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Summary: The Rapture: The Event CNN Will Miss
Review: I reread this book three times. The Rapture will be real and the Tribulation will be too. Read the Old Testament, particularly Daniel, which is full of symbolism. Then read Matthew, Chapters 24-31, or Thessalonians, Chapters 4-5, and then go to Revelation (any chapter will do). A little too real. Don't be too anxious; but don't be too overconfident either. Just believe, change your ways, repent (daily), and if you think this is just too corny, then wait. . . and watch. . . The Rapture will be event that CNN will miss.
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Summary: Must read if you're a mystery fan - whether religious or not
Review: I have always loved mysteries. Started off with Anne Rice, which I really enjoyed for a long time. Recently I have been looking for mystery with a little more substance. I found it in Left Behind. Finished the book in two work days. Got to the office red and puffy eyed. Excellent setting the stage book, easy to read for people of all ages, perfect if you like the type of book you cannot tear yourself away from, and a book that does make you think...I would definately suggest this book!
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Summary: Message gets in the way of story
Review: Christian fiction has always been a sore spot for me. I always had the feeling these so-called "authors" were using that market to make money off of people who really want decent Christian books. Frank Peretti's works were an exception (highly suggest his works) and I was hoping this much touted series would be another. That was the real deception.'Left Behind' deals with the characters that are left behind after the great Rapture of souls to heaven. Those that are left must deal with a new horror as a very blatant Anti-Christ rises up, possibly bringing a 7 year reign of horror and the true end of the world. Although the setting has such promise, the execution is no less than terrible. As a reviewer had written here before, the writing is atrocious. The authors tend to describe everything in the most simplistic terms. One scene which made me shudder was when a character was viewing a tape that a minister had left behind (pun intended) to help out those that didn't get raptured. In what could have been a gripping scene - this abandoned fellow who now seeks salvation through the video - turns into nothing more than a cheap ad for Christianity. The ministers dialogue is actually written down for us to read. It would have been far more effective to just write that he had listened to the tape, then concentrate on his thoughts of the message. Instead we get the minsiter sermonizing, and the poor dope listener simply responding with "oh yeah, thats good. I should do that." A weak scene which whose intention was not to further the story, but to preach to the readers. Besides the writing, the entire plot is ridiculous. People mysteriosly disappear off the face of the planet; you would expect mass hysteria in the streets. None of this is played up, though, and the left behind crew are far more interested in this new Romanian politician (aka AntiChrist) than the mass disappearance. Huh? The characters are weak as well, stereotypes who cling to the Christian answer a little too quickly to be realistic. One character, Hattie, seems to be written to garner sympathy, but only comes off as whiny and irritating. I think if the writers had concentrated on story and not evangelism to their readers, we would have gotten a tighter, sensical book. If you want a good end of the world novel (and one that deals with redemption far more seriously than this) pick up 'The Stand' by Stephen King. Classic. When I want a story, I read a book. When I want a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you.
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Summary: Will you be Left Behind?
Review: Let me be up front. I go to church every week, but I am no where near being a Bible thumper. This book, while focusing on many elements that are non-central of my faith, should be taken, in my opinion, as a fictional interpretation of what "could be". The book was an extremely easy read and the characters are hardly what I'd call deep. However, it has a great "movie of the week" feel that has me wanting to read the rest. Even though it is classified as Christian fiction, I think it would be better and more safely classified as fiction based on religious subject matter. Don't take this book as fact. Just take it as fun. Even if this book doesn't cover your religion, like it doesn't cover mine (I'm Protestant, not Born Again like those in the book), you can take one message away. Would you be Left Behind?
