Rating: 
Summary: Surely not the best, but still good...
Review: I had been waiting a while to read this book and about halfway through I was ready for it to be over. The story really did keep me interested but it moved WAY TOO SLOW! The book only covers about three days at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Tsion's out of body experience was a litte weird but I guess they needed some page fillers. Overall the book is very good but I hope the next one is a little better.
Rating: 
Summary: Great series - great entertainment!
Review: C'mon people! Let's remember that these books are to provoke thought, lead people to examine Christ, and provide some Christian world-view entertainment.I find it hard to believe people who say they can read this series of books and NOT be caught up in the story and the characters. Are these books the best literature ever written? WHO CARES? They're fascinating, addicting, thought-provoking, action-packed, spirit-filled fun! The only complaint I have is the whiplash I sometimes feel by whirling back and forth between characters and their scenes. But the writing is very understandable, the dialogue believable, and the situations - given that none of this has happened yet - plausible. The storyline represents a FICTIONALIZED account of PROPHESY that has yet to take place - it's not supposed to be a roadmap! How do any of us know how these scenes will really be played out in the future? Sure, some of the characters and plot happenings are convenient ... and yes, sometimes I think there should be more Carpathians who are more technically savvy. But these books are good, addrenline-pumping, heart-stopping fun. They give you the "You Are Here" feeling.... like being inserted directly into an action-adventure movie! Writing is a craft. The ability to write fiction and so cleverly and wonderfully weave prophesy, scripture, faith, human fraility, forgiveness, and hope together in a way that compels people to keep reading ... well, I'd call that a GREAT SERIES OF BOOKS!
Rating: 
Summary: Augh!
Review: Why,oh WHY is this poorly written book hailed as such a great work?! The writing style reminds me of how I used to write when I was in 5th grade..the dialouge is unbelivable. Why couldn't they have just made it a shorter story? Or just tacked a prolouge onto the previous book or something? 3/4 of the book is filler and does Rayford Steel always have to toss off some psuedo-dramatic one liner? This is so full of cliches that I keep waiting for Carpathia to rub his hands together and burst into a fit of insane laughter...Ugh,don't waste your time on this series!
Rating: 
Summary: Indwelling: Starring the phone and the airplane!
Review: After reading my review, you may think I am evil, stupid, satanic or cynical, and I want you to know I am none of that. I am a Christian who loves to read. Because I have read so many novels, I feel that I am a good judge of what is good and what isn't. I have read this far and will continue to read to the end because I love the subject matter. I think more movies and novels should be written about Revelations because I don't think the subject will ever grow old, until it actually occurs. But, these authors, apparently blinded by the blind faith of the public, who buy these novels sight unseen, have decided they don't need to do quality work. Just filling up the pages will do. Here are some of my complaints. Just remember that despite all I say, I am still going to read. Maybe by the end, the authors will have changed my mind. The first problem I have is with the plot. The "authors" have decided that they want a member of their juvenile Tribulation Force to be present at every major event of the Tribulation. That explains why Ray, Buck and T feel like they have to fly every where. How can they afford this? Where is the realism? Also, the authors made Ray land in Greece while on the way home just so they could introduce a character who has the gift of discernment. Earlier, they talked about Tsion discovering the finer points of intercession. Again, these theological details take away from the story and do nothing to persuade non-Christians. I have a feeling that those that are left behind, won't be spending there time studying deep theological issues. They will be trying to stay alive. John 3:16 is about as deep as they will get. This brings me to a big complaint, and this is about the part when Tsion has an outer body experience and goes to heaven and sees Lucifer, Michael, and various other things. I realize the events described are probably scriptural, but it is bordering on blasphemy for them to be covered in this book.. First of all, I know it is not scriptural for a person like Tsion to get a glimpse of heaven like he did. I just get a creepy feeling all over while reading a fiction novel and then hearing the author try to describe events and scenery that NO ONE on earth knows about. Again, this adds nothing to the story except to point out that the authors know a lot about theology. I wish they would realize that the readers aren't biblical scholars, so they should quit trying to show off. They should leave the out of body experiences to Shirley McClain and leave the descriptions of heaven to the Bible. The conversation Tsion had with the angel Michael was the worst because it felt like they were adding words to the Bible. Now, onto other problems. Also, Ben Judah is not the only person in the world who is smart enough to read the Bible and figure out what is going to happen to them. Why won't those millions of "Ben-Judahites" open their own Bible and figure out some of this stuff on their own. My wife and I had a good laugh pondering the fact that the fate of the International Co-op rested in the hands of