Rating:  Summary: Interesting novel, but it's lacking in places Review: This book has it's good points, and it's bad points. I'm going to start off by making a disclaimer to those who read this review and who are thinking of reading these books. These books DO NOT represent all of Christianity. Lahaye and Jenkins are Fundamentalists and as such, their theology differs (in some cases to extremes) from a lot of the more tradition Christian faiths (i.e.: Catholicism, Orthodoxism, Anglicanism and Lutheranism). These books are fiction, and should remain fiction, I would not recommend them as witnessing or apologetic tools. Please, do not use them to glean an understanding of the theology of Christianity. With that said, I thought this book (along with the second one in this series) were very good. The action was fast paced, the character development is done extremely well. LaHaye and Jenkins do a good job of making these characters "human", with their personal flaws and faults. Reading about the trials and tribulations of the main characters certainly allows the reader to relate to the situations, which really helps these books move along. It also allows the reader to become attached to the characters, and whenever a book evokes emotions, it's going to be a very good read. I also think that the authors do a good job of leading the reader along the plot. Things are revealed slowly, but not so slow that the books drag. As a matter of fact, the first two books go along quite quickly. The problems begin with the third book of the series (the series was supposed to be a Trilogy but then was spaced out to cover an unknown number of books), and which is why I only have given it three stars (call it a hind-sight ranking - and it's because the series begins to become seriously lacking in the third and subsequent books). However, if you don't mind the books "slowing down", I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these books, however I think that there are other "Apocalyptic" literature books that are less expensive (i.e.: not an indeterminate number of novels) and written with a better grasp of theology and are a more accurate representation of Christianity (for example, the book Father Elijah by Michael O'Brien - Ignatius Press).
Rating:  Summary: Extremely Interesting! Review: This book really pulls you in. The only setback is that the quality of the writing is not that great. But the plot and the subject makes up for that. I recommend it for all people of all ages. I am in highschool and I found that it was not too hard to follow. If you don't like reading, definitely watch the movie. It's even better than the book!!!
Rating:  Summary: Absurd Review: Absurd, completely absurd. The only reason I didn't give this book just one star is because of the comic relief it provided me. Yes, I read past the first ten pages and I laughed out loud while doing so.Okay, picture this: The second coming has occured, planes have come crashing out of the sky, cars have crashed, the airports are in total chaos. Our pilot hero wants a friend paged at the airport but is told that nobody is being paged at the moment. Gathering up all his manly authority, he demands that they page his friend because it is an emergency as if being in the middle of the second coming is not emergency enough. I nearly split my sides laughing from that scene. Oh yes, paging his friend was MUCH more of an emergency than dealing with planes dropping out of the sky. Then, our pilot needs to get from the airport to the suburbs and he just happens to hear that a helicopter is leaving that will take only pilots to the suburbs. Isn't THAT convenient? And, about that character of Hattie...I cannot remember the last time I was so offended by the way a character was written. I am afraid that the authors spoke volumes of how they feel about women with that portrayal--we are simplistic little twits who could not tie our shoelaces without the guidance of a big strong man. Too bad this book did not come with a barf bag because I could have used it.
Rating:  Summary: Great book. Review: This is a novel with a most important message. One day this event will happen. This book is entertaining and is not meant to be like Hamlet. If you want to read books that win literary awards go buy them. If you want books that are fun and spiritual. Read all of the Left Behind books and a new novel called Apocalypse South on Amazon.
Rating:  Summary: Read this book, it may change you... Review: Certinally not all christian faiths believe that the end will be exactly as described in Revelation. But there is a strong message here, and it applies whether the End comes in your lifetime or your lifetime ends before the End. It's not Stienbeck or Hemmingway (and it's poor science fiction) but it is entertaining and certinally gets exciting. And unless you're really into shortcuts, skip the video. TV movie quality and too much cut out to make an impact.
Rating:  Summary: My New Favorite! Review: This book is quality fiction. I received it for my birthday and finished it soon after. It kept me reading and thinking. I was eager to rent the movie after I finished it. DON'T THINK YOU CAN WATCH THE MOVIE INSTEAD!!!! The movie was terrible. Read the book. I agree that it had some low points, but few. I can't stand books that start really slow. This one introduced the plot in the first chapter. The success of this series is not surprising. Good job, Tim and Jerry. I look forward to reading the rest of the books.
Rating:  Summary: I wish I had left this book behind Review: What an intellectually insulting book! The premise is eye catching and interesting - end of the world, evil invading earth, people banding together for the greater good. Unfortunately, the allure stops there. I found myself putting the book down several times to tell my husband what a ridiculous piece of dialogue or situation I was currently reading. People were acting and saying things in a way that was so illogical I was laughing out loud. And while the main characters are dealing with guilt and the loss of their loved ones (or being condescending and pushy about their superior religious knowledge), political leaders around the world are making ridiculous power abdications and essentially ignoring the fact that a large percentage of the world's population has disappeared. I made myself finish the book, because I think it's important to know what everyone's raving about. I understand it's also being made into a motion picture. I shiver to think that this is being held up as a good story, or in some way instructional about how the end of the world will come about. Very preachy and poorly written.
Rating:  Summary: One of the best written Review: I know some people think this is not a correct vision of the world but they also have to see that is something that happened in the future of a fictional book. I could not put this book down. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole thing. I have read 7 of these books in the series in less then a month. I cannot put them down and cannot wait for the next one. Do not pass this book up.
Rating:  Summary: Left Behind Review: This is truly a great read and learning experience for Christian and non-believers alike. They tell you what the end is going to be like in a way that anyone can understand. I have bought and read all 8 books in the series, and eagerly await the next. This is a book that everyone including our world leaders should read and take seriously.
Rating:  Summary: Easy to put down Review: To be blunt the first book of the Left Behind series could have been much better than it was. Then enjoyment level starts high but continues to decrease while reading the novel. The book has a nice cover but that is about it, right from the start the enjoyment level starts to decrease. Instantly the reader is introduced to extremely dull characters and is continuously annoyed by their cheesy and childish remarks throughout the story. Most of the situations, which the authors place the characters in are extremely unrealistic. After the disappearance of millions of people the main characters instantly convert themselves and become Jesus freaks which seems very unrealistic. Constantly throughout the book the characters successfully make the reader sick by preaching the authors thoughts about marriage, lust, and family. Now moving on to the plot of the story, which once again will let down an excited reader. At times the book compels the reader and is interesting but in less than five minutes the same reader will certainly become bored and want to put the book down. High and low periods of enjoyment are continuously prevalent throughout the book. At one moment the reader will hate the book and the next they will enjoy it. In the end the low points of the book become overwhelming and this book becomes easier to put down. In a sense the book is no more than a poor attempt to fictionalize the book of revelation. If the reader seeks excitement is might be useful to read the book of revelation. To let the reader understand this book in different terms, any movie critic would say save yourself money and rent it on video.
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