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Summary: It was all right
Review: This book has its pros and cons. There was too much dialogue and some parts were really slow, so I actually skipped them, but all in all i think "Left Behind" was all right. It was pretty interesting and explained a lot of prophecies and why all this was happening. I must admit though that I expected more... I've read a few other reviews and many of them are negative...and I guess I would think this was an absurd book too if I wasn't a Christian. Have in mind though that this is a fictional book but it's based on Biblical truth of what will happen in the end days, the Rapture for example. The people left behind aren't left behind because they're "bad", they're left behind because they aren't saved. Jesus says that "No one comes to the Father but by me" meaning that you can't come to Heaven if you don't believe in Jesus. The ones who were not left behind didn't come to Heaven because they were "good" but simply because they had Christ in their lives. Sorry, didn't mean to preach but some people seem think that Jesus came for the "good people" and left the "bad people" behind. Just wanted to clear up a few things... Read the book if you want, but i'd rather the watch the movie.
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Summary: Left Behind#1
Review: First off, I would like to say that I have read the 8 books in this series. Secondly, I find it offensive that anyone would laugh at the premise of the series. If you are not a believer, then simply state that you don't appreciate these books. However, making fun of the premise and the way the books are written is not necessary. Now, I enjoyed all eight books. I agree that there are parts that seem too convenient for the characters, such as the fact that the believing characters can get away with using computers to spread the good word of the Lord around the world. I don't think it will be possible when the 7 years of tribulation happens. I'm not sure that the authors will agree with this opinion, and this is for the "laughing" readers, but the series is a bit "dumbed" down and I think it is, in order to easily get the message of the bible across. So, when you read this, don't think of it as stupid and silly, think of it as the truth written for people in search of the Lord. These are my opinions and I judge no one for theirs.
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Summary: Christian cliffhanger series isn't boring.
Review: I will not for a moment pretend that I am any kind of a theological expert and will leave whatever flaws Jerry Jenkins's Left Behind series has in that department to others. For the record 'co-writer' LaHaye contributes an event timeline for Jenkins to build a story around, nothing more. The story? Just as airline pilot Rayford Steele decides to begin cheating on his suddenly fundamentalist and rapture obsessed wife several people disappear from his plane. Steele, being the lead character, immediately realizes that The Rapture has happened and he has been LEFT BEHIND. Yeah, the book (in fact the entire series) is that melodramatic and unsubtle. Readers expecting a serious examination of what might happen in the world if the prophecy of the end time events in The Bible did come to pass in our contemporary times should look elsewhere. This series of books is nothing more than Christian prophecy reinvented as the pulp novel cliffhanger equivalent to all those Indiana Jones movies. I give it four stars because, despite weaknesses discussed by others, the book nonetheless entertained me and maintained my interest. Recommended for those who just can't get enough of end time stories.
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Summary: born again reader
Review: I have never been a big reader. Since graduating from High School in 93, I have probably read 2 books. Toward the end of Jan. 2001 I was told about the book LEFT BEHIND. I still dont know why I started to read it, but I am half way through THE MARK the eighth book in the series. 8 books in 2 1/2 months. Why? Because you cant put down these books. I can not give the series High enough praise. Read them and you will not be sorry.
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Summary: CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
Review: I'm a Christian. i loved this book and could not put it down. Its completely amazing and I feel has a lot of truth in it. But as I was reading these reviews, I noticed people getting angry over "The Pope being saved" and "God being the only living God" All I have to say to that is read the back. its Christian Literature. Thats what we believe. If you see a Buddist book, are you gonna trash the writer for writing about budda? Great series though, very suspencfull and kind of scary.
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Summary: Review of Left Behind
Review: I am really not a reader, in fact I really don't like reading at all. I was just cruising through a book store one day and just on a spur of the moment I decided I wanted to get a book. So I walked over to the Christian section and picked up the first book I saw (Left Behind). This book captured my attention right from the beginning and I didn't put it down for about 2 hours. Being a new Christian myself, I didn't know a lot about the Rapture, but this book made it very clear. The book takes place in the not so distant future with makes it kind of scary to read. If you are a believer, you begin to think of everyone you know who could be "left behind" if God raptured his church this very day. If you aren't a believer, it will quickly convince you that this could be a reality any day. I definitely recommend this book to anyone.
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