Rating: 
Summary: Avid Fans of the Left Behind SeriesWill Be Disappointed!
Review: I read the first Left Behind book day after it was released many years ago. I couldn't put it down until I finished it! When I discovered the book would be a series, I leaped for joy and couldn't wait for the next one to be released. Since then, I have read all the books in the series as soon as I could and have not been disappointed ... until now. There was way too much detail of what had gone on in the past series. You do need some reminders every now and then, for both the new reader and veteran reader of the book, but when, even in the middle of the book, 3 pages are devoted to information from the other books, it becomes tedious, repetitious, and downright boring. In one chapter, every few paragraphs are simply reminders. However, if the veteran reader simply skips those paragraphs, he or she will not only finish the book sooner, but the person will enjoy the book much, much more. After 4 chapters of reading every word, I started skipping those reminders, and found the book to be a very good read. It will delight you, scare you, and most of all, make you hungry for the next book. I know this book will be at the top of all bestseller lists, mainly because of the previous success. Either borrow this book from a friend or the library, or wait until it comes out in paperback. The main thing I did like about this book is that it becomes more believable, and I didn't think that would be possible. Most of all, it goes right along with the Bible! Can't wait until next year for the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: THE MARK: COURAGE, STRENGTH AND OVERWHELMING FAITH
Review: I have really enjoyed The Left Behind series but I was extremely perturbed when I learned the publishers expected the authors to produce one book every six months. I figured at that pace, quality would be sacrificed for quantity. I expected this book to bomb and take all the enjoyment I've had with this series. But to my delight, I thoroughly enjoyed The Mark! Once I gave the authors a chance, I was back immersed in mystery, anticipation, diversions, triumph and yes, even in sadness. The Mark was full of action; it kept your emotions and your heart hopping chapter after chapter. The vividness of the acts, the harshness of events and the portrayal of the courageous were so powerfully described, it brought tears to my eyes and a shiver up my spine. I kept telling myself, "this is just a book; this isn't really going to happen." The Mark takes you on a journey of unforgettable images and acts of faith that you will have to read it to feel it. The first book Left Behind by far has been the best book, I read it in one day. Some of the other books in this series I have read from 1 to 7 days. The more I enjoy a book, the faster I read it. I read The Mark in 2 nights. Read it, it will be worth your while.
Rating: 
Summary: The beast rules ...What?
Review: Why would the Beast want to rule anyone or anything on this Godforsaken planet is beyond me?! Christian propaganda masquerading as entertainment, the rapture was written for the Hebrews who were enslaved by the Egyptians(or was it the Mesapotamians,OH! who knows and who cares, I live in the present), they were expecting this to happen in their lifetime...it never did! and it never will!, so get over it. Bad writing!...for Mental Pygmies only.
Rating:
Summary: The realism has been lost
Review: Allow me to clarify: I know that Lahaye's work is fiction. I wonder, however, whether Jenkins's overt sensationalism--increasingly evident as the series progresses--is indeed essential to his portrayal of the Apocalypse. The groundbreaking step in the original Left Behind book, in my opinion, was its careful realism. The authors cleverly concocted a debatably realistic scene. Public response to the Lord's Rapture was believable, and the time was ripe, as Jenkins contends, for the emergence of a new public leader. In the second, third and fourth installments, however, things quickly went south. That so many people would espouse a "religion" adherent to the doctrine "We are God" is patently absurd, and the narrator's depiction of a top public official recounting on national television his "resurrection" at the hands of Carpathia is simply "out of this world." Jenkins, it seemed, had succumbed to the sensationalism--his overly evil portrayals of Carpathia, his black-and-white characters, his "dramatic" religious conversion accounts--the overbearing religious doctrine plaguing so many similar books. Pat Robertson's "End of an Age" is a case in point. The world suddenly comes down to devil worship vs. Christianity, huh? I don't think so. As far as "The Mark" is concerned, this overriding trend has only worsened. "The Indwelling" was bad enough; this book has now completely left the realm of reality. Page after page of Carpathia praying to Lucifer, tribulation saints bravely converting the lost, Global Community troops becoming ever more resolute in their opposition to Christianity has simply grown tiring. No thinking person would even follow a leader so overtly inhumane. Evil antichrists are easy; I want a devious one--a tricky man so cleverly political I wonder whether I wouldn't follow him myself. And that, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Lahaye, you have not provided.
Rating: 
Summary: The Mark
Review: This book starts a liitle slow for those who have read the previous seven books. There is alot of background information given on the characters from the previous books. Be patient! Don't quit reading this one!! After they finish with these things, things really start to move about half way through the book. Also, alot of time is spent on what is going on with one of the undercover TribForce characters in the beginning. Hang on folks because this book does start moving and moving great! I had a little bit of a hard time sticking with it but I am glad I did. As usual when you get to the end of the book the infamous question and statement comes up for the readers of this series, "When will the next book come out? I want more!"
