Rating: 
Summary: Not taking sides here!
Review: For those of you who were like me- curious about this series, but not a relgious fanatic (or an anti-relgious fanatic)...just interested in most "end-of-the-world" novels (Lucifer's Hammer, Postman, etc)....here's some fairly objective thoughts (translation- I'm not here to bash anybody or look to further any cause!)The authors are not great fiction writers. You'll find no Clancys, Kings, Ludlums, etc. here. Answers to some questions I had: Yes- the author has a religious "message across", but yes, there is a somewhat intriguing storyline here. Yes, with half a mind of your own, you can get past anything you might view as rhetoric, and get through the book without getting bogged down. The writing does drag in parts, but it's easy to skim through these areas without missing anything peratining to the story....makes the book an easy read (that and wide margins!) This book is like many other serials- it has no end, and you are enticed to get a hold of the next one. Out of curiousity, I'll see if I can get the next one at the library, but certainly won't pay retail (especially since book two probably won't have an "end" either...not 3, nor 4, nor 5, etc). Bottom line- not a bad book, and you won't be left feeling like you've just left church (unless you want to be left with that feeling...which is my way of saying that people looking to choose sides can and will obviously use this book/series to confirm their beliefs, what ever they may be. To these folks, I say get some common sense!!! If it's religion you need, see a preacher. If you need to scoff at something, go express your disgust with the state of homelessness. Hey there's a thought- whatever your views, channel some energy into helping a homeless person (or an organization that helps bums)...you'll feel better about yourself, and be thankful for what you do have!)
Rating: 
Summary: Great book. I couldn't put it down!!
Review: I am not normally a reader of novels. I mostly read fact books and books of that nature. I have never really liked books like that. I have even read many and had trouble paying attention to them. This book is different. It is the very firs novel I read from cover to cover in less than 3 days. It is the incredible Christian story of the Rapture and the chronicle of how God will take all of his true followers to heaven before the last days to spare them from the horrible things that will happen. There are more books in this series and it is one of the bestselling Christian series of all time. This book gives an important message that the last days are approaching and that Jesus Christ is returning soon.
Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: I'm Hooked! In less then a week I have gone from the rapture (book 1) to the plague of the 200 horsemen (book 6). Each book brings you up to date from the previous book (which gets to be redundant when you are reading them one after the other, but would be helpful if you were taking time off between each one). It is amazing how real these characters seem. For someone who has not been able to make since of the book of Revelation, this series helps to bring the book of Revelation alive. The message is very relevant, yet you don't come away from the book feeling "preached at". All I can say is repent, ask Jesus into your heart and be thankful we are able to read about it instead of having to live it.
Rating: 
Summary: An unfortunate addition to terrible Christian "literature"
Review: It is hard to know where to start in critiquing this novel. Perhaps it is best to start with the positive. As many people have said, the novel DOES keep a person reading. It is written in a way that captures the reader's interest and is somewhat fast paced and easy to follow. With that said, I cannot say enough in this space in my desire to dissuade people from reading this novel. I particularly speak to Christians. The theology and view of the bible is rife with error to the point that it is not worth addressing if this entire series were not so popular. The Rapture theology was thankfully beginning to wane before this came out, and now it has a (hopefully) short resurgence of adherents. If my belief was that the Rapture was bad theology before, this book only strengthened such belief in its use of Scripture out of context, its twisting of political events to fit "prophecy" and its unbelievable premises. It is not only incorrect, it is dangerous as such a view has definite political overtones. Again, I would not stoop so low to criticize this if it wasn't so popular AND if people did not make the claim I so often hear that it is "just fiction". If you find the transcript of Larry King interviewing the authors and even read the praises of readers on later editions of the book, you will find that this book was precisely written as a representation of what the authors see as essentially being what WILL happen. So do not be fooled into believe their version of eschatology...and in so doing, do not be fooled into reading the book.
Rating:
Summary: Why is this book so popular
Review: This book is the first of a series of 12. I first heard of this book on christian radio when going to work and I decided to check it out. The book is not small, but I managed to finish it in one day. I passed the book to my wife and it had the same effect. The dynamics of the paragraphs is not the best writing I have read. So why is this book so popular. I think it is the way they are able to write a story that makes you feel it could happen tomorrow. The three world currencies we are heading toward (dollar,eurodollar, and yen). The one world government (UN,NATO). The book does not identify the people who work for these organizations as villians but rather people who manipulate there power. The book is basically about a world without children and Christians and how the world would react to such a sudden event. Sort of like Steven King's Stand. Even if you don't believe in the "rapture", it might be worth reading for the entertainment value and the curosity about what those "crazy people" are reading. Have Fun, Live Life.
