Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days (Left Behind No. 1)

Rating:
Summary: Forgive me
Review: Until this book was published, I never realized just how un-Christian I was in my belief that the Prince of Peace really wanted to bring peace to the world. But now I've seen the error of my ways.
Hopefull they'll make a movie of the book complete with mega-violence chest-bursting death and destruction so we believers can present a good witness to the world. Soldier on Christians!
Is it too much to ask for a killer soundtrack, too?

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a real pager turner, even for the non-Christian
Review: Left Behind and the 11 sequels are really just one long novel. It is possible, though not satisfying to read only the first one. I really enjoyed the first novel, Left Behind (well enough to read the next 11), although I actually stopped reading it for a while because the focus on the disbelievers was maddening. Millions of people all over the world disappear at once (coicidentally the die-hard Christians), and there is some question about what has happened? I suppose LeHaye and Jenkins were trying to convey just how ridiculous the non-Christians must seem to the Christians, but it was a bit overboard and actually a little boring. Anyway, our heroes finally accept Christ and the rest of the novels were action packed page turners. Of course, the Antichrist takes over rule of the world using the UN and the promise of world peace. I actually laughed out loud when the Antichrist was promising peace and extolling the exact sentiments you hear in the average Hillary Clinton speech (coincidence?). The novels read just an epic disaster novel and were just as fun. I would warn people who are anti-religion that the preaching is a little thick, but I enjoyed it and it was necessary to set the proper tone.

Rating:
Summary: A message of hate that belongs in the dark ages
Review: This book and the others in the series are essentially a fundamentalist interpretation of the book of revelations. They depict Jesus returning to earth to slaughter everyone who is not a born-again Christian. Jews, Catholics, Hindus, agnostics, whomever doesn't share their particular beliefs is thrown into the fire pit as it were.

A few salient points:

1. The whole idea of the rapture is not to be found in the bible. It originated around 1830, based on the visions that a 15 year old girl named Margaret McDonald experienced while ill. She later shared them with clergymen, and a movement surrounding these ideas sprung up. Many religious scholars dispute the idea.

2. In the modern world, we still have many problems with various groups claiming superiority based on beliefs or which group they belong to. Hutus killed Tsutsis in Rwanda, Shiites and Sunnis battle it out in the Middle East, and the born agains have convinced themselves that everyone who doesn't share their particular beliefs is eternally damned. As we try to evolve towards a more modern world, one should ask themselves whether this message is part of the solution or part of the problem.

3. These same authors have a series of books for children expousing the same message. Is this any different than the fundamentalist Madrassa schools in the Middle East that the US has condemned for indoctrinating hate into young people? Should children go to school, where they will undoubtedly encounter other kids from different cultures/belief system, with the message that everyone not exactly like them in their beliefs is eternally damned?

Rating:
Summary: I'm a believer!
Review: Wow! What a cool set of books. I'm on book 4 of the series and it has made me stop and reevaluate my entire belief system. Would I be one of the people who vanished with the rapture? Or would I be one of the ones left behind.

This book reminds me a lot of those little christian comic books that you used to find laying around--especially the one where the big-brother government comes to round up all the Christians. Way cool premise. It actually made me pick up my dusty old bible and start reading revelations.

Rating:
Summary: Awful writing, vicious thinking
Review: There are three ways to look at Left Behind (which I read out of sincere interest in comprehending Fundamentalism):
1. It's a book of science-fantasy, with a little soft-core sex and violence. It fits the genre. As such, it's a very poor job of writing. The characters are neither believable nor individuated enough to sympathize with. The action has no pace, no suspense. There's not a trace of humor. In short, no serious publisher would take a second look at at. Try Harry Potter instead; it's more plausible, and a lot more amusing. OR
2. It's a diatribe, a book that rants against "others" in order to incite hatred. It reeks of bigotry and racism. If it portrays fundamentalist attitudes fairly, then fundamentalists are the sort of people who gloat over the distress of others--not the sort of people who love their neighbors, who see the beam in their own eyes before the speck in someone else's eye, or who forgive anyone 7X70 times! OR
3. It's a coded secret message from some diabolic enemy of freedom, with instructions for subverting the democratic process and establishing a sectarian tyranny. I can't break the code; can you? Perhaps you should read every third word from the back of each chapter in order to find the meaning in this droning nonsense.
All in all, I think my third interpretation is the most promising.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty cool EOW story
Review: I've read a lot of end of world books and was totally surprised at this story line. Who would have thought to write an EOW book based on the biblical rapture? What a cool idea.

