Memnoch the Devil - Anne Rice (Review)

[@MrNihilist74]

I loved the ending of this book. Memnoch tricked Lestat into helping him without Lestat even agreeing to help memnoch. She did a great job of presenting an alternate view of the devil character.

[@MarkGunnells]

Rice has said this novel was not originally going to be in the vampire series but then she decided to take the idea and put the vampires in it. She did the same with the Atlantis one.

[@DoesItMatter8]

Hands down this is one of thee best books I've ever read. The fact the her mind process on this type of level of creativeness is mind blowing. She was truly an amazing author. R.I.P. to the 🐐

[@anthonygilbreath4275]

The one huge question, that I thought would be included in this book, but wasn't, was some kind of commentary from Memnoch (or God) on whether vampires are evil or sinners. This question wasn't touched upon. I would have expected Lestat to bring this up.

[@photosmithy]

Crikey I read this back in 1996. I was an university graduate looking for a job. Loving back at home with my parents in sunny Wolverhampton. We had a small library called Bantock Park Library and one afternoon the cover of this book caught my eye. I took it home and basically read it cover to cover in one sitting. I found it transported the reader into realms and time steeped in religion. Bought a second hand copy in 2011.

[@MarkGunnells]

Even when a Rice novel doesn't work for me personally, I always admire and respect her balls. She'll just go there.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah you are right. She really doesn't pull any punches and she doesn't care what people think about what she puts in her books. There's definitely a lot of sincerity in Rice's work

[@MarkGunnells]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall I can always respect an author who remains true to their vision even if it isn't something that particularly appeals to me.

[@jennisrandom42]

I’ve only read Memnoch the Devil once back in 1995/96 when it came out originally. I was very traumatized by the ending when a certain vampire goes into the sun. He was my favorite and I was not prepared for that. Enjoying your reviews and the deep dive into an erstwhile favorite series of mine.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Glad you're enjoying the videos. :) Yeah that ending was very shocking; I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. He's one of my favourite characters too.

[@evilqueen-et1du]

Armond is fine you can read his autobiography. The Vampire Armond.

[@Azriel261]

Vampires are neither Sinners or Saints. Memnoch appeared to Lestat as a Vampire because he was aware that Lestat was asking questions about Heaven Hell and if when he finally dies, where would he go? Vampires are still human in their understanding and questions about life and death and wanting to know more and Memnoch played on Lestats desire for knowledge

[@jeffreythomas515]

Vampires are demons incarnate? Lol why do you think they’re referred to as “damned”? They literally die if they don’t consume the life essence of others..

[@moonlightfaerie]

I remember when I read this book I also found the narrative jarring. I was shocked that the story changed and wasn’t consistent. That said, I think that this is my favorite depiction of the devil.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I think as a narrative it's not the best, but as an exploration of Christianity, and the Devil and his relationship to God, it's very interesting indeed! :)

[@lucifchristo]

Personally I feel things were getting a bit stale by the time body Thief came around and memnarch was quite the fresh take on things personally it's my favorite book in the series along with Lestat and of course Queen of the Damned

[@hindsightpov4218]

I told ya ‘Memnoch the Devil’ was a tougher read than ‘The Tale of the Body Thief’.😋

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Haha you weren't wrong!

[@Mk101T]

Funny ... I thought the 4th book was the hardest read of the 6 I have read. Hard to read as in irritating , but maybe that was because it seemed much smaller than Queen of the Damned which I loved . Therefore sort of disappointing comparatively. Absolutely loved Memnoch the Devil . But agree it is jarring when put into the vampire chronicles. And I think Anne meant it that way , so that anybody could pick that one up reading it for her philosophical views , without having to be aware of it's predecessors . And agree the ending could have been better , but the point of the book is Memnochs story , which Lestat wanted nothing to do with at that point .... so ^shrug^ ? Anybody know if he makes anymore appearances in the later books ? I quit reading the books after #6 ... simply because the others weren't out yet , and I found other interests. Looks like I definitely want to read 7 & 8 ... but not sure about the rest ... I'm just not that big of a Lestat fan to read that many stories about him.

[@hindsightpov4218]

Mk101T Memnoch the Devil is referred to in ‘Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis’. I didn’t read that book yet, but I heard he’s described to be different than he was in his first appearance in The Vampire Chronicles.

[@McSeverance]

Memnoch the Devil is my favorite

[@brenotorres2047]

Yeeees, I feel totally the same way you do about this book! I JUST finished this reading and I'm so delighted I've found your video, that put into perfect words everything I also think about it. Honestly, I gave up this book 3 times in the first 130 pages. That Roger story, those goddamn 13 books, Dora... Honestly: for what? I kinda get the critics over the power of religion in today's technological society and stuff, but it's a line that there's nothing with the main goal of the book (Memnoch and Lestat). And how disappointing it is when it comes to the end and the resolutions about those first pages are SO shallow and quick! God, I love Rice, you know, I love her cosmology, her style, her pace. But this book would be a 5/5 if this whole thing with Roger and Dora had been cut off. Because the cosmic trip with Memnoch is one of the peaks of Anne Rice's whole literature. It's mesmerizing, isn't it?

