Rating: 
Summary: Fair but Unfair
Review: This was a fair novel for what it is, but the anti-catholic elements were biased by ignorance and 1890's prejudice. As a former Catholic, I found that part of the book needless and uncalled for. The concept of a female messiah had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, the author comes up with an unbiblical bozo in Jeza, as well as a female stereotype.Parts of the story were fun, but I found the author's attitude too negative to really enjoy. This writer may consider himself a humanitarian, yet it is as well-disguised here as his reputed talent. At least 200 pages of the book are devoted to his unresolved bitterness toward the church, and that wore me down. Many of us are displeased with the church - Thankfully, all don't write boring diatribes and stick them as silly sermons in overwrought thrillers.
Rating: 
Summary: Great story, great message
Review: The fuddy-duddy fundamentalists aren't going to like it one bit, but this novel kicks them squarely in their sanctimonious, uptight, wrinkled asses. A hugely entertaining story with a hugely refreshing look at what's wrong with the spiritual health of today's society. From the cover of this book, you'd think it a conventional mystery/thriller sort of thing. While it has that as the backbone of the plot, that's hardly the thrust of the story. As it weaves its tale, Last Day looks at the world through the eyes of a sensitive, soul-searching journalist. He's an agnostic who is attracted to the positive elements of faith, but repelled by the self-serving, self-righteousness he sees in the big-establishment religions. Into his life comes this miraculous young woman who presents him with the ultimate conundrum: if there is a God, what does He want from us? Her answers aren't at all what you'd expect! The Religious Right side of Christian culture desperately needs to read this novel. The world needs to read this novel. With Catholic fighting Protestant, Muslim fighting Christian, and Arab fighting Jew, we could all do with a little more "Christian charity" (is that an oxymoron?). This novel points a huge middle finger at what's wrong with organized religion, and delivers a very intriguing, intelligent and satisfying solution. Hands down, my favorite read in ages.
Rating: 
Summary: This is the book I wanted to write ...
Review: ... when I was a 15 year old acolyte.I won't go into details, because I can see there are enough reviews here to fill everyone in on the plot. The first third of the book I found, not tiresome really, but let's say forgettable. I really didn't get into this book until then. But things picked up, and as it happens, I really enjoyed most of the rest of the book. That was until I was nearly done. I'll grant that a happy ending sells better than disaster, but I bought a book titled "The Last Day". So, what happened to the last day? I'll even allow that the title may have referred to a different Last Day, perhaps the last day of Jeza's life or the last day of war, conflict and suffering on earth. But even though I'm no expert on Eschatology, last I heard, Armageddon wasn't an event that could be averted. To put it plainly, I fully expected to read about THE Last Day, and it just never came about. What a sore disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: A remarkable story
Review: A very moving, effective novel about the collision of powerful theologies and egos in the shadow of a looming Judgment Day. Grippingly suspenseful and unpredictable to the very last page. NOTE: this novel may upset some conservatives, but it will delight anyone who, as the author so aptly puts it, "has ever had to confront the peculiar physics of dogma, piety and self-righteousness." Articulate, intelligent, and persuasive.
Rating:
Summary: Dreary
Review: An awful dreary, long, wordy book that depressed me when I wasn't dozing off. The author pushes a real anti-Catholic agenda that seemed creepy and unfair. I'm not into political correctness, nor am I Catholic, but whoever wrote this is a bigot, and I wouldn't recommend it for that reason alone. The story is standard millenial stuff, only not done well. Some of the writing was so bad it was distracting and none of the people in the story were credible. At times the plot made no sense at all and the messiah (she) made my skin crawl. Maybe the author would become a follower of this clueless boob, but I doubt any crowds would gather for her. I've heard there was a tv movie going to be made, but I guess the producers finally read the book. Proof that you can't judge a book by the blurb on the cover. Mystery Science Theatre could have had a fiesta with this one!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful author and humanitarian
Review: I loved this book so much. It is truly a special, special piece of fiction--well beyond the "suspense thriller" genre in which it's been placed. I read an interview with this author at Writerswrite website that just blew me away. The man is extraordinarily intelligent and funny, and genuinely concerned about the human condition, which, of course, is reflected so strongly in his novel. The interview gave me such an insight into why and how he wrote this amazing book. I encourage everyone to read The Last Day--it's the product of a very sensitive and brilliant mind with the power and the insight to change the world into a far better and more tolerant place.
Rating: 
Summary: Unsophisticated Primitiveness (the Bad kind)
Review: With heady premise in hand, this author bulls into his story with the prose style of a Madison Avenue ad man. Subtlety is not his forte. An editor's blue pencil was badly needed when this monumental manuscript was presented - the writing is primitive much too often. Even in this genre, the plot is farcical (which would be fine if the author were not so deadly serious). Too many of the ingredients in this turgid potboiler have been lifted from other novels where they worked well. The effect is jarring and results in deja vu predictability. Stronger characters, people who are more than mere mouth pieces for delivery of speeches and sermons, were sorely needed. The book wallows in self-righteous unctuousness that leaves one praying not to be trapped next to this author on a long plane flight.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: THEY DON'T COME ANY MORE EXCITING OR SUSPENSEFUL. IT HAD ME GUESSING ALL THE WAY TO ABOUT PAGE 540 WHERE I THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT. I WAS WRONG. I'M STILL NOT SURE I GET EVERYTHING THE AUTHOR HAS HIDDEN IN THIS MIND BENDER. IT MAY TAKE ANOTHER READ OR TWO TO CATCH IT ALL, BUT IT'S SURE FUN FINDING ALL THE LITTLE HIDDEN JOKES AND TRICKS, LIKE THE ONE ON PAGE 414. GREAT FOOD FOR THOUGHT, TOO. CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS ONE. GET IT, READ IT, THINK ABOUT IT.
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: Thrillerless
Review: An amateur thriller that is almost endless and seems ultimately pointless. The only thing this book challenges is the reader's endurance when confronted with a mediocre epic and an author with delusions that he has something important to say. The story, suspense, and plot unravel over the course of 600 pages of intellectual desolation. Definitely skip this one.
|
