Rating: 
Summary: I must respond
Review: After reading the featured comments from readers on this first of the Left Behind series, I felt compelled to respond and give my thoughts on the book. First, I found it amusing that someone thought the book was "pourly" written. I am a Christian, which is why I became interested in starting the series. But, I am also an avid reader and have been a writer, proofreader and copy editor. I sped through "Left Behind" faster than any book I've recently read (with the possible exception of Harry Potter). Once I finished, I had to get my hands on book 2 the very same day. Now at the beginning of book 4 (Soul Harvest), I find that the writing, plot and character development only gets better and better. I'm sorry, I do not read many Best Sellers. I find them horribly tiring drivel. Most are trite, cookie-cutter books. Steven King admits to being a formula writer. Sorry, folks, that's not for me. I have read widely from 16th century literature and poetry to modern fiction, great works and dime store romance novels. I find LaHaye and Jenkins' work to be fascinating and disturbing. I believe the first book is well-written. But keep reading, it only gets better. Disregard those who say "don't read it." Read it, please. Try it for yourself before you toss it out the window due to someone else's literary snootiness. It's well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Readers need to get out before LaHaye cashes in.
Review: Tim LaHaye has as reputation as a popular and influential evangelist, and his "Left Behind" series proved tremendously popular, so I was curious about his take on the Rapture.Ouch. This novel, conceived by LaHaye and written by Jim Jenkins, is bad in ways that I never would have imagined a novel about such an intriguing subject could be bad. The writing is fourth-rate, at best--it reads like something from a middle school creative writing course taught by an green amateur. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the story would best be enjoyed by elementary school students who haven't the faintest concept of what good writing is, because this is CLEARLY not good writing; it's too spiritless and flat. One particular case of the bland writing that got to me: Jenkins is so want for skill that, rather than describing a supposedly stunning character in detail, he merely says he looks like a "young Robert Redford." Apparently, Jenkins can't even summon up the will to write a description of how a "young Robert Redford" would appear, so he decided to make his readers run out and dig up some photographs to get an idea. The characters, which should have held the story together, were dismal stereotypes, each one a gross simplification of the process of coming to terms with one's faith. I'm sorry, but people do not convert with such ease a few days after witnessing the single most traumatic and earth-shattering event in history. There was no elaboration on the universal grief being felt, nor was there much time given to consideration of the consequences or meaning. Need I mention that all the characters are already believers on only slightly varying levels? There is no diversity to this group of people. The plot is so literal and straightforward that it's boring. There is no way to get interested in these mind-numbing conspiracy theories, particularly when they're being perpetrated and attacked by such dull people. I could handle it better if the story weren't so... well, literal, as mentioned above. Couldn't LaHaye have thought up a more unique and exciting way of telling the story? Would it have killed him to employ methods other than this vapid step-by-step formulae for literary disaster? From all the praise this series had received, I expected powerful metaphors, meaningful symbolism, messages of prevailing spirituality, and a probe into the depths of what draws man to religion. No such luck was to be had. LaHaye seems content to write his evangelism for people who ALREADY agree with him, and this being so, he appears to think he does not need to expand on his views--they are, after all, "the truth," Jenkins writes over and over again. This novel fails in every levels: the characters are annoying, the plot is campy, the descriptive writing desires much polishing, and the dialogue is just... Ugh. The directions some conversations take, and the way Jenkins keeps reminding us that these characters' words are moving and overwhelming to the sense, left me cold. When I purchase a novel about something as monumental as the Rapture, in which many people believe wholeheartedly, I want to read a story about the human condition, not how a "young Robert Redford" from Romania can wow the world by shouting out the names of dozens of nations without using a cue card for assistance. What were LaHaye and Jenkins thinking when they wrote this? Did they just want to cash on on the apocalypse craze? This book does Christianity no service--it all but spits in the face of devout followers who seek out books that will relate something personal about the religious experience. I was, in other words, not impressed with "Left Behind." At all.
Rating:
Summary: Leave This One Behind
Review: First let me state that I am a born-again Pre-trib, pre-mill Christian and I do believe in the bodily rapture that will take the saints to meet the Lord Jesus. After that the Antichrist will come into power. Now onto this book... my wife bought the book to be able to speak intelligently with a young woman in our youth group that loved it. My wife never finished it so I thought that I might as well read it. The positive side is that the book was an easy and quick read - 3 nights and I was done. That was good because the plot and lack of character depth made it seem painful to read. The plot is the standard "Good versus Evil", Revelation-based Christ versus Antichrist. The story moved along quickly because the authors made huge leaps from characters disbelieving and even mocking the Bible to becoming ardent, evangelizing Christians. The depth of characters is again, painfully shallow - at least in this the first book of the series. Possibly a book to give as a gift to someone who has an interest in religion but is not an avid reader. I would not recommend this initial book and personally will not invest any more time or money in continuing the series. But God bless LaHaye and Jenkins anyway!
