Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: A sequel to The Last Jihad, this book lives up to the interest of it's predecessor in many respects but gets fairly tedious in laying out the Plan for Peace in the Middle East. Getting to the Peace talks alive and getting out of them alive are really what this book is about. And while the story is about that it bounces along in fine fashion as Jon Bennett, the President's "point man" for the Peace Process and Erin McCoy, his CIA protector and love interest endure more perils than Pauline ever imagined. Those that liked the first book will enjoy this one, for the most part.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Days leaves you praying for one more chance!
Review: A thoroughly engrossing political, military, and terrorist novel about what would happen in the Middle East in the event
of the murder of Arafat, by one of his own henchmen. The ensuing power struggle, and civil war for leadership of the terrorist organization, not unlike a Mafia power struggle, leaves you stunned, and gasping for breath.( In my opinion, I would have let them kill each other off, then we be done with them, once and for all!)
A Peace Plan between Isreal, and Palastine to drill for oil, making citizens of both parties wealthy? Sorry, it wouldn't happen. Terrorist are too hate driven to allow any peace plan to work. Arafat has been offered land more than once, and he refused it, because his, and most of militant Islam's whole purpose isn't to get their own land, but the deaths, and destruction of Isrealis, Christians, and everyone else they consider "Infidels".
The book gives you insight into the Isreali Palastinian(Philistine) problems, and is a lot of fun to read! Better in many ways than the first book "The Last Jihad".
Rating:
Summary: Its Slam-Bang Action Will Leave You Gasping For Breath!
Review: As was true in The Last Jihad, The Last Days, its sequel, is filled with exciting, suspenseful non-stop action. The plot is based on Jon Bennett's attempt to implement the Arab-Israeli peace plan, of which he is the chief architect. While reading this book I felt like I was on a treadmill that was out of control -- going faster and faster the longer I stayed on. While character development isn't Rosenberg's strong suit and some of his dialogue is at times a bit corny, these deficiencies are mostly overcome by his ability to create a very suspenseful and realistic plot -- a plot that is all too plausible and one that I hope we only have to deal with in fiction. Once you start The Last Days be prepared to change your plans for the next few days because you won't want to put this book down.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Daze
Review: Certainly an engaging read, filled with the right buzz words, and enough detail to convince the reader that Rosenberg knows his stuff. The story, nonetheless, requires just a bit too much of a leap away from reality to be credible, and the number of "coincidences" conveniently used to "make things move along" so that things could proceed really detracted from the quality of this book. Even the fundamental premise regarding the central character just doesn't cut it--one week, the guy is an investment banker, rolling in the dough, and the next week, he is negotiating peace in the middle east with a president and a prime minister, rolling in the dust and dodging bullets. Come on!! Get real. Not as good as The Last Jihad, and hopefully, not as good as Rosenberg's next hurrah.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I can't believe the complaints of people who say the characters are not developed! I loved the characters and felt like I was right with them in their struggles and adventures. This book captured my imagination right from the beginning and I can't wait for the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: I like his politics, but this is terrible fiction!
Review: I have enjoyed Rosenberg's writing in World Magazine and elsewhere. He is an insightful writer of non-fiction. But this is really bad. There are serious errors and the plot is simply unbelievable. Joel, return to non-fiction and I'll read everything.
Rating:
Summary: Action packed but flawed
Review: I read "The Last Days" right after reading "The Last Jihad". "TLD" picks up where "Jihad" leaves off, 3 weeks later. It is as action packed as its predecessor from start to finish. If you're into political intrigue and action, these two books are pretty good. My only concerns with "TLD" were that it takes place in 2010,giving the Bush administration a second term (most likely, anyway). The problem with setting it so far in the future is that you are stuck with a 2003 perspective. For example, references to things like Britney Spears (I'd like to imagine a world without a Britney Spears career in 2010, thank you very much) rob the writer and reader of any foresight. Siting a list of historical examples constrains the writer to only those examples up to 2003, seven years before the action in the book takes place. How many of us site historical examples only up until 1996? The Christian perspective is kicked up a notch in this book as compared to the last one, which is fine because it doesn't preach in a heavy handed way, yet still gets the message across. "The Last Days" is an excellent adventure read and I look forward to Mr. Rosenberg's next effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Really shallow
Review: I wholeheartedly agree with the review of Scott Gaines below. It's very difficult to stay 'in the book' when you are slapped into the now with such glaring technical errors. If weapons and tactics are going to play a large role in a novel it doesn't take much to do at least some basic research. Rosenberg profusely thanks (name dropping?) a lot of helpful folks at the beginning of the book but I noticed none of them had any experience at the 'blood and guts' level he wants us to think is being experienced by major players in peril.
Rosenberg comes across as patronizing his fiction fans. He must have thought that his experience writing non-fiction automatically translates to good fiction. Readers of Clancy, Coonts, Dale Brown, et al will sneer at Rosenberg's naïveté in this realm. Only two stars because I found myself rushing to get through it so I would have time left to read a good book.
Rating:
Summary: THE LAST DAYS OF JOEL ROSENBERG
Review: IF HE CONTINUES TO WRITE LIKE THIS, THEN THIS WILL BE HIS LAST BOOK. I KNOW HE IS A GOOD GUY BUT THE STORY IS NOT GRIPPING, THE LANGUAGE IS POOR, THE CHARACTERS BLAND. NO REAL EXCITEMENT.I DID NOT THINK ANYONE COULD BE WORSE THAN THE LAST 2 CLANCYS BUT HE HAS DONE IT. SAYING HE IS THE NEXT CLANCY IS LIKE SAYING THE NEW QUEEN MARYY 2 IS THE NEW TITANIC.
Rating:
Summary: BREATHTAKING in its stupidity
Review: If this is what the CIA, FBI and Secret Service are like, then heaven help us. Obvious things nearly knocked me over. When looking for Jon's mom (she decided to take a week off to be by herself), did they bother to check w/ the post office to see that she'd stopped her mail? Of course not. And would any agent (especially Erin, who is supposed to be top notch all the way) let Jon and the others (herself included) roam freely, shopping and dining and paying w/ credit cards on the very rock that hides the peace talks? No agent worth his/her credentials would allow such a breach. Such blatant stupdity is, indeed, breathtaking!
|
