne’s vampire novels feel like she tried to be serious, but with The Mummy I feel like she was more indulgent ;)

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I liked The Mummy too. It reminded me of the old Hammer horror movies I used to watch on Saturday afternoons. Fun and entertaining, and not to be taken too seriously.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

I’m definitely intrigued!

[@charlieenriquez]

Oh did you mean period blood like getting old blood from historical people or um ew that other period. Never mind you peek my interest in the book to find out my self and hey ain’t it a f up version of Dante’s Inferno ish?

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

I wish I meant historical blood. Haha

[@harryo82]

Is this what I sound like, trying to explain this book to people..?

[@charlettecooper9457]

I love your attitude.

[@darkservantofheaven]

Religious folks when they find out Lestat drank the blood of Jesus "blasphemy!" Me: between Akasha's blood and Jesus's blood.... Marius: David' whats the scouter say about Leatat's power level?" David: ITS OVER 9000!!! Louis: what? 9000? There's no way that can be right!

[@user-pi5xo4og9d]

This was always my favorite ❤️

[@JCResDoc94]

yeah. this one is a mess. _JC

[@petboy5839]

Yeah. I was disappointed with that book too.

[@TheNaughtyLibrarian]

I wasn’t expecting it to be amazing but it was so much weirder than I thought it would be.

[@petboy5839]

@@TheNaughtyLibrarian Lol. It was wasn't it? I keep expecting it to get better. But, it went nowhere. She probably ran out of ideas.

[@diecastdreams4160]

Love it

[@JCResDoc94]

17:00 #theEternals are satan. _JC

[@sharcon3891]

"Self Emulate"....I think you mean immolate. Not imitate yourself.

[@IsabellaCoelho]

Oh my, I’m trying to read it but… what happened with Anne Rice while writing it? It’s been one month and I can’t finish the devil monologue. It’s soooo boring. I don’t want to know about a Catholic vision about life creation with a scientific make up of Origin of the species… (Sorry, English ain’t my first language)… I’m tempted to not finishing it and pretend that it never happened…

[@angelaholmes8888]

Well anne rice became a catholic by the time she wrote this book I recently read the book didn't enjoy it

[@deliafavara9470]

😻😻😻😻😻😻