Rating:
Summary: Good Book, the
Review: I did not get immediately into this book, but by the second chapter it was hard to put down. Very compelling. It does leave you hanging at the end so you will move onto the next book, which I have done. I expect to read all of the series. Perhaps even see the movie. I recommend you read this book. Go with GOD :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and Nothing More
Review: Christians believe that when Jesus came along the first time, the Jews didn't recognize who he was because they had misinterpreted the prophecies. Those same Christians believe they know almost exactly how the world will end based on their interpretations of Biblical prophecies. Ironic? And this book is based solely on those purely traditional interpretations. With such shaky theology backing a Christian book, Left Behind seems more like a scare tactic for converting non-Christians than a heart-felt presentation of Salvation. This, combined with mediocre writing (in all areas: prose, plot, characterization, layout), virtually guarantees that more educated readers will ignore the series. Don't get me wrong; the book is entertaining. Jenkins (who actually penned the words) has a knack for making the pages turn by themselves. But his writing does little else, which makes the book and the whole series seem like a bag of Lays potato chips--you know it's not good for you, but you just want one more. Yet, even after devouring a whole bag, you still feel empty. So what accounts for the success of the books? Well, if you consider The Readers' Digest and Chicken Soup for the Soul books good reading, then you will probably like this book. If you are a Christian who believes in the Rapture and the fairly literal interpretation of Revelation, you will probably like this book. In other words, LaHaye and Jenkins know how to give the mass public what they want . . . and the rest of us are forced to sit idly by and listen to people sing praises about how good this trash is.
Rating:
Summary: GIVE THIS ONE A CHANCE! GREAT READ!
Review: I was completely floored by this book. Great writing, and very fast paced. Not a boring part in the book! Some consider these books to be nothing more than preaching about God, Christ, and what will happen to everyone who refuses to believe, but there is a very gripping story there. Just remember it is fiction, and meant to educate AND entertain. The characters are well thought out and believeable in their actions and dialogue, and you'll be running out to buy the rest of the series before you even finish this one. DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP!
Rating:
Summary: This book is poorly written
Review: I am a christian and I was prepared to cut this book some slack because I believe in the message, but I found it too pourly written to refer this book. The writing is equal to a c- high school composition by a below average student. I hope someday a better writer takes on the challenge to do a book based on the rapture.
Rating:
Summary: The Effect of the books...
Review: A Christian book must be judged by its fruit, and the fruit of "Left Behind" is the conversion of many souls to Christ. For this reason alone, it is worth every star that it can be given. While the book might be disappointing literarily, the intent of the authors is not to make an impact on the world of literature so much as it is to make an impact on the world for Christ. Left Behind is a great witnessing tool. Like "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis or "Castle of Wisdom" by Rhett Ellis (which should be required reading for all Christians), "Left Behind" brings people to faith in Christ.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good "End-Times" Book for Christians
Review: The idea of the book is great, though done before. The way this book is written though, basically, chronicals the events that take place in the "end-times" as described in the Bible. The book revolves around some central characters. They all are involved with the church in one way or another. Eventually you see most of them "converted" into Christians. As they are they feel that their "mission" is to convert others. There also is some romantic "tension" thrown into the mix. The characters aren't all developed too well but I still felt a connection with them. I enjoyed this book and think that many others will too. Although this book, I feel, was written mainly for Christians. There is no subtlety in the message. Everything is taken almost verbatim from the Bible. It doesn't give you a lot of "food for thought". For that I recommend James BeauSeigneur's "The Christ Clone Trilogy". "Left Behind" is pretty straight forward and a great beginning to the series. Highly recommended for Christians.
Rating: 
Summary: More than just fiction.
Review: This is a very good book for Christians & non-Christians alike to read. The unfortunate drawback is that in order for you to fully understand the contents of the book, you have to have an idea of much of what is going on in the Bible, and what it says about the end times. With that aside, Left Behind is a story of what many believe will happen with the Christians at the onset of what is known as "The Tribulation Period", and the continuing story of those who thought they were Christians. If it only does one thing, it should make us re-examine our lives and discover which side of the Tribulation we will be on.
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