Rating: 
Summary: My sentiments, exactly
Review: I'm quoting from the St. Louis Public Library Reivew, which better sums up my views of this novel than I can: ". . . If God were to send a new messiah to vist the churches that serve him today, would they even recognize Him? According to this intriguing parable, "NO!" Especially if that new messiah were to arrive in the guise of a beautiful young woman. The premise for The Last Day is fascinating, and executed to perfection. Jeza, the young messiah, is a spellbinding character, cast in the roll of a modern day Christ--which is no small undertaking for a seasoned writer. But this first-time author pulls it off with great style and wit. Jeza is a complex character with an ancient-world charisma and a mesmerizing biblical eloquence--she speaks as if she stepped right from the pages of the New Testament. Her insights and observations about the state of current society and religion around her are refreshing, bold, and often quite hilarious. In her clash with modern-day Christianity, she stirs up a world-wide madness, dividing the big-time religions into pro and con factions until all hell breaks loose. This is an edge-of-the-seat thriller, told at break-neck pace. And despite the nature of the topic, The Last Day is an optimistic, upbeat novel. The surprise ending is a special treat. Not to be missed." Amen!
Rating:
Summary: My sentiments, exactly
Review: I'm quoting from the St. Louis Public Library Review, which better sums up my views of this novel than I can: "...If God were to send a new messiah to vist the churches that serve him today, would they even recognize Him? According to this intriguing parable, "NO!" Especially if that new messiah were to arrive in the guise of a beautiful young woman. The premise for The Last Day is fascinating, and executed to perfection. Jeza, the young messiah, is a spellbinding character, cast in the roll of a modern day Christ--which is no small undertaking for a seasoned writer. But this first-time author pulls it off with great style and wit. Jeza is a complex character with an ancient-world charisma and a mesmerizing biblical eloquence--she speaks as if she stepped right from the pages of the New Testament. Her insights and observations about the state of current society and religion around her are refreshing, bold, and often quite hilarious. In her clash with modern-day Christianity, she stirs up a world-wide madness, dividing the big-time religions into pro and con factions until all hell breaks loose. This is an edge-of-the-seat thriller, told at break-neck pace. And despite the nature of the topic, The Last Day is an optimistic, upbeat novel. The surprise ending is a special treat. Not to be missed." Amen!
Rating: 
Summary: New Age Preaching and it goes On and On and On...
Review: I had a difficult time dealing with the New Age tone of this book and found the characters obnoxious, boring, juvenile. It seemed at times the author was preaching for hundreds of pages and it was pretty airheaded stuff. The character of Jeza was simply irritating and simplistic. But that pretty much summarizes this author's efforts. As I was reading, all I could think was that this was a wonderful idea that unfortunately fell into the hands of an inept first-time writer. What a mess!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but deeply flawed.
Review: Certainly this is quite a fascinating book, made all the more intriguing by "millennium fever". It is not particularly well written though, containing many irritating cultural inaccuracies and is populated by stereotypical one-dimensional characters. The controversial main theme, reinforced by a heavy dose of "new-age" mumbo-jumbo will no-doubt offend some. In fact the author attacks all and sundry; Jews, Christians (especially Catholics), Muslims, Televangelists, USA politicians, the military, mob mentality etc. The only characters who are treated benignly are the saintly members of the press! Hmmm! Sorry but this just doesn't ring true and results in sections of the book becoming unintentially funny. To summarise, "The Last Day" should probably just about keep your interest until the (rather predictable) end but, once the reader sees beyond the immediate shock value of the plot, there is nothing profound within and I doubt if the story will stick in your mind for long. Certainly, in (approximately) 9 months' time this will have sunk without trace!
Rating:
Summary: What's going on here?
