Rating: 
Summary: Captivating For Any Political & Religious Background
Review: Politically Intriguing, Spiritually Captivating, Surprising...or should I say Shocking. Also Mysterious & Wonderous, Thought Provoking... You get your Politics, Budding Romance, Thriller, & Spiritual Mystery all wrapped up in one. I highly Recommend it! Enjoy! :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: Whether or not you agree with the authors interpretation of end-time events, you'll find this book thought provoking and stimulating. If you agree with the authors, you find the book spiritually liberating and it will draw you close to God. Read it - today!
Rating:
Summary: A very good introduction to the subject
Review: I've read all eight book in the Left Behind series, and highly recomend them. I know that some people criticize them for their simplicity- be it in character, plot, dialouge, or theology- and I can understand why they might do so. But my perspective is that these novels are open to all people. The theology and themes are apropriate for all ages and don't exclude people who know very little about Biblical themes. If people are looking for a more complex, mature takes on the subject, there are several such books available, the best of which is We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell, but there is certainly room for diffirent takes on the subject, and Left Behind is a very good introduction to the subject for many people
Rating:
Summary: You will not be able to "leave behind" this book!
Review: This is the best book I have ever read, and I am sure that you could like it too!:) It is the greatest inspirational book you could ever read! You will not be able to put it down... or leave it behind whenever you go somewhere! Although it may be the slowest of the LEFT BEHIND series, it is still really good! If this book is too slow for you, I would urge you to at least see the new left behind movie, and then read the rest of the LB series!
Rating:
Summary: A great Christian Read
Review: After having read all 8 of the left behind series books over the last 3 weeks I can only say with a short word, WOW!I have read some people reviews criticizing the books for being to bland and written for a young audience. Most of what is written in these books comes from a book that is often referred to as bland and not very exciting, this book is affectionately known as the Bible. Do I have problems with these books I would have to say yes, consider if you would the cost of jet aircraft and jet fuel for said aircraft would be astronomical. Planes somehow being able to fly great distances (Israel to Illinois is over 5000 nm) without refueling stops add to the disillusion of the story. But this is why this work is referred to as fiction and not non-fiction, if it were based on more factual data the story would have more realism yes but it would be no less entertaining. There are portions of the books that do seem to drag along but for the most part books keep a good pacing and a wanting from the reader. I read from other readers that there is no cussing and other sins committed by these new believers, for this I can only state that sometimes people can radically change with God in their lives and perhaps that is something that these writers are attempting to convey with their writings. One thing that does bother me is the fact that the writers have now decided that 1 book a year will be all the put out for the series, is there a guarantee that there will only be another 4 books in this series? After all the first 42 months of the tribulation consumed 7 books and anyone who has read revelations will tell you that the next 42 months of what will be known as the Great Tribulation will be twice as intense as could every be imagined in the first 42 months. So is it possible that without an increase in the size and material explored in these next books that the series could become 15 or more books? If that is the case the rapture may occur before this series is every completed. I personally think some people are taking these books to replace the bible, instead of what these books are intended to be. And for those who still consider these books so poorly written let me point to you two of the most poorly penned books I have ever had the misfortune of reading. The author of these two books is Dr. Robert Davis, they are titled; The Plutonium Murders and the Doomsday Kiss. You may follow this link to The Plutonium Murders: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890248002/qid=982641815/sr=1-2/ref=sc_b_2 You may follow this link to The Doomsday Kiss: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890248029/qid=982641674/sr=1-1/ref=sc_b_1/ Do I think the likes of Stephen King, Tom Clancy, John Grisham or others I will not list here have something to be frightened of by these authors the answer I am ashamed to say would be no. The vast majority of people in the world will never know these books as great writing or entertainment. I give the books a 5 star rating although in actuality I would say for character and plot development it would receive a 1 Star, for writing quality a 2 Star, for a reasonable plot and research a 2 Star (this being generous) but for overall being something I would recommend to others for the pure entertainment of everything I give the books my full recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling... Confronting... Convincing
Review: Fact. Fiction. In a world we're living in today, what's the difference? "Left Behind" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins is an outstanding novel. A fictionalized account of the Bible's book "Revelation", it explains exactly what will happen during the Earth's final days. Captain Rayford Steele is piloting a plane when he notices the disappearances of many people. Later he finds that millions of men, women and children across the globe have mysteriously disappeared. Scientists try to find out what happened. Natural disater? Alien attack? Nuclear war? Nobody can find out. Cameron "Buck" Williams, a reporter who is on the plane at the time, finds out the truth about the disappearances: The ancient prophets from 2,000 years back were right. Jesus had come and Raptured the Church. A new man suddenly arises to power, with his global dream to unite the world. This man, Nicolae Carpathia, seems to do EVERYTHING right. He's clean-cut and handsome. He's a genius, who can solve any problem or equation. And, through careful thinking, Rayford, his daughter Chloe, and Buck deduct that this man is the legendary Antichrist, who would soon call himself GOD. These series of books changed my life. While it was an adventure story, trying to destroy the Antichrist while escaping from his subordinants, it was also spiritual, telling you that the only way you can have everlasting life is through God's Son, Jesus. It convinced me that what the Bible says is TRUE, and it CAN convince you, too. I formed a community because of this, and it's THRIVING (...://roadtozion.cjb.net). It's interesting to find out that some "myths and legends" are not fairy-tales, but events that are soon to come...
