The Last Day

Rating:
Summary: Bravura Prose!
Review: If there is one book that should be on everyone's reading list this year, this is the one! Kleier's debut novel is a tour de force of prose that pits science against religion with a generous helping of ethics, equality, and reexamination of basic tenets of existence. If you ever wanted to read about what the next millennium might bring this is THE book that will get you to open your eyes! The Last Day will cause you to reevaluate many of your beliefs, maybe even your belief system! Not for the faint of heart or for those who do not wish to be shocked about what their life really means. Incredible Literature at its' best. GET IT!

Rating:
Summary: Fast, thrilling read
Review: I bought this expecting to spend the weekend on it and finished it the first day. This is the fastest 600 page book I've ever read, and one of the most exciting. Exceptionally well done.

Rating:
Summary: Long and Silly
Review: This was not one of the better plotted thrillers I've read and it's terribly wordy. The author's sparse knowledge of the Middle East was distracting and he seemed overwhelmed by his subject at times. The critical approach toward the Church was refreshing, but it went on far too long and lacked research. The weakness of characters was particularly hard to take. I found myself quickly skimming pages, especially during a lot of the silly sermons delivered by Jeza (she is the worst part of the book). The media frenzy surrounding the millenium was interesting, but could have been better written. The ending was a real fizzle and by the time I finally reached it, it was clear that little could be expected. In fact, the target readers of this book appear to be those with small expectations. It does have offbeat humor, but it was where the writer attempted to be profound that the novel was really funny. Some of the dialog was so bad it had to be a joke.

Rating:
Summary: Read this with someone
Review: I've never read a book side-by-side with anyone before, but I couldn't get my wife off of this one once she started it, so we read it together. It was a hoot! It probably took us 5 times as long becuase we kept stopping to talk about things. There is certainly food for thought in every page of the story, literally. We raced through the suspenseful parts and made bets with each other about what was going to happen to who, and when. I'll admit, we were both wrong aboutthe outcome of the story, but that just made it all themore surprising! This is a great book and if you've got someone to read it with, try it. Besides, it takes two to figure it all out!

Rating:
Summary: A thrilling experience
Review: When I was a child growing up in the 70's, I was never allowed to question my faith. My family was very strict, I attended Sunday school every week and learned my Bible forwards and backwards. Whenever I bumped up against tenets that bothered me (like the way women are often depicted in the Bible as second-class citizens), I was always made to feel stupid, or like I was some sort of obstructionist. Many years have passed and I more or less put all those feelings aside, but reading this excellent novel brought them rushing back to the surface once again. I love this book. I love the way it speaks to me personally about all those deeply rooted, very sensitive feelings I have. There is a great, calming wisdom in this novel. It tells us that religion isn't a bad thing, but that much of what the organized religions of the world have done to the human spirit is. To supress a person's pure, sincere and honest spiritual beliefs is wrong. And to debate human interpritations of scripture is healthy. People should not be slapped down for questioning things, searching for truth and enlightenment beyond the opinions of so-called "religious leaders." No man knows the Mind of God. We may think we know, but that is arrogance and the sure prelude to a fall. This is an inspired novel for those with a mind open and honest enough to understand it. It's not simply a wonderful story of suspense and the supernatural, it's a wake-up call for all the religious know-it-alls out there who want everyone to goose-step to their beat. I have never read a more meaningful or thought provoking story. I'm telling everyone I know about this book. It has rejuvenated my soul.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent philosophical thriller
Review: This novel is likely to shock and offend some readers, but if you like your coffee strong, this is loaded with caffeine! Unpredictable, fast-paced and action packed, this also has a very surprising and satisfying ending with a powerful message. A surprisingly uplifting and provocative message. One of the best novels I've read in a long, long time.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic story!
Review: A great blend of science fiction, current events, psychology, philosophy, theology and hair-raising horror, this is one of the most interesting reads I've come across in a long time. The author weaves a complex, clever tale that challenges a lot of philosophical positions many of us simply take for granted. But in the context of this story, under this refreshingly original, supernatural magnifying glass, you will see things in a very new and sometimes disturbing light. I like books that not only pose questions, but offer solutions, and this one does. It's a solution a lot of people won't like, to be sure, but it WILL make you think.

Rating:
Summary: bleh
Review: I find it puzzling that this book generates so much passion because there's so little here. It's poorly researched, poorly written, the plot is tiresome, and the whole thing is inexpressibly dreary. Oh, and did I mention tiresome? If you're curious, get it at the library, but don't waste your money!

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting
Review: This novel had a strange effect on me. It was more than the suspense thriller I was expecting, it also managed to blend some intriguing philosophy into the mix. The book makes an intelligent argument against religious absolutism: Whether you listen to your church elders, a bible school magna cum laude, or the pope himself, you will always get a different take on what is "God's Will." Move out the the Christian realm into Judaism, Islamism, or Buhddism, and the opinions get ever broader. Each has a different, if intelligent, perspective on what God wants from us. Confusing, to say the least. THE LAST DAY offers one of the most appealing and logical answers to that dilemma I've ever come across. It's very satisfying to finish a book that makes you feel as if you've solved a problem that's bugged you for years. That's how I feel right now. This book gave me great peace of heart.

Rating:
Summary: Very thought provoking and moving
Review: I had to stop myself several times in reading this unusual story to re-convince myself it wasn't really true. I found myself so caught up in the characters and the story that I could not put it down. There are the most amazing passages here. The 'parables' (particularly the Parable of the Illicit Child, p. 309 of the paperback) gave me gooseflesh. They are so very believable. Because of the realism, this is a frightening story until the very end, when the truth is finally revealed. And then the story concludes with an unexpectedly refreshing and surprising resolution that I found quite satisfying. I've never read a book anything like this and can't help touting its merits to anyone who will listen. If you enjoy a wonderful suspense that delves into the very essence of spirituality, this is the book for you.