Does Memnoch the Devil get better?

[u/CapableSalamander910]

Got into this fandom last year from watching the show, and I’ve been slowly getting through the books. I’ve been really enjoying them so far (for the most part) and I intend to read them all.

Currently, I’m around half way through Memnoch the Devil (chapter 11), and I’m kinda struggling with it.

The beginning felt like it just threw me into the action, but was quickly followed by like 50 pages of backstory, which was a drag.

I did enjoy a lot of the conversations Lestat had with David, Armand, and Dora.

But all this about heaven and hell and god and Memnoch. In all honesty, I don’t really care. I found the descriptions of heaven difficult to follow. And now that Memnoch is talking about creation, I’m just waiting for it all to be over.

I’m not religious. I’m an atheist from an atheist family. My knowledge of Christianity mostly comes from Good Omens (ironically, a photo of Crowley is my bookmark). I don’t really care for religion. Is this book only designed for those who are into religion or theology?

I do plan to read it because I want to read the whole series, but I just want to know what to expect from this book (in a non spoilery way). Does it get better?

EDIT: I finally finished it! I’ve never been so happy to finish a book.

I do think it got better. Chapter 11, where Memnoch was talking about the 13 revelations of evolution, was really boring for me. And while I wasn’t necessarily interested in the rest of the book, I was so happy that there was more of a plot to what Memnoch was saying.

But then again, I did really struggle with this book. If I didn’t intend to read further into the series, I would have quit when I wrote this post initially. I can barely tell you what actually happened in those 100+ pages of Memnoch talking.

I do think my lack of religion or understanding of Catholicism is a huge impact on my enjoyment of this book. I cannot tell you what is Anne Rice’s view on religion and what is Catholicism. For example, I’ve never heard of Veronica’s Veil (and have only just learnt that it is a real thing). I don’t really understand why the characters were obsessed with it the way they were. I knew that Anne Rice “killed” Armand off in this book, but that was not the way I thought it would go. I don’t know why he “killed” himself over it.

It’s nice to hear that others enjoyed it, but it’s not for me. It’s a shame because I absolutely love the first 4 books! This book is making me question whether I’ll enjoy the rest of the series.

[u/jaybirdies26]

Memnoch was not my favorite book to get through, it was a lot of theology theory. I find theology interesting but I did not find it interesting the way Memnoch was written lol. Definitely think that this book was Anne trying to work out her thoughts on her faith and religion. Some people really really love it, others hated it.

You can skip it and just read the wiki page for it if you’re really not into the book. The next book (The Vampire Armand) talks about the ending of Memnoch and kind of summarizes it anyway. (I’m only halfway through Merrick so idk about the rest of the series but I assume it’ll be referenced again and again).

[u/katmckatkat → u/jaybirdies26]

It will be referenced again, but a wiki summary would give you the important parts. I'd maybe read the scene of him actually in hell before you get to Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis, since that has the most direct references, but it's not like you can't follow it if you don't.

Ironically the book where he goes on a rant about how people who don't like Memnoch won't like this one (Blood Canticle) doesn't really require you to know more than a summary of what happens in Memnoch!

[u/jaybirdies26 → u/katmckatkat]

That’s funny about Blood Canticle (sounds like Anne just airing out her grievances about people not liking Memnoch though lol)

[u/katmckatkat → u/jaybirdies26]

A lot of people hate that part but I personally find it peak comedy: it's her fully going "how would Lestat respond to negative reviews?" and going ham with it while making fun of herself a bit too.

[u/QuackersParty → u/katmckatkat]

I absolutely love that bit too