I liked this book and fully intend to check out the other 8 books in the series. What a cool idea for an apocalyptic book. Even if you're not big on the Christian scene, it's still a neat EOW book. This book reminded me a lot of The Stand (although it is totally original in it's theme.) I also liked Earth the New Frontier which was another new EOW story out there.

Read this book if you get a chance.

Rating:
Summary: I really liked this book
Review: Pretty awesome storyline. I'd never even thought about using the rapture as a plotline. Pretty cool indeed.

Rating:
Summary: After the Rapture...
Review: Left Behind Book 1 follows the end of the world as prophesied in the Bible book of Revelation starting from a few minutes before the rapture until about three months later. So, in case you haven't picked up on it yet this is a Christian view of the Apocalypse.

The first half reads like a pretty decent bestseller. All the Christians on earth have disappeared into thin air. This includes those currently driving car planes etc. So chaos reigns for a few days and then long term effects set in. We follow the stories of commercial pilot Rayford Steele, who is exactly the character his name suggests he is, and globe trotting star reporter Buck. The pilot allows us to see the effects of the rapture on earth. Steele is piloting a plane during the rapture and his wife and young son both disappear (his daughter remains), so we see the effects on society as a whole and on one individual family. Meanwhile following star reporter Buck as he races from place to place gives lots of opportunity for action and typical bestseller stuff. He stays on top of the action while trying to find out who is responsible for murdering a close friend. The first half of the book makes for a pretty fast read and a non-Christian could read it and enjoy it as well as a Christian.

In the second half of the book: Buck's job has gotten him close to the anti-Christ. The prophesies of Revelation are being fulfilled. These prophesies are pretty extreme and trying to fit them into the action makes the book less believable. Buck, Steele and Steele's daughter all go through conversions to Christianity. This provides many opportunities for some plugs for God. Christians may like these, most non-Christians won't. It all seems kind of odd to include this detail because as each person converts they think things like, "Well now that I've SEEN THE RAPTURE, this must be true." As yet the rapture hasn't occurred, so many of these thought processes are very specific to the world covered in Left Behind. Yes religion is a plot point, but these are going to feel preachy for a non-Christian (and good for a Christian). The second half of the book may be a good light study of the prophesies in Revelation, but isn't as satisfying to read.

If you are at all curious, then I recommend reading the first half of this book. It makes for a pretty good disaster story. The second half will be a better read for Christians than non-Christians. If you are into the story then go for it. If not then it isn't likely to pick up for you.

Rating:
Summary: A LOOK AT THE NOVELS OF REVELATION
Review: I am a very big fan of novels that deal with the Biblical Apocalypse and, with so many different types, thought it would be worthwhile to give an overview of the ones I have read.

Left Behind, by Tim Lehay- The series that started it all. These novels are, in truth, somewhat boring, but it covers the bases with a depth that none of the others do, probably owing to the fact that there are so many of them. They lack character development and deep theology, but are a fun, if shallow read

The Christ clone Trilogy by James Beauseigneur- Well written novels that focus on the scientific and political. Tom Clancy meets Left behind is not too far off the mark. I greatly enjoyed these books although I felt a little let down by the ending. Overall, a good political take on the End.

We All Fall Down by Brian Caldwell- Certainly the most controversial of these novels. The focus here is the individual and why someone would ever in their right mind reject salvation. Very brutal, although probably more realistic, in its depiction of the End. This is certainly not a book for the timid, but for the rest, I found it the most intelligent, well written, and, oddly enough, spiritual of the bunch. It's hard to walk away from this book with feeling to need to take a fresh look at one's own relationship to Christ.

Blood of Heaven, by Bill Myers- These are intelligent, character focused novels. I found the theology again to be a little weak, but really enjoyed following the distictive characters.

The Last Gentile Trilogy by Cary Bybee- Better written than Left Behind, but lacking the scope of that work. Like conquest of Paradise or Christ clone, it it based in science, but perhaps too much. Not enough religion for my taste.


Rating:
Summary: A different kind of EOW book
Review: I have always been a big fan of EOW (end of world) books and found this one too be an interesting twist on the whole post apocalyptic theme.

Having been raised in a catholic home, I spent 15+ years being indoctrinated in religiouos dogma surrounding the rapture. Despite this, I cannot think of any other books that actually investigate this as a plotline.

I would recommend this series of books, even if you aren't particularly religious. The writing isn't exactly Clancy or Grisham, but the storyline is compelling, and the topic interesting. I recently read a couple of other EOW books that were worthy of notice as well: Earth the New Frontier was pretty good, and Apocalypse Warrior was readable but could have used some work.

If you like EOW books then check out Left Behind.