a 23 year old suicidal college drop out who wants to kill her baby. This stuff is getting worse each book. It is too bad we can't go back in time and give the responsibility of writing this conceptually ground breaking series to a good author who wasn't only focused on the large-print, wide margined, childish, overpriced paperback money making side of things. I feel a great opportunity was wasted because the rapture and the tribulation is a great story and a great evangelical tool, but these authors have reduced it to just a trivial matter to be solved by a bunch of super humans who fly around the globe on a whim. Another minor complaint I have is that half of the suspense in the book revolves around cell phones. It seems like so many sections end with some one making a phone call to tell some one something, or trying to make a phone call to tell someone important information but they can't get through, or being on the phone with someone and not being able to tell them something, so they have to fly half way around the world to tell them in person. These kind of plot devices are not the work of professionals. Also, I wish Tim Lehaye would take his name off these books. It was a good concept, but since he isn't doing the actual writing, why does he want to take the blame? One last things. Those plugs for other books are stupid. Keep those out of here. You may ask why I keep reading if I don't like this series. Maybe it is because the story. I know a lot about the prophecy of the end times in the bible so I am not relying on this series for all of the information. I guess I am just curious. But my curiosity is about to be overcome by my disappoint in the failure of the authors to come close to writing a good story. I guess I will let my wife read the Mark first, and if she likes it, then I might read it. It is obvious these stories are geared for only the Christian market, and that is very unfortunate, because the non-Christian market is who needs a book like this.
Rating:
Summary: It's fun and a good way to spend some time, but...
Review: First, let me say that I enjoy the series, enjoying the novelty of the apocalypse, suspense and God-based themes. I will definitely read all the rest and I will/do recommend the series. ...but I find the plot to be basic and character development to be random and rarely deep. I mean, first of all, do the authors really need a 12 book series? A teacher once told me that an essay should be as long as a young lady's skirt: Long enough to cover the details, but short enough to keep your attention. As I read through #7, I really got the feeling that the authors could have added a few pages to #6 and said, "...and Carpathia came back to life." I tend to think that the authors spend too much time on unneccessary details. Who didn't know what Albie's plan was as soon as he said he had one? Were the pages of suspense really necessary? or could the authors have just streamlined the next few pages? 5 more books to read over the next 4 years? oy vey. For character development, I suspect that the authors keep coming up with new characters in order to just be able to kill them off, thereby making the "tribulation so emotionally challenging." For example, the character who dies in #7: What do we know about him? What happened in his life that was important to the readers and/or important to the plot except that he performed a very necessary act? (I hope I'm not being too cryptic, but I don't want to spoil the book for someone who hasn't read it.) Another example: Chloe's fears/plans for her son. Out of the blue, she comes up w/ some non-Christian attitudes, then all of a sudden at the end of the book, the way she resolves them is...well.. shallow. I don't know what else to say. I have a really hard time understanding the authors' motivations for non-believers. I find the rationale which the authors use to describe the non-believers' explanations for the end-time events and their all-to-easy adoration of Carpathia to be much too convenient and not well supported at all. Example: the lands around Israel have been hotly contested for years with religious differences being an incredible stumbling block for peace. ...and all of a sudden a One World faith emerges? well, that's a good way to shape a plot to suit one's needs, but not a very interesting one. ..and all of a sudden the US is going to concede control to Carpathia after a couple of bombs in the 3rd book? Have the authors ever watched Red Dawn or the old TV series, V? I simply feel that the authors' lack of focus on non-believers makes the plot less realistic. Last but not least, I have to say that the plot is not as deep as I would have liked. The bad guys are protrayed as bumbling fools, but come on, if the AntiChrist was around, don't you think he'd be *really* smart and not be easily outwitted by the tribulation force? Simple things like his reaction to the 2 witnesses: lame-o His administration's approach to using computers: bo-ring. I mean, with all the talk of *Global Community*, you would think there would be at least a few chapters on how Carpathia was doing something increadibly sinister with the Internet. Granted, the authors probably know very little about the Internet and the series was started in 1995 when the Internet was just starting to gain in prominence in our lives, but I just have to think that there would be an evil twin of David Hassid who does really bad things with our networked world. Summary? well, like I said, I enjoyed reading the books and will continue to read them, but while I spent $13 each for the first 6, there was no way I was going to spend $25 for #7 or 8. At first, I was going to wait until #7 went into softcopy, but instead I borrowed it from the local library.
