Rating: 
Summary: Amazingly Melodramatic
Review: I was surprised that a book which has received so much praise could be so uninspired. Many have said it before and I will agree. The characters are cardboard representations of real people. The way they interact with one another is cliche. The additions to the main theme of the story are quite melodramatic. However, the story is entertaining even if terribly flawed in its factual interpretation of events described in Revelation. My greatest complaint is the poor use of grammar by the author. I hold authors to a higher standard than the general public and am appalled when significant mistakes are made by both the author and the editor who should have noticed them. Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun. They are not interchangeable. Regardless, I recommend the book if you want to read something that is not too heavy. It is written to be easily accessible. I did not find it religiously nor intellectually stimulating, though. If you want something that fulfills this criteria, read The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis.
Rating: 
Summary: An Amazing Telling of the Beginning of the Tribulation Era
Review: I felt that this was a very well written and executed novel. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins did an excellent job of creating deep, real characters in a believable world that is in the beginning stages of the tribulation period. The story, Left Behind, revolves mostly around three people: Rayford Steele (average man), Chloe Steele (Rayford's daughter), and Buck Williams (famous reporter). They live in a world, not much unlike ours, that has three currencies (dollars, marks, and yen) and is moving in a direction to have one. Rayford and his twenty-year-old daughter, Chloe, don't really believe in God unlike born-again mother Irene and preteen Ray Jr., but soon they wish they did as the Rapture takes place and millions disappear without a trace. Cameron "Buck" Williams is a deist, but doesn't really believe in any religion. The story follows the three as they learn more about God and the things to come in the Tribulation period as well as Buck's investigation of up incoming Romanian politician and businessman Nicolae Carpathia. This book was an excellent read and I believe that this is one of the most well written books that I have read in a long time. I would recommend this book to anybody that has an interest in Christ, the Tribulation Era, or is a Born-Again Christian. The novel also lends itself to many age groups. I, being 15, thoroughly enjoyed the book just as much as my mother did. The book has several action parts as well as tie-ins to the Bible to help you relate and understand the story. I would go as far as to say that a 7th grader could very well enjoy this book, however I do know that there is a Left Behind series for younger teens, but I do not know the quality of those books. I have almost no complaints about this book; I enjoyed it that much. The story has great continuity and makes you want to keep turning the page, which is one of the book's strong points. The only real complaint that I have (its only a minor one) is with the ending. It has a climax and then cliffhanger, and it makes the book feel somewhat unfinished to me (though it does make me want to pick up the book in the series). Other than that I really have no complaints. It was a wonderful book with an excellent story. It presented a realistic portrait of what will come in the Tribulation period and was impossible for me to put down. Overall a superb book.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: Left behind has been a most inspiring wonderful book. I am a bible scholar of sorts and feel that the Authors' Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye have done an excellent job proclaiming the thoughts of those who will be left behind, as they are my feelings as well. I have bought everyone I know, who truly will appreciate a blessing from our Lord Jesus, this book for Christmas. I plan to get all of the books in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Non Believer
Review: As a non-believer I would never have brought this book. It was given to me as a joke. I started reading it one night and could not put it down until I was finished. It really opened my eyes to the spritual life that is possible. It was an amazing journey into fiction with christian belief at the heart. Great book for our times.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting read - but I have concerns and qualifications
