Rating: 
Summary: Technical, Intelligent People especially READ THIS
Review: ~I was astounded by how much I could emphasize with the line that said something like -- "I have an Ivy-league degree, I know better than to believe in God".That describes my life until the last few years. This book helped to cement for me the truth in the existence of the higher power -- the omniscient God. Yes, I have evolved from admitting the existence of a higher power, to naming that power as God. This book helped me to understand the prophesies in the bible especially that~~ most intriguing chapter, Revelations. My only regret, is that there were not more bible references (chapter and verse), but it is only a novel. What a great way to introduce the public to End Time theories. A MUST READ for all with either a curiosity, or a fervent belief. Thank you, God.~
Rating: 
Summary: Great read, gripping, as the rest of the series!
Review: I write this review after having just finished "The Mark", the latest in the series, and waiting for "Desecration" to be released. Ok, if you're looking for some lofty theological textbook, you won't find it here. But if you're like me, and are looking for suspense, likeable characters, gripping storytelling and a good, entertaining read, you've hit the jackpot. I guess my only difficulty, as another pointed out, is the number of minor characters, which can sometimes be challenging to keep track of, especially while waiting for the next book! You don't need to be Christian to enjoy reading this, but be aware that the authors will be pursuading you via this series to rethink your position. It seems many of the negative reviews came from people expecting deeper theological writing, and more "realism"--but, who's to say what can or can't happen in the End Times? With God, everything is possible! If you want a book which will keep you reading for hours at a time, and enjoy the writings of Dean Koontz, Robin Cook, and Michael Crichton, for example, you'll probably enjoy this series. If you're not Christian, but can suspend your belief long enough to enjoy Sci Fi novels and movies, then you shouldn't have a problem with the authors' vision of how Revelation could be played out. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Surprising
Review: I started reading the series because the girls in my office were so impressed with it. I am not exactly the religious type, but I have discovered you do not have to be to like the book. The author(s) wrote this book and the series, I feel, to grasp attention to believers and non-believers. Anyhow, I love to read and have not been able to find a really good book lately so I am thrilled that there are more in the series to come. All ingredients to make a great story have definitely been mixed into this novel; Passion, Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, etc.. I would encourage any one who enjoys reading to dive into this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't get past bad writing
Review: I consider myself a pretty tolerant reader, but I didn't get past the first 30 pages of this book because it was SO BADLY written. The dialogue is inane, the characters not realistic, and the plot unbelievable. For instance, one character lives in a trailer park and usually her parents get drunk and rowdy on the Friday night dances. One Friday, a preacher comes and says a few words before the music, and Vicki's father is on his knees with tears streaming down his face, ready to accept Jesus into his heart. I'm insulted by the high-handed writing in this book to try to convert the sinners of the world...before it's too late. Well, it's too late to get my time back from reading this book, but it's not too late for you shoppers. Don't buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It grabs you from the very beginning and it takes you on a ride that you'll NEVER forget. If this book doesn't get you to think about turning your life over to Christ, I don't think ANY BOOK, other than the Bible, will! I loved how, even after people realized that practically entire churches had people who were "missing", they STILL refused to believe that what the Bible fortold in Revelations came to fruition! I thought this book was very exciting and I loved the two main characters, Buck Williams and Rayford Steele. A highly recommended novel for Christians and non-Christians who are looking for a good reason to become a Christian!
Rating:
Summary: Left Behind
Review: This was an extremely good book. Very like in following of the true bible writings, but written in an entertaining manner.