Rating:
Summary: a book of fiction that too many people take as truth!
Review: It absolutely amazes me that so many people believe what is written in these books, especially this one! If you want to know about the truth about the end of times, read the Bible, it has it all there, with bits and pieces of the information scattered throughout the Bible. When this book showed the man getting the Mark of the Beast EVEN though he was a Christian and that he would still be saved, that was the biggest eye-opener of all that this book was full of lies. The Bible says that ANYONE who receives the mark will not get to heaven. You are either for God through Jesus OR you are for Satan, there is no compromising. You cannot deny your belief in Jesus and expect to get to heaven. These are dangerous books for Christians to read because they are full of hidden agendas. I cannot recommend even as a book of fiction!
Rating:
Summary: What's the deal with Frank Muller?
Review: This review is aimed towards the unabridged audio book. I give the book itself a 5 as I do all the Left Behind books so far. What a truly amazing series of books!! The Audio books up until this one have been read by Richard Ferrone, who is by far the best book reader I have ever, ever listened to. He get's so much into the personality of the characters and brings them to life, you don't ever space off and lose your place in the story. He completely draws you into it, and keeps your 100% interest. For some strange reason for this audio book they went with Frank Muller, who in my opinion is terrible!!! This guy reads like he is in a race to finish the book as fast as he possibly can. I swear, from beginning to end he never takes a single breath, and all of his words rush together so quickly it's hard to follow! And the voices he uses for the characters.... well I'll just say, he completely ruined this story for me. It would be great if they went back and had Richard Ferrone reread this book for the unabridged audio book. And for those who have never listened to an unabridged Audio in the left behind series by Richard Ferrone... even if you've already read the book, check out an audio book by him. It really brings the book to life. Don't waste your time with the abridged versions though, they cut out sooooo much. Frank Muller, take a breath or take a break will ya???
Rating:
Summary: The best yet
Review: This book was better, by far, than any of the others...well, maybe not as good as the first. I was so excited by the story and the characters that I found it hard to put the book down. I have read other reviewers say that there was less action. I disagree. I think the action and the stories blended well together. Indwelling was rather dull and slow moving. This book was fast paced. The new characters introduced here were exciting to hear about. They gave me new prospective on Christianity in other cultures. The form of the mark was facinating and the guilotines brought me to tears. The strength of the true believers made me proud. The first book in the series is still my favorite and I think it will always be my favorite. But this book was absolutely spectacular and I can hardly stand waiting to hear how God will impact Chaim...or how Chang will help the cause. What is in store for Hattie...Leah...Ming...Abdullah...etc... If you are a new reader to the series...start at the beginning and read them all. I recommend this series to everyone. Yes, the writing of the book is simplistic...but the spiritualness is breathtaking. The first book brought me to Christ and the following books get more exciting due to my love for Christ and the growing love of the believers that were...left behind.
Rating:
Summary: The series is boring as heck...
Review: First, you have the rapture, which while interesting, mainly is a matter of getting home which takes half the book. Honestly, the main character is an airline pilot, why couldn't he hire a private plane to pick his daughter up? Then you have the rest of the first book waiting painly for the two major characters to meet. Then, in the second book, you have them talking forever about getting a job at home, and publishing this website, but you don't see them doing it. The priest dies in the second one, and they hear about this Tsion Ben-Judah character. In the third one they finally publish the website, and Tsion joins, but even now, they have almost no real converts. They seem to skip the seven signs too, or at least do them out of order, for I saw no overt mention of the famine, plagues, or death, they did war and from what I noticed the next was the earthquake. By the fourth book I stopped reading.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate loyalty test
Review: "The Mark" picks up where "The Indwelling" left off...now Global Leader Carpathia institutes a mark of loyalty to be forced upon mankind, with the alternative being death via guillotine. While this installment is basically uneventful (except for the Trib Force escaping from or hoodwinking the Global Community police force in several places), to me, it was the most spiritually impacting of the eight I have read, especially when it comes down to the fateful choice of refusing the mark, or accepting it. Leon Fortunato's introduction of the loyalty mark was quite chilling. I thought the passage when Miklos' wife (and a group of other believing women) refused the mark and received the punishment was quite heroic. One glaring spiritual omission, however, is found in Revelation 14:9-10 where an angel in a loud voice says "if anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God"....no such angel was found in "The Mark" warning people. (Perhaps I'm too picky?)... Still a great book in a great series.
|