Review: For those readers not familiar with my reviews, let me state categorically that I am a conservative, Christian clergyman. I'm reading the "Left Behind" series on the advice and at the request of a Christian friend who comes from a different theological tradition than myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, and am looking forward to reading the rest.This having been said, it is important that I make one other point clear. LaHaye and Jenkins have written a thriller based not on the Bible, but rather on an INTERPRETATION of the Bible -- a distinction which should be clearly noted. It must also be understood that their interpretation is at best a MINORITY interpretation -- even among conservatives and evangelicals. The word "Rapture" is never found in Scripture -- and the biblical basis for the doctrine comes from questionable exegesis of a very few verses taken out of context. The doctrine is not, and never has been, part of the "deposit of faith". The theology expressed in the book is completely unknown, not only to Catholic and Orthodox Christians -- but also not accepted by the great Reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc.), nor to the Protestant preachers of the Great Awakening (Whitfield, Wesley, etc.). The eschatology (theology of the End Times) expressed in this book represents a view known as pre-millenial dispensationalism, specifically a "Pre-tribulation Rapture" version of pre-millenial dispensationalism. (There are groups which, while holding many of the same beliefs, argue that the Rapure will take place either at the mid-point of the Tribulation, or at the end of the Tribulation). The doctrine originated among religious groups in the mid 19th century -- many of which could only be considered "Christian" in the very loosest sense of the word. The doctrine was only absorbed by more mainstream Christianity about 100 years ago. Because of the way the book is written, a non-believer, or an uninformed believer could easily make the assumption that the version of events related in "Left Behind" is THE authentic Christian interpretation of Revelation -- and that's just not the case. LaHaye and Jenkins should have made this clear in an author's forward. That they did not do so, in my opinion, speaks negatively to their integrity. Having said all this by way of disclaimer -- I thorougly enjoyed this book -- as light reading. I did not find it particularly believable in a theological sense; I thought that character development was, at times, sketchy; I thought that there were too many incredible plot contrivances (for example, the almost "instant conversion" of the four main characters, the complete absense of any reference to any church other than the "New Hope" church, the instant rise and patent obviousness of the antiChrist figure, etc.). However, I could not put the book down. I have always enjoyed religious fiction, and this was no exception. If any readers of this review are interested in "End Times" fiction which is deeper and more substantial, allow me to recommend Michael O'Brien's "Children of the Last Days" series, all of which I have read and reviewed for Amazon.com. Score 2 1/2 stars, and we'll round up.
Rating: 
Summary: Series is an eye opener
Review: I personally found the whole series uplifting and unique. I am what they call a "lapsed catholic". I had been going through some sort of spiritual crisis when I happened upon Left Behind. It started to make me soul searc about my faith- in Christ and God, not in church or a papal hierarchy. Perhaps some of this is a little far flung but it who really knows what will happen, right? All I know is I don't want to be Left Behind and this series has helped motivate me to find my faith again. You can't look at these books as a new bible or take it literally. It can be read for pleasure and it will definitely give you something to think about. Go for it- read it. Its worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Left Behind
Review: I found this book so poorly written that I threw it in the garbage. I have never done this before. The premise sounded good but ... Don't waste your time or money
Rating:
Summary: Good beginning, but better ending!
Review: I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. This book was recommended to me by many people and I was reluctant to start. I am glad I did not let my own expectations keep me from enjoying this book. I liked the character development. With an unbelievably powerful backdrop the characters react and live realistically. Strong and interesting plot lines made this book more fun to read. This book gained rapid momentum and with it the ante was raised. The last hundred pages are very exciting and inevitably sets up the ground-work for the next book. My eyes were glued to the ending! I am anxious to start the next one and see where it takes me.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: A wonderfully book, written to accomadate all educational levels. IT truly puts the second coming into modern day circumstances. It is written not only for Christians but for non-believers as well. Some people fail to relize however that it is only one interpretation of Revelation and there are many many different theories and interpretations.
Rating:
Summary: Will that be me?
Review: As a christian, many of us do not think about what will happen a Jesus returns to rapture his church, even the ones of us who are "Sunday Christians" consider ourselves safe. This book has opened the idea of what would happen if the rapture were to occur today or tommorrow, would you be ready? If the answer to this question was yes, then get ready for an exciting read only to find yourself praying for the characters, as many of them will remind you of people know and love in your own life. If the answer is no, then prepare for a bumpy ride and to question many "fundamental truths" you hold. As for the "Sunday Christians", the character Bruce Barnes will be like looking in a mirror. Either way the series is sure to bring many questions to mind.
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