Rating:
Summary: Simplistic, Demeaning, Unbelievable
Review: As a completely nonreligious person, this series is an unlikely choice of reading material for me. However, a good friend who shares many of my ideas picked up the first book thinking it was about something different, and is making his way through the series, and he recommended them. We share Stephen King and Sharyn McCrumb books among others. When he told me a little about what they were about, I made a face and said, no, seriously, tell me what the stories are. He said they were very interesting and explained a lot of things in ways he'd never heard them explained before, and he hadn't expected to like them once he realized what they were, but to give it a try. So, ok. Briefly, the series is about what the world would be like if we were nearing "the end times" according to the bible and the prophecies and stuff in Revelations. The first book starts off with the "rapture" of the church, where millions of people all over the world spontaneously disappear at the same exact instant from whatever they happened to be doing--driving, riding in a plane, sleeping, whatever. All kids and all babies and some teens (that part made sense) disappear. There are lots of theories on what happened, but we know from reading the end flap of the book that it was Christ bringing all true Christians to heaven. All NOT true Christians and non-Christians are Left Behind. I was hoping the series would be something like Stephen King's "The Stand", where a flu wipes out gazillions of people and leaves the world totally and bizarrely changed and the book explores what things might be like after that. Or that as the prophecies of the bible are explained maybe it'd be as interesting as like Nostradamus's prophecies are. Unfortunately, the authors are not that skilled. These are evangelical types behind the book, and I've found the story they have concocted as a thin mask over the preaching to be, frankly, really not that good. I'm disappointed; I think the potential for some really good story-telling around their ideas was there, but was lost. I'll probably continue reading the books, but I have been stopping often to snort and mutter things like "Yeah, THAT'D happen," and "Well, THAT'S a stretch," and "Oh, give me a frigging break." I'm especially finding the portrayal of the female characters disturbing. I find this disturbing in a lot of popular books and in a lot of general religious settings, so I shouldn't be surprised, but it's so BLATANT in these books that it makes me gag and makes it very hard to "get into" the story. The authors start out TELLING you that the females are bright and beautiful, but then they SHOW you through the way they interact with other characters (uh, male characters) that they're really just idiots who must be led and guided and taken care of and have somebody do their thinking for them. There's a little love scenario where the guy plants himself on the woman's porch after she tells him to go away, and instead of calling the cops and getting a restraining order, she eventually comes to her senses and lets him in. When he kisses her much later in the books, even tho she's in love with him she struggles against him because that's evidently what nice girls do, and he doesn't let her go because he knows what's best, and of course she comes to her senses and lets him kiss her after a few minutes. There is much concern about whether the female characters are capable of walking through parking lots alone, and when a friend is in potentially desperate danger, it's not even considered that the females might go to the friend's aid. In fact, one of the male characters has to stay WITH the females, who by this point, near the end of the 2nd book, have been reduced to damn near children or maybe lily pads for all their thinking ability, while another male character rushes to the friend's side. Like I said: Give me a break. I'm hoping this patronizing and ridiculous portrayal of the females in the story will change in the next few books, but I don't think it will as I think it's ingrained in the author's ideals and he probably doesn't even know he's doing it. It's not just the females that bear the brunt of this (although that bothers me the most); there are many other parts of the story that are just as stereotyped and dumb. I supposed if I were reading the books as a celebration of things I already believed in, I'd overlook the obvious superiority and obnoxious condescending tone threaded through the story. But I was hoping for FIRST a good read, and SECOND maybe some insight into what prophecies the author bases his story on. What I'm finding is a thinly-veiled sermon under a thinly-constructed plot with see-through characters. I'll try another book or two because I'm stubborn, but honestly, I'm fighting the urge to just pick up Stephen King's "The Stand" again and read something believable and interesting!
Rating:
Summary: Will YOU be Left Behind?
Review: Perhaps this book really IS for a younger audience. I am a Junior in high school, and began this series when it first came out. I must admit, I devoured the series! I am craving the next one and can hardly wait for Oct 31st! If you are a young adult I would highly reccomend this series to you. Even if you are not a Christian, they are wonderful novels that will intrest and inform you. Granted, if you know NOTHING about Christianity they are not a good place to start (Try the Bible itself or Max Lucado) but they will enhance you knowlage. I am hoping that the next book will be able to hold up to the other ones!
Rating:
Summary: Bad writing, worse theology
Review: Sorry -- I just can't get excited about these books. The writing is poor at best, the characters are flat, the issues are cut-and-dried (ALL good vs ALL evil), and the plot is inane and unbelievable (even for Christians like myself who do believe in the Second Coming of Christ). Even worse than the writing is the theology. LaHaye and Jenkins espouse a particular form of pre-millenial dispensationalism which was absolutely unknown in the Early Church -- and absolutely unknown to the great Reformers as well. They represent a peculiar brand of American fundamentalism (virtually unknown even to Protestants in other parts of the world) which has been prevelant for only the last 175 years or so. Yet LaHaye and Jenkins portray this relatively recent, extreme minority view as THE norm for "correct" biblical interpretation. If a prospective reader finds this genre interesting or entertaining, permit me to recommend CS Lewis's "Space Trilogy" (especially the third book) or Michael O'Brien's "Father Elijah". Don't waste your valuable time or money here.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Wait for the Next
Review: I LOVED this book and all the other books in the series. Everyone I have recommended these books to, that have read them, can't wait until the next one comes out. While it is fiction, it is one interpretation of Revelations. I found myself quite a few times cross-referencing it with the Bible. Agree or disagree, with the author's interpretation, it gets people thinking. It is an easy read, can't put down book that I found very suspenseful. I would recommend this series up to anyone.
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