Rating: 
Summary: Left Me Cold
Review: I got the tape version of this book because my book group decided to read it. I think my first sign of trouble was the name of one of the main characters--Rayford Steele. Sounded like a 'bodice ripper' character to me. And, the anti-Christ character is a very shallow representation of a sort of charismatic, messianic 'baddie'. Why is he Russian? I also kept wondering 'what about Jews', but found they were neatly taken care of by God having appointed Jewish messengers who would convert the poor, unknowing souls to the one, true answer. I really do not understand the enormous appeal of this series of books. I am not a 'non-believer' but find the whole idea very unreal and uninteresting. I also felt I was being set up for the remainder of the series. The plot clanked along to a sort of badly done 'Right Stuff' image of the four saviors, who 'got it', ready to save the world from the Russian 'baddie'. Save me--from the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Page turning fun
Review: I just finished reading Left Behind and can't wait to start Tribulation Force. I have done my fair share of reading, mostly non-fiction, and don't usually don't enjoy fiction. I was pleasently surprised by Left Behind and had a hard time putting it down. A refreshing read for christians and non-christians alike. Both will find it extremly entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Start To A Long Series
Review: This book takes right off from the beginning. You're briefly introduced to a few of the main characters of the series, and the next thing you know, The Rapture takes place. From then on, it's a rollercoaster of a reading adventure. Most of the characters are shallow, and two dimensional, however there is a part of me does feel compassion for them. The idea of being "left behind", if well written, would send chills down the readers spine. However, this is not the case. The reader cannot identify with the concept of what the author is trying to convey, simply because the author doesn't seem to know how to put it in writing. The whole story line moves rather quickly, yet not too fast paced that you don't know what's going on. Why I gave this book a high of rating as I did is because of the fact that the story is fascinating. Unless you've studied the prophesies, and know what Revelations is all about, you will like this novel, if not for it's opinions on how things will unfold, but just for the way that the presence of evil seems to always be lingering in the air. I'm not saying that these author(s) have their facts wrong, but it does contradict what alot of Christians believe actually happens during, and after The Rapture of the Church. On the other hand, there are a great number of people who will think that this is a very well described "reference book" of how events will actually unfold. In any case, the journey is exciting, and suspenseful. True there are some "slow spots", but they are in the minority. All in all, if you have an interest in "end times", or any of the prophesies that fortell of the 2nd Coming of Christ, and the ruling of Antichrist, then do yourself a favor and start reading this first book in an intriguing series.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Beginning to "The End"...
Review: If you are looking for fine "literature" (as it seems some other reviewers were) this is not your book. As a young teen I saw the movie "Like a Thief in the Night" and again, it was not an Oscar winning movie, but I was memorably moved by it (incidentally, I am trying to find a copy of this movie now-if anyone knows where I can get it...). I was given Left Behind as a gift (I did not actively search it out) and from my experience, if you are looking to have your faith jogged a bit and are comfortable with the overtly religious side of this Christian "Science Fiction"-labeled story (? Never understood this label, but...) - this book could do the job. Jerry Jenkins' later books in this series are better because the plot thickens (Nicolae, for example), but this first book is definitely what started me thinking on the Big Picture level again. If you are completely offended by religious dogma, then this book (and series) may strike you as preachy and could set you off. I would categorize this as a Christian book that has been marketed to a larger general population as Science Fiction. As such I believe it may not be considered good reading by loyal Science Fiction readers who are looking for an end-of-world pure and basic horror genre (like Stephen King's The Last Stand) and who are not open to the message of the book that runs deeper than the imagination of one writer (and one conceiver-of-the-series). When taken in the context of a Book of Revelation "interpretation" in conjunction with entertaining reading I strongly recommend this book. One more thing to people who think this book should not be considered a Biblical Prophecy due to accuracy. Revelation is so symbolic, that I can't imagine anyone being able to successfully argue the Biblical accuracy (or lack of) in this book. Theories are the only thing that can individually unravel the apocalyptic symbols for each individual and everyone has a viewpoint. Enjoy it (and the books to follow), if you decide to read it.
|
