Rating: 
Summary: Awesome!
Review: After reading "Conquest of Paradise" by Britt Gillette, I was instantly turned onto biblical end times literature, and I just started reading the Left Behind series. The first book in the series was breathtaking, moving from one scene to the next. It was easy to get caught up in the lives of the characters.When we last left our heroes they were in disarray following the rapture which took many friends and family members away. Chaos encapsulated the world, and Nicolae Carpathia was building a name for himself in the international political realm. In "Tribulation Force", Rayford Steele, his daughter Chloe, journalist Buck Williams, and past Bruce Barnes form a group to study the Bible, pray, and support one another through the horrible events. Convinced that Carpathia is the long-prophesied antichrist, they call their group the Tribulation Force and set out to secretly rebel against his rule. Meanwhile, Carpathia fulfills more biblical prophecies by taking over the United Nations, signing a security treaty with Israel, and luring the nations into a one-world government. Judgements begin to pour out on the earth, and the Tribulation Force must fight to stay alive! I've been tearing through this series at lighting speed (went ahead and bought the box sets...). Although they read more like comic books than novels, the Left Behind series has got me hooked. For those who have already read it and need something more, I highly suggest "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller". That book got me hooked on these, so it can't be that bad! And it's much more frighteningly realistic in its approach. ...Can't wait to finish the Left Behind series!
Rating:
Summary: The best glimpse into the future that I won't be here for
Review: Before reading the Left Behind books, I read another book called "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller". The book so closely mirrored both the scriptures and present day reality, giving the reader a story that they were drawn directly into like Left Behind. I read "Left Behind" in three days, and "Tribulation Force" even faster. I felt so much a part of the book that I felt I might miss something if I put it down for too long. This book made me think more of what people will actually go through after the Rapture and how much I don't want to be a part of those "left behind". "Tribulation Force" covers a larger time period in its limited space than does "Left Behind". In all, I can't wait to read "Nicolae" and see what happens next!
Rating: 
Summary: An exciting story that lacks any real spiritual message
Review: I really enjoy these novels. I think that they are interesting, exciting, and well-plotted. However, the truth is, that despite all of that, when I read a Christian novel, I am not reading it so much for the plot or for excitement, but rather, I tend to read it hoping to come to a more fully realized understanding of Christianity. These novels fail to deliver on that level. Again, I have enjoyed all eleven novels very much, so I would strongly recomend that you buy them if that is all you are looking for. The problem that I have with them is just that every time I finish one, I put it down feeling empty, feeling like the authors never really took advantage of the oppertunity to talk about our faith in a meaningful way, in a way that would help Christians become better Christians and help non-Christians have a better understanding of what it means to believe in Christ. If you are looking for a novel like that, I would recomend trying Brian Caldwell's novel WE ALL FALL DOWN. It is not the most pleasent novel in the world as it faces the horror of the Apocalypse full on, but I have never read a book about Christianity that so fully and completely explored the ramifications of the faith. When I put Caldwell's novel down, I was left with a new perspective on my faith and felt like I was the better because of it. I have re-read it three times so far and come away with something new each time. If you're looking for something a little more substantial than LEFT BEHIND, I would definitly recomend picking it up
Rating: 
Summary: The Tribulation Force
Review: Imagine that your family one day dissapears and your left behind to carry on, what would you do? In this book chloe and her father Rayford and with the help of their friend Buck, research together to find out why so many people died, and realize that they missed something so great, the comming of Christ. This book was excellent, believing that anything is possible and that sometimes we all really make big mistakes and that to fix them we must work very hard. It showed me that sometimes, we all have different ideas and that sometimes, we must be alone with our ideas. With this book i felt like there was somthing i was missing, and i'm glad i came apon this book. I recommend that everyone reads it, it makes you realize that whatever you have, you should be happy, becuase someone out there, always will have it worse than you.
Rating:
Summary: The second in this great series!
Review: The Tribulation Force is the continuing drama of those Left Behind, the sequel of Jenkins/LaHaye's blockbuster novel Left Behind. Journalist Buck Williams, airline pilot Rayford Steele, his college-age daughter Chloe Steele, and their pastor Bruce Barnes have formed a little union, a Tribulation Force, designed to combat the forces of darkness that are foretold to grow great on the earth, now that God's great Rapture has taken place. The four know that things are going to heat up fast, once Nicolae Carpathia, the charismatic leader that has risen quickly through the political strata, signs a peace treaty with Israel. This is an event foretold in the Bible - and one that confirms that this man is the very enemy of God, the antichrist himself. The four attempt to regain some sense of normalcy by returning to each's respective job or assignment, while at the same time armed with the knowledge of salvation, and prepared to bring as many as possible to that salvation. Rayford soon finds himself the pilot of the US President's personal plane, which is actually signed over to Carpathia and his delegation soon after. Rayford finds himself not only flying, but working at close proximity with the man whom he believes is the very enemy of his soul. Meanwhile, Buck Williams attempts to forget his attraction to Chloe Steele, and flies to Israel to discover more about the mysterious preachers who have appeared at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. These two seem to possess the power to make their message known in any foreign tongue, they preach the gospel of Jesus Christ - and they have the power to call down fire from heaven to devour those who try to kill them for their "heresy". Buck also meets a local celebrity of a scholar, Dr. Tsion Ben-Judah, who has just completed an enormous and much-anticipated study of ancient documents, texts, and scrolls, on his own personal quest to discover who the Messiah really is. He shocks the world when his internationally televised report reveals that Jesus Christ is the only man who could fit all of the Old Testament prophecies. A little romance kindles, on the home front, when Rayford meets Amanda White, an old friend of his vanished wife. Buck also has an interest in Chloe, but must sort through some comical yet frustrating miscommunications. And then the war comes. Militia who aren't happy with Nicolae's thrust into power - and the subsequent de-throning of the US President - attempt to attack the new Global Community military. The Tribulation Force struggles to stay alive when World War III breaks out. BAD: There's not any thing inherently bad in this book. Once again, you may disagree with the theology, but you'll still almost certainly find it enjoyable. GOOD: Tribulation Force's objective is to bring as many lost souls to Christ as possible. The events that unfold are direct from the book of Revelation, as Jenkins and LaHaye interpret them. THOUGHTS: Things are going to get a little sticky in the great tribulation at the beginning of the end of the world, for sure, so you can expect violence at many turns in this book. However, the first two in the LB series are before the world is dramatically changed, so it's still enjoyable to read about things that sound more close to our life, before the great judgments come. If you buy this and the first book, unless you are totally displeased, I hope you have plans to buy the rest in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Not a perfect series but better than some give it credit for
Review: So far, I've read all eleven Left Behind novels, and while they are not perfect, I think that some people don't give it enough credit because of unfair comparisons. People often point to We All Fall Down and The Christ Clone trilogy as better novels, and in a way, they are, but they are also very different. Left Behind seems to be more of an introduction to the subject of the End Times, a series that is reaching out to all people of different ages. It's not particularly well written, but it is clear and straightforward. The characters are not particularly realistic or interesting, but these are not character studies, these are novels that are trying to give people an overview of this concept, and they do that quite well. To compare these to other novels with similar themes is a little bit unfair. We All Fall Down is much better written and more intelligent, but the focus of that novel is much more intensley spiritual and more of a character study that uses the End Times as a backdrop to explore complex issues of evil and salvation. It is for more mature, serious readers and it's aim is very different from Left Behind. Likewise, The Christ Clone is more of a techno-thriller, interested in exploring how, realistically the End Times could arive. I will admit that I enjoyed these other books more than Left Behind, but that does not take away from the fact that Left Behind still does a decent job with the subject. They are not great novels, but they are nowhere near as bad as some people are saying.
Rating:
Summary: The Force of Truth
Review: The Tribulation Force was formed to bring non-believers to Christ after the Rapture. After Christ took his believers to Heaven, those who were left behind had to make the choice to give their lives to God. Four people came together to form the force: Chloe Steele, Rayford Steele, Cameron "Buck" Williams, and Bruce Barnes. Each of these four members had been exposed to God's message prior to the Rapture, but they all missed what the Lord was trying to say. When they came together as the Tribulation Force They worked to keep the remaining population from putting faith towards the false promises of the Anti-Christ, whom they believed to be Nicolae Carpathia.
Carpathia was a small Romanian government official who rose to be secretary-general of the United Nations. He promised the people world peace. Carpathia said he would completely rid all countries of their mass destruction weapons and he would keep ten percent of those weapons for the United Nations. Nicolae would obtain the leadership role over the world for the next seven years. This time period would be full of trials and perils, and "three-fourths" of the earth's population would be annihilated. At the end of the seven years, God would come back once more to take his followers up to the Kingdom once and for all.
LaHaye and Jenkins wrote a series of nine books, all relating, to the main subject of God' s rapture of his church. The books fully illustrate what is to happen during the next seven years. The suspense of the next occurrence keeps the reader wanting more; the diction and minimal use of probing detail, keep the reader interested; and, the realism of the novel, makes it a magnificent read.
Rating: 
Summary: like the premise, but how slow can it be...
Review: Well, I am reading the series, because I like the premise, but why is it written so poorly? So many negatives that make me leaf through the pages, reading "diagonally" - to avoid all the flashbacks, uninsightful insights of the characters, cheesy dialog - just to get to actual events and action. Chloe really got on my nerves. The writers mention several times how smart and sophisticated she is, but never actually "proving" it - neither through character description, nor through her actions/dialog. What I really disliked about this book is how every minimalistic movement any character made had to be described - who called whom, who went to pick up/drop off whom, everyone's goings and comings and incessant (sp?) worrying about each other and leaving messages and checking messages... arhhhhhhh... u get the point - too little actual content. With such a grand premise, why subject reader to pages and pages of boring and mandane.
Rating:
Summary: Talking About Sex is Not Evil....
Review: I love this series, but there is a definate void of exploration surrounding sex and the real dynamics of a young relationship/marriage (Cloe and Buck). This clear skirting of the issue makes the book unrealistic for anyone who is in a relationship or new marriage. Christian couples face the same issues surrounding sex as non-Christian couples. It would be nice to see some of those issues explored by a Christian author. When Christian stories avoid the issue they deliver a message that sex is not a concern or that it is "worldly." Certainly Chloe and Buck would have experienced deeper emotions than the book discusses..... I am not suggesting that Jenkins and LaHaye give us "love scenes." I am suggesting that they find the courage to explore the realistic and romantic facets of a new christian marriage. If Christian youth do not get this information from Christian sources they will find plenty of "other" sources....non of which help in making healthy relationship choices.
Rating:
Summary: A teenagers point of view
Review: I just started to read the Left Behind series because my dad has the whole collection as of now. I really enjoyed Left Behind, the first book, because I was really interested in the Rapture and just the whole book of Revelation. I loved Tribulation Force! I thought it was a good mix between telling the stories of the bible and a bit of real life in between. Being 18 years old, I thought having a bit of the "love interests" were a good idea. It kept me wondering and gave it a little spunk that a lot of teenagers need to keep reading. Besides that, I could never put this book down, I just had to keep reading and reading. I read it in about two days which is pretty short for a lot of kids my age! :) But because I read this one and it ended it drama, I HAD to keep reading! And as of now, I'm still reading and hope to finish this absolutely exciting series!! (thanks dad!) :)
|
