The Secret on Ararat

Rating:
Summary: Only Read if Your a Christian
Review: I am a picky reader, and when i picked this book up i couldn't put it down.

This book was oddly satisfying for about a day, and then you realize how much the author preached to you, because he is like a priest or something. There are some action scenes, but it is a wannabe copy of the Da Vinci Code. If you liked the Da Vinci Code this is a good way to spend time waiting for the Code's sequel. But don't buy it, you'll never think of it again. Again this book has so much preaching its so annoying, which is why you should read it if your a Christian. All the preaching made the book bad, im sorry to say.

Here's some good stuff:
Suspense, characters
Action, scenes
Traveling, interesting



Rating:
Summary: Like it much better than the first book until the end.
Review: I hate sloppy endings and that what this one has. It is much better written than the first, and I would have given it 4 stars if not for the ending (which I won't reveal). I was turning page after page and then I got to the end and well, I was disappointed. Again, as with the first book I learned some things, I would read and verify theories. I formed my own opinions about the Ark and while I don't agree with all of Mr. LaHaye's conclusions, I do agree with others. This series is a good idea I just wish the characters, especially the "bad guys" were a little more believable and the ending hadn't been so sloppy.

Rating:
Summary: Number 2 is soooo much better
Review: I know I said in my review of the first in the series, that I would not buy the second. I was pleasantly surprised. I picked it up when I noticed that is was co-authored by a different author. This book was so much better than the first. I loved all the details and the way the story captivated you and made you want to hike to Ararat!!! I hope the next installment is as thought provoking and exciting as this one was. You won't be disappointed. Entertainment and Education all in one---Bravo!!!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time.
Review: I liked this book far better than LaHaye's first one of the series (Babylon Rising). I thought the character development, storyline, and adventure all worked in sync with the whole of the book. His characters are all believable. LaHaye and Phillips do a great job of cutting to the chase with this book, making every paragraph worth reading.

LaHaye and Phillips were able to rapidly paint the story in my imagination. I could see, touch, smell, hear, and feel the details of this story.

Like the authors, like people all around the world, I too have long been curious to know what the Ararat Anomaly is. Is it a natural formation of something? Or is it a massive man-made structure encased in ice and snow?

This is definitely one of the better books I've read in a long while. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you've enjoyed the fiction of LaHaye or Jenkins in the past, I recommend this book without hesitation.

One caveat...for the sake of better understanding some of the main players in the second book, read Babylon Rising before you read The Secret on Ararat.

Rating:
Summary: The Secret on Ararat
Review: I think this was a VERY good book. I just hope there is a sequel. I really enjoy all of Tim LaHaye's works of fiction. I LOVE Christian Fiction and it is close enough to the word of God to make it enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Fundamentalist nonsense
Review: I trapped myself into this thoroughly silly book by checking it out from my public library, having forgotten who Lahaye was. I won't reprise here what other reviewers have said about the preposterous Noah's Arc premise. Suffice it to say that Lahaye's tiresome advocacy of creationism, which I infer stems from his belief that Every Word in the Bible is Literally True, has no place in a work of modern fiction, it seems to me.

Unless you are a deeply committed fundamentalist Christian, I suggest you stay far, far away from this one.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly steady continuation of Babylon Rising Series
Review: I was surprised to see a new co-author with book two. However, the style, characterization, and even the tempo remained consistent. Unlike the Left Behind series, The Secret on Ararat is suspense-thriller writing meant to bolster Christian conviction. "We are right! Science will confirm God's handiwork. Those who oppose us and God are evil, and will meet their just reward. We will overcome, be victorious, and ultimately receive great rewards." The story works for the already-converted.

Those who read Lahaye's novel hoping for strong suspense, action, and perhaps some subtle spirituality might be only mildly satisfied. The story-line is almost James Bondish--fun, but a bit fantastical. Additionally, the spiritual message is not underlying--it is overarching, and quite direct. This is tolerable stuff for those not put off by religious messages, but some will feel "preached at." The spiritually timid will want to avoid this series in favor of writers like Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti or a series like the Christ Clone Trilogy. These authors also present religious themes, but do so with more subtlety.

Bottom-line: This is fun, standard suspense-thriller writing for Christians who want fiction that affirms their spirituality. The religiously curious may enjoy the series as well, but those put off by direct spiritual messages should look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: A somewhat dissappointing follow-up to Babylon Rising
Review: Let me begin with what I didn't like about this book. First was the ending (which I won't reveal here). I found the ending a bit rushed and seemingly cut short. I felt left hanging at the end wanting more resolution to the plot. Second, there were a couple of sub-plots that were left dangling without any closure by the end of the book. It seemed once the hunt for the ark was underway, these sub-plots disappeared. I can only hope they will be taken up again in the next installment.

OK, now for what I did like about the book. The pace was very quick kept me hooked. Being a Young Earth Creationist (YEC), I was very pleased to see the authors hold to what I consider the proper interpretation of the Bible. Depicting the early pre-flood humans as more sophisticated and intelligent than people give them credit for was a good thing to see. If you believe the Bible's anthropology, then you will have to consider that humanity is in decline, not ascent. We may be more technologically advanced, but technology is the result of the accumulation of knowledge over time. I also thought the main characters were better developed in this book. There was a depth of character in Murphy and Isis than was lacking in the first book. Finally, I was really intrigued with all the background information regarding the ark presented in the book. I only wish the authors would have added an appendix with links to the sources they cite in this book.

Why only three stars? Well, if Amazon allowed you to give half-stars, then this would get 3 1/2 stars. I guess the final impression of the book was determined by what I read last, and the let down at the end is still sticking in my craw! I would still reccomend the book, but not as vigorously as I would the first. I hope the third book closes some of the loopholes of the second.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining read with spiritual overtones...
Review: The creator of the Left Behind series has a new series underway called Babylon Rising. The second in the series is The Secret On Ararat by Tim Lahaye and Bob Phillips. Not too bad of a story...

Michael Murphy is a biblical archaeologist who is also a university teacher. He's attracted the attention of a dark secret organization who wants some of the biblical artifacts he's been able to discover. In this episode, he's putting together an expedition to find Noah's ark. He's also trying to figure out who is against him finding it, as he's finding people dropping dead all around him. Once the ark is found, it's then a matter of trying to stay alive to get word back out to the world that it's real.

I'm liking this series quite a bit. The emotions of the characters feel real, and the writing is good. Unlike the Left Behind series, I don't know quite where this series is going. This seems like it could be just a series of adventures that don't particularly lead up to a final event. Still, an entertaining read with spiritual overtones.

Rating:
Summary: Very Inspiring
Review: These two authors are the creator of The Left Behind Series. This particular book is the second book in the Babylon Rising series. Wonderful authors and very inspiring.
The authors take you on an adventure to find the biblical artifact, Noah's Ark. I was on the edge of my seat. I could not stop reading. I laughed, I cried and I was terrified. I can not wait to read the third book in the series and I find myself wanting to buy the first book. It is definitely a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike.