Rating:  Summary: Fiction-lite Review: If you're in need of Sunday-school remedial lessons you may find something of value in these incredibly light-weight novelettes. Stretched out to garner as many sales as is feasably possible, each of these commercial exploitations is a very superficial and unsophisticated read. In contrast, read Glen Kleier's complex and spiritually satisfying supsense thriller THE LAST DAY and you will see how much gold can be mined from this rich topic of the End of Time. For my money, there has to be more to a novel than simply a validation of fundamentalist Bible interpretations. I'm also looking for a story, characterization, and theological insight. These books are very disappointing in that regard.
Rating:  Summary: Fun. Review: Although this book wasn't as grammatically hard to get through, the whole thing was amazing from start to finish. Lots of action and mystery combine to make yet another winner in the Left Behind series. The ending worked great in setting up "Apollyon".
Rating:  Summary: The Unchristian Adventure Review: Although Biblicly based, the Left Behind series of which I have now read the first three, celebrate white male supremacy (the protagonists are Buck Williams and Rayford Steele) and they demonize foreigners ( the antichrist is named Carpathia from Romania and his number two man is named Leon Fortunato). The women in the story although Christian are wives, lovers, secretaries etc. There are no female heroes so far. Hattie Durham, the blonde bombshell who almost hit it off with Rayford Steele is pregnant with the child of the antichrist and since abortions are not a possibility with this group I am curious as to how L&J deal with this issue. This is an action adventure series and L&J provide the necessary tension to keep you guessing. It is however written at about the 8th grade level so you will not need a dictionary.
Rating:  Summary: Soul Harvest....Full Of Excitement and Mystery!! Review: I think I have said this of each book, but Soul Harvest has been the best yet of the series! The story takes place after the anticipated earthquake. There is lots of mystery in this book with Rayford and Buck trying to find Amanda and Chloe (both are either lost or dead, and Rayford and Buck have no idea which). We also get to meet other believers in this story, such as Mac and Ken, who both have finally come to believe. Of course we also see more of the evil Nicolae is capable of. I really have to say that each book keeps getting better and better. Soul Harvest kept me glued in my seat till I finished it! I can't wait to start book #5, Apollyon, because if the books stay the way they have been going, Apollyon will be GREAT!!!
Rating:  Summary: The best so far in the series Review: After finishing "Nicolae", I was nearly ready to give up the series. I'm glad to say that "Soul Harvest" has helped keep my footing on the story. The aftermath of the prophesized global earthquake and it's effects on our heros made this the most involving read. It seems the authors finally have faith that their readers will remember who's who, because they avoid the tedious recapping of characters, and how everyone came to be a member of the Tribulation force. The other plus for me was the minimized involvement of the severely underdeveloped female characters in the book. From the first this has been one of the most unbelievable aspects of the series. The courtships of Buck and Chloe, and Rayford and Amanda seemed so wooden and forced that it's hard to connect with them. Feminists would have a field day with lines like Chloe's,:"Don't parent me, Buck. Seriously I don't have a problem submitting to you because I know how much you love me. I'm willing to obey you even when you're wrong." Maybe in 1950! However, those complaints aside, the book is much more enjoyable overall with a clever twist that catches you off guard,some new characters who may be around for a bit, and enough action to keep the pace at top notch. Here's hoping "Apollyon" is as good.
Rating:  Summary: Atheist's point of view Review: Seems like most of the reviewers of this series are Christians, so I thought I would contribute a non-believer's view--it may surprise you that this series is one of the most addictive I have ever read. So why would an atheist like this overly preachy, poorly written book series? Because it's a great story--it's that simple. The book of revelations has always interested me--I especially liked Stephen King's The Stand, and The Omen movie series, but this series of books has taken a more literal interpretation of the Bible, which is intriguing. I like the idea of following a small group of people through the Tribulation, seeing how they deal with the wrath of God, etc. All great stories have conflict--and what could be a better conflict than good vs. evil?; throw in earthquakes, firey hail, and general mass chaos and this is a perfect recipe for a good book. By the way, this book has NOT made me more of a "believer;" as a matter of fact, I am probably more of an atheist now than ever...the more I read and learn about the Bible, the less I believe any of it actually happened. That doesn't mean it isn't interesting, though. I will continue to read and study the Bible and its messages--after all, we atheists don't have ANY book to follow.
Rating:  Summary: Get ready for a few surprises in this one! Review: Perhaps you feel that the series has been somewhat predictable. Soul Harvest had a couple of twists and turns of the plot that made it extra-good reading. I do believe I enjoyed this one somewhat more than Nicolae. I enjoyed the two new characters in this book - both Rayford and Buck gained a new Christian brother that helped them in their adventures. The idea of the sign of the cross on the foreheads of believers (which is visible only to other believers, but not oneself!) was very interesting. The whole series follows a "Pre-Trib" point of view. The word pictures that Jerry Jenkins paints remain vivid in the reader's mind. The characters and the events which are SO memorable really "flesh out" the events described in Revelation. The potential problem is that people could think that this is exactly how things will happen. While it is a widely-held point of view, and a well-respected one, the series is still fiction. I have studied the book of Revelation before and I know that as a result of this series, I'll definitely be studying it again soon! I would encourage anyone who is enjoying the Left Behind series to check out the authors' non-fiction book about end times Revelation theology. It's called "Are We Living in the End Times?" These books ALL leave you hanging at the end - a good reason for reading them one right after another! WARNING: the end of this book is somewhat gruesome; however, I read very few little fiction of any kind, and gory stuff almost not at all! Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and Christian music.
Rating:  Summary: The Side of the Lamb Review: I am going to be on the side of the lamb when the time comes. I feel like I have been on this remarkable journey with all of the characters. I have choosen which side I will be on. This Book will inspire you to do the same. I can not wait to read the next chapter to this inspirational journey.
Rating:  Summary: Getting better Review: With SOUL HARVEST LaHaye and Jenkins have finally hit their stride. The fourth of the Left Behind series, this book combines the catastrophes of Revelation with some action, intrigue, and even some really interesting minor characters. The major characters are finally presented with some real problems (other than the major problem of being left behind), some real struggles, some real disappointments, and some new friends. This book introduces us to the excellent characters of Ken Ritz, maverick charter pilot, and Mac McCallum, co-pilot on the Antichrist's personal jet, and a few others. The story is consistently interesting in this book, and the outcomes of all the situations are not predictable. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, and recommend it to those who want a series of fast-reading and diverting books.
Rating:  Summary: Content vs. Theory vs. Writing Review: ...As far as writing talent, I have been VERY disappointed with allthe books in this series. At first, I gave them the benefit of thedoubt, thinking the writing was so simplistic so younger kids could read them too, until I discovered they have a young kids version out for this series, at which point I was just saddened. So don't expect a well-written novel, as I feel each book's writing has become more and more simple with each release. And by this, I don't mean the story doesn't flow, because it does. It's just written in such simply words that even a grade-schooler could read it without any problems. As far as content, you'll find stuff in here you like, I don't doubt that, but if you're like me, you'll be skimming many areas because you don't care about every single step that every single person takes to get from point A to point B. It's a tedious read at parts, but if you like the study of the end times, as do I, or like reading Christian novels, as do I, then these books will suffice. But don't base your belief system off them until you know more than just what's presented here, and certainly DON'T read them if literary content is your main goal as you won't find well-WRITTEN novels here. If it weren't for that fact alone, I'd be devouring these books as they came out, but as it is, I've read them after friends buy them and are done with them since I am interested in the story, but not the work it takes for me to constantly forgive the writing.
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