Rating: 
Summary: I LOVE this series!
Review: I have read every single book in this series, including "The Mark," and I just can't get enough of them. They have helped me to grow as a Christian. They are very suspenseful and I just can't wait for the next one to come out.
Rating:
Summary: Discussions Lead To More Discussions
Review: It's interesting after finishing the 7th "Left Behind" book to read some of the other people's comments about the book.My opinion has pretty much stayed the same throughout he course of reading them. I still feel that from a technical standpoint they're probably the most juvenile books I've ever read. That in a nutshell is my biggest complaint. Despite that rather large flaw which I know discourages alot of people from continuing, I have to say I've enjoyed them. Are the books the way I'd imagine the Rapture to be? Probably not, and based on what alot of other comments I've read say, others would play it differently as well.But it's their story. The one they've imagined with the parts of the Bible they feel best suits the tale they're telling. I think people that are looking for a witnessing tool should have figured out before book seven that that's not the primary goal of these book. At least not the way I see it. They entertain. They excite, they thrill, they elicit emotion in their readers.And perhaps most importantly they get their readers talking. They get them asking about the Rapture, curious about the book of Revelations, hungry to find out more.And if that's done through a character in a story that someone's grown fond of, then that's some good story telling.Many of the people who are reading these books may not be ready for the fire and brimstone approach to the Apocalypse. I'm sure there are many people who aren't aware that Tyndale's a Christian Publisher.They just want to know if Rayford and Buck and Chloe will survive, if the Antichrist will create havoc, and if Hattie will be saved.And there's nothing wrong with that. Incidently this was my favorite one yet.
Rating:
Summary: A good addition to the series
Review: I absolutely love the Left Behind Series, I usually read every book the very same night I get it, I just can't put them down. I felt the same about this book, but I also think this is the weakest link in the series. The action in the book takes place over just three days, and while a lot can (and does) happen in three days, I felt while I was reading this book that the authors were just dragging it out as much as they could. This was probably so they could get another book out before they started the story of the Great Tribulation in the next book, The Mark. While I can't wait to read the next installment in the series, I can't help but feel that all that I learned in this book could have been condensed into the first two chapters of The Mark. Hopefully the next one will be as good as all the previous books (they are the reason I will forgive this one and keep on reading).
Rating:
Summary: Is he dead or not?
Review: I'm getting ready to read the latest installment in the "Left Behind" series so I thought I'd review this one. I've reviewed all the others I've read. A side note. When "The Beast" came out I was looking it over in a bookstore and a lady says "I read it, its a good book". Mind you it had only been a day or two in the bookstores, man, I can't stand smug people! I immediately put it back least she think she influenced my purchase. Face it if you've read the others why stop now? This one is full of suspense and intrigue. Is the bad guy dead or will he rise up? Can good overcome evil? Who will be left? The question of who shot Carpathia is more intriguing than who shot JR. The grassy knoll and the Warren Commission have nothing on this story. Was it the lone gunman, better check the video tape. Just be sure Fortunato(Carpathia's heir apparent) doesn't ask you to look into his eyes first, he is more wicked than Bela Lagosi in a vampire movie. These are just some of the questions that are raised in this seventh installment in the controversial series. There are more safe houses than 7 elevens in Chicago now so be on the look for the mark, just make sure it doesn't erase. It really does move along very nicely but as it has been my complaint all along it is a little drawn out and anti-climatic at times. A good book for believers and non-believers alike, think of it as a piece of fiction. Be careful though, as they say, truth is stranger than fiction. Enjoy the ride, there are no paths to enlightenment in this preachy book just questions that may help one live a better life. Easy to read, this is the kind of book that doesn't require a dictionary. Recommended for those who like their suspense and Bible lessons rolled into one. Worth reading if you've made it this far, but you probably know that already.
Rating:
Summary: The world is ending before our very eyes
Review: Hippies, athiests, abortion doctors, gays - they are taking over! What is an old lady supposed to do when all she sees is satan, satan, satan, satan all around her. I hope some people read this book and change the way the live or Left Behind book series will come true very soon. The lord is coming sinners, believe it. God told me to read the books cause he knew the end was near. The Indwelling is the best book yet, I could read it over and over again and again, and never get sick of it. There is too much sin in books and movies today -we need more biblical murdering fiction books to appease my needs. Down with satan, up with the lord. Amen.
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