Review: How can one book be causing such a stink? Had to find out for myself. Got a copy of THE LAST DAY and read it in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. I've come to the conclusion that what's causing the hubbub is that this book hits the Radical Religious Right dead center on several sore points: 1)It's about a FEMALE messiah named "Jeza," and the very idea that an author would dare cast a female as a messiah really grates on the patriarchal establishment. 2) This female messiah takes on the organized religions about things like materialism and their overriding emphasis on fund raising, among other hot topics (talk about hitting them where they live!) 3) And this female messiah exposes some embarrassing secrets and hypocrisies about today's organized religions they 'd like to keep quiet. Ultimately, Jeza threatens to abolish all of them in God's name as failed and flawed institutions. She cleans out the temple the way Christ once did--using authentic biblical scripture and powerful truth as her broom. Pretty devastating stuff for the self-righteous Moral Majority. No wonder they're using every trick in the book to keep readers away. Just like the conniving scribes and pharasees of old. One last thought for them: If Christ really were to return, this book is EXACTLY what he'd say to you!
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars!
Review: Thought provoking, irreverant, and some of the best quotes i've ever read.
What if the second coming of Christ was met with scepticism....Is this the second coming or not...the book lets you decide, and never really commits one way or the other....I usually hate that, but this time I loved it.
Do your self a favor and experience this gem of a book.
Rating:
Summary: Cardboard Characters and Ridiculous Plot
Review: Besides the paper thin characters, silly plot, and comic book dialog, this thing is long and poorly written as well. Supposedly, a movie was planned, but someone had the sense to not sink studio money in this opus. One of the real bombs of the last century and a waste of time in this one. There are a lot of excellent books to devote reading time to, so skip this overblown vanity piece.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Great Book
Review: This book is probably one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. The author challeges the Christians with a big time twist and for the Jews, a whole new approach to their way of life. This book is filled with fact and thought inspiring chapters.
Because this book is so good, I feel that to reveal what it is about would not be fair to those who have not read it yet.
This is a book for all religions and all ages to read.
A MUST READ!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A gem in one volume
Review: I'm theologically conservative, but I still expect end-of-the-world fiction to take liberties with theological texts and concepts. In fact, adhering slavishly to the text can only yield something as tiresome and unimaginative as the "Left Behind" series, which I have excoriated elsewhere. That said, "The Last Day" was thoroughly enchanting. Kleier has crafted a gem of a story line, and a host of pretty believable characters. Aside from the "de rigueur" Messiah and media figures (*must* these apocalyptic books all take place within UN or big media circles?) the book melds the secret military enterprises, mad scientists and religious charlatans into a fascinating web of action. The writing and plotting are superb. More than once, Kleier tilted toward a high "cheese" rating (as when he named his Messiah figure Jeza -- get it? Like "Jesus"?) before pulling out again at the very edge of the farcical. And the questions he raised! As, can God work through a technologically-enhanced human being? Can something that looks very much like the Apocalypse occur completely by the effort of human beings? IOW, can the Apocalypse happen (with seeming fulfillment of all the prophetic signs) even if God did not intend it to? Where do the miracles leave off and normality begin? A few nits: I'm annoyed with sticking the Catholic Church in the bad guy role yet again, taking a hit for having supposed secrets buried in the Vatican archives and for hoarding wealth that could benefit humanity. The Vatican treasures are priceless -- got that? -- without price; unsellable; worth-less. Too, must every Messiah figure live and die like Jesus, roaming sadly around the Promised Land with outstretched hands? Still, Jeza's parables were kind of neat. I also am leery of the message that we have all the answers within ourselves, that churches are unnecessary. Been there, done that. Gnostic Christianity died out because no two gnostics could agree for ten minutes on anything. Without major help from the Almighty (and a major diminishment in free will, which seems to occur toward the end) the Millennium portrayed in "The Last Day" would turn out the same. Anyway, "The Last Day" had enough plot surprises and dramatic changes of perspective -- including a virgin birth! -- to keep the pages turning with pleasure. And it didn't take twelve volumes to tell the tale.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you think while it ties you up in knots
Review: A very good book. Haven't had my imagination challenged this much in a long time. Fascinating look at what might (would?) happen if this planet were visited by a presence that just might be divine. I was captivated by the immense job this book must have been, both to conceive and to pull off, as this author had done admirably. Kept me involved right up to the surprising end. As exciting as it is unpredictable, a true page-turner.
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