Rating:
Summary: A good place to begin
Review: I first picked up this book after hearing the author advertise it on a christian radio station. I read the book from beginning to end in one sitting. My wife and mother had the same experience. The book is an interpretation of the bible concerning the world after the return of Jesus and the dissapearance of millions of christians and children (the innocent. The reason the book has so many people anxiously awaiting for the next book in the series is because of the similarities it has with current times. The making of three world currencies, government alliances, and a globalization possible through the limitless internet. If your beliefs differ from these authors, it still makes for an interesting fiction book. The possibilities in this story are just to close to home for me. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: This book is about an aging man who is pretty much going through his mid life crisis and another guy who is a famous reporter. It shows the effects of their struggles with their faith and the effects it has on them. This book shows what would happen if the end of the world may be approaching and you are without God and Jesus Christ. I think that the genre of this book is religious science fiction, because it deals with God and a fictional story about the end of the world. I hadn't ever read a book from this genre before. This book struck me in how it predicted what the end of the world might be like. How the people disappear and the missiles and planes crashed into open areas in Israel and did not harm them. It was such an interesting book. I identified most with the character of Buck. The reason that I had a connection with him was because of his struggle with his religion. The following is a quote from the book from the character of Buck: "Was there a God? Would death be the end?"(Page 9) Although I have struggled with religion in my life, I am starting to win the battle and now I litsen to more of what God wants me to do. Just how he struggled with his religion reminded me of the struggle that I had when I was younger. I also enjoyed the authors' style of writing. It would pullo you in deeper and deeper and you would not want to put the book down. I was also touched by the book's message. I thought that the message was that without God in your life you will be truly as the title states, left behind. I think that this book is for everyone, because even if you are not of the Christian religion it is a very interesting book. One drawback to the book is how it starts out with the two stories and it just hops back and forth to each, because this at first causes confusion with the characters and what is happening to each. A bonus of the book is that you get so drawn in. Another drawback that isn't really a drawback to the author or its style of writing is that you feel bad for the people that are left on Earth without some of their loved ones and the ones left with all of their loved ones. Another bonus is that the plot of the story is awesome.
Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: The reason I gave this book a 3, is not because of the writing which is good, but because of my beliefs. This book is all about second chances. In the Bible it says that two people will be in bed, one will wake up, and find the other one is gone. That's not quoted exactly, but it is in that same since. What I am about to say is somewhat of a spoiler, so those who have not read it, read this at your own risk. In the end, all the kids meet finally, and they get everyone else together that wasn't taken mysteriously in the night, and they begin to believe in God then. God does not say that people will get a second chance, the end does not mean, "Well, it's the end, but that doesn't mean it is ALL over." The end does mean it's all over. Judgement day will come, and I just pray that when that time does come, that I will be on the narrow path, and that I will bring lots of people with me. As for the writing portion, it was good, I have known better. It gives you a since of mystery, and a since of sorrow. This book has what every book needs. The last book of the Bible, Revelations, tells you all you need to know, well the Bible tells you all you will ever need to know. Again, I am not critisizing the authors form of writing, but what there beliefs are, but, we live in America, and they have the Freedom to write what they want. But, then again, people have the right to display pornographic material on the Internet, where young children can reach them easily. People have the right to wear vulgar material on their t-shirts. The Founders of the Constituition probably didn't expect that the rights they granted us would be stretched so far, some are about ready to break too. Religion has been TAKEN from public schools, so no longer can we pray during school hours, nor can we read the Bible as a class. We can read sex novels though, and we can learn about sex in class (I have nothing about the teaching of the human anatomy) but we cnanot learn about God, it breaks my heart. Imagine how many deaths could have been prevented, how many school shootings because some kids made fun of other kids, and then they decided to punish those kids. Take this into consideration, sorry if I got off the subject a little bit. Mark_Sigel
Rating:
Summary: The Rapture is Real
Review: This book is a wonderful interpertation of the last book in the bible, Revelations. Contrary to many people's thoughts, this story was written based on what will happen someday. This is not a myth. This will happen, though I am sure not exactly how it was written in Left Behind. Many people have different interpertations of what the book Revelation means, and this is just one. This book has been called "religious propaganda",and someone has said that this book was written to "proselytize" to all its readers. Well, this book was written to introduce people to Jesus. It should be every christians goal in life to spread the word of God. This is what the authors were trying to do. There is a "plea to accept Jesus" in every book, because many or the dangers are real. Can you be sure you can get to heaven without Jesus? Jesus said that He was the only way. I believe that there will be a rapture, and that time is running out for many people who have not accepted Jesus, and known God.-Anna
Rating:
Summary: Antisemitic, poorly written claptrap
Review: Aw jeez, if I could give this thing minus 50 stars I would. It had to be published by an obscure Christian publishing house because no reputable publisher would abide all the antisemitic digs the authors make. For example, there's going to be one world religion and a character states that it'll be hard to "get that past the Jews." As if the hundreds of millions of Moslems, Buddhists and Hindus would just go along with it...? And Israel is the largest producing country in the world? Oh, that's rich. Israel is the size of Massachusetts, it has one major airport, one deep sea port, just a few hundred miles of railroad track and a population of 6 million, but it has surpassed the US, Russia and Brazil as a major agricultural producer? Am I the only one who studied in college here? This is a horrible, horrible, stooopid book.
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