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah I think I'm inclined to agree with you on that. It either should have been cut or at least played more into the conclusion of the story. It just didn't feel like it had a proper pay off which was a shame because initially I was interested in that story. Just a shame it didn't really go anywhere in the end.

[@charliemgray]

Still love Queen of the Damned the best so far, but I did really enjoy Memnoch, and I love how she’s growing her mythology/cosmology!

[@harryo82]

I thought your critiques were spot on. But with that said Memnoch is still one of my favorites in The Vampire Chronicles.

[@unioncityman63]

Memnoch the Devil is one Anne Rice book that really left a deep impression on me when I read it when it came out. Have never forgotten it, read at least twice. Will have to ponder about it and write better comment in future.

[@delmajima1221]

Have you ever read the short story, The last lords of Gardonal by William Gilbert? It's my favorite Gothic vampire classic besides Dracula. A very cool take vampires with a little magic thrown in, and an evil protagonist

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

No I haven't, but I'll add it to my reading list. Sounds interesting!

[@DaysieRose]

I struggled with the pacing on this one, for sure. I absolutely love the vampire chronicles, and I'm usually rapt when she launches into someone's backstory because I'm genuinely intrigued by the character. When I put on the audiobook for this one, I was really looking forward to it, because I remembered so little about reading it back in 1995 or 96. (Now I know why. I must have been doing a lot of skimming.) I turned it off twice during Roger's story to come back later because I just couldn't get myself to care about this guy at all. I also found some of the dialogue sort of rambling and repetitive. It's weird because I didn't have this problem with VL, Queen or BT, three books I've read so many times I have passages memorized. Just something about this one... 😢 I was just glad it ended

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I think for many this is a bit of a turning point in the Chronicles. I've seen some say it's the best in the series while others think it's a sign of the end of the series for them. It's been a while since I've read it but I think I sit somewhere in the middle. I love the mythology she creates in this one, and the mystery around Memnoch, but I find the constant backsliding in to backstory a little irksome.

[@MarkGunnells]

And I'm an atheist too but I love her Christ the Lord books. It's wonderfully historical and some fine character work.

[@chrissteiger4199]

I think memnoch the devil sounds a lot like Enoch and in fact the story bears a lot of resemblance to the book of Enoch. I think this is deliberate. Ever read Enoch?

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

After just doing a quick Wikipedia search, I think you might be on to something there! :)

[@JCResDoc94]

yeah. i mean yeah. _JC

[@gus9663]

I read 100 pages and don't give a crap about what's going to happen next. Ugh! The idea of the Devil confronting Lestat is so exciting, but I can't get through the beginning to get there. It's torture. I think I'm done with the series. I was soo excited about reading this one too. I absolutely loved the concept, but the journey getting there is just way too dull for me to endure any longer.

[@zachbrehany2253]

You are actually onto something with the idea of a deep dive on this book. I dont remember if i mentioned this in one of the comments on your videos, but her bibliography works as an allegory for someone trying to search for answers to faith and religion. With that frame of reference, it is easy to see why she took her novels the way she did. So, it would be interesting to hear what you have to say about her work with that in mind. As for her two novels on Jesus* there is a film adaptation of the first novel (the book was Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt which was turned into The Young Messiah) which is one of the better handlings of her material. *The reason she chose not to continue on with the novels about Jesus was because she felt like it would be insulting and in bad taste to continue the story which would pick up where the main meat of The Gospels take place and we already have that story in the New Testament. But speaking for myself, it would of been interesting to see her take. However, their is a spiritual continuation of those themes in the Song of the Seraphim novels (Angel Time and Of Love and Evil) along with her memoir Called Out of Darkness that are worth looking into.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

Yeah, I think once I have read the series in it's entirety I might do a deeper dive into the religious themes in Rice's work. It's very interesting stuff. I've not read her novels about Jesus, but I would definitely like to in the future!

[@zachbrehany2253]

@@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall you do that and ill be waiting patiently to start throwing my thoughts onto the comments. Seriously man, i am beyond glad to have found your videos while im doing my massive reread of all of her work. Your views, at times, contradict my views but in a way i can appreciate and help keeping the Rice flame alive within me. Glad to find someone who is as dedicated to her as myself. Beyond refreashing. Currently on Servant of the Bones which does expand on the Memnoch themes but so far a bit less depressing. My thoughts so far is that after she questioned everything and, in her way, renounced religion in the previous book, this one feels like she was starting to reach her point where she would end up no longer caring about the answers she had once before. Pretty interesting in my opinion.

[@Jude-z5q]

Are you saying pissing , piercing, passing, paceing???? Wtf

[@andrewdilbeck9842]

This book was way over the top.

[@JoshuaJClarkeKelsall]

I agree, although it's my kind of over the top! :P

[@marniekilbourne608]

Anne Rice "dedicated her work to Christ" at some point in her writing career. That explains the change. So, she is actually retconning it after she found Jesus.

[@MeiziVu]

Deep dive!!!! Deep dive!!!

[@angelaholmes8888]

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book it started good but slowly fell flat definitely put it in the bottom 👎📉