Rating: 
Summary: Provocative
Review: I found this novel thoroughly enjoyable. It pulled me in from the first page and kept me on the edge of my chair till the last. I also enjoyed the philosophical and theological mind games it plays. The author is obviously having a lot of fun with his topic and the book literally crackles with electricity. I have to say, this is one of the most unusual and original stories I've ever read. Very entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Premise - Fair Novel
Review: There is certainly no way this book could possibly live-up to some of the over-the-top reviews here. The premise is great but the potential is poorly realized, the research soddy, and the writing is indeed terrible. Whoever wrote that the superbly challenging authors Stone and Morrow are "safe" has not read them and has a low standard for comparison of writers who question faith and organized religion. This novel is actually "safe" as it attempts to cling to stereotypes, stock characters, and very old prejudices. The author lacks true insight and belabors his point, repeatedly, too often, and too long. I "got it" well before the long delayed and predictable ending. If this is honestly such a masterpiece to some readers, good advice would be to read more and discover the fine writers who have approached the same ground with the intelligence this author lacks. There is great literature out there but this isn't close.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read, threadbare theology
Review: Having just finished the book and read some of the reviews here, I find myself sitting squarely on the fence. On the one hand, I think "The Last Day" is an excellent, suspenseful, well-written and well-researched thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat till the last page. There are moments in it which even border on great literature, especially the passage in which the pope discovers his fatal error. True, some of the characters are a little stereotypical; and the fact that ALL of the news people in the story seem to be upright, sincere and truth-loving does smell a bit fishy. But this did not seriously diminish my enjoyment of the story. Hey, I didn't expect it to be the Brothers Karamasov.On the other hand I must agree with those who complained about the threadbare quality of the theological thinking presented here. Jeza's message is naif, unoriginal and flawed and would, in real life, hardly keep anyone from switching to another channel. Especially Jeza's "climactic" Good Friday speech embarrassingly reveals that this emperor really has no clothes on. What disturbs me most, though, is the polarized nature of the readers' reactions as witnessed in these reviews. Most people who disagree with Jeza's syncretistic message seem unable to perceive or concede the book's literary merits, while those who have enjoyed the tale seem too intoxicated to appraise its theological and philosophical shortcomings. Real communication about the book seems unattainable. Maybe that gives us a hint why we're not making any progress with other controversial issues in our society?
Rating:
Summary: What a controversial book
Review: What is it with this book that it gets people so worked up? Reading these reviews, the book is either a landmark novel or a horrible abomination! I figured if it can motivate nearly 500 people to write in about it, it was worth a look. And after reading it, here's what I see being as objective as I can: this is a really interesting psychological thriller. It's also gutsy, putting a magnifying glass on some issues that seem to make a lot of people very uncomfortable. While what it has to say may upset some people, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is a very well written, intelligent and thought-provoking book.
Rating:
Summary: Simply excellent
Review: I thought this was a terrific read. Very fast moving, lots of surprises, and very well developed plot. Took it with me on spring break and couldn't put it down. If you're looking for something very different and stimulating, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: Intense Suspense!
Review: Finally, a novel that isn't afraid to expose some of the seamier issues of current theology and religion! This book blew me away. It's brilliantly conceived and written. I actually stood up and paced the floor during parts of it, unable to sit still, the tension was absolutely palpable. Because this story makes some gloves-off criticisms of contemporary organized religions, some reviewers here are attempting to discourage people from reading the book, trying to steer them to "safer" novels and intimating that the book is poorly written (I, and the vast majority of reviewers, certainly disagree). I understand where these people are coming from, but I honestly believe that ignoring the problems in our churches today won't make them go away. It's a fact of life that many church officials put saving dollars ahead of saving souls; it's a fact that many male spiritual leaders still consider women subordinate and demand that women "submit graciously;" that many church hierarchies look the other way when their priests molest children; and that many preachers condemn their fellow man because God created him homosexual. Trying to suppress truth is always a mistake. And the truth is, this is an extraordinary novel that should be widely read and discussed.
Rating: 
Summary: A very, very bad book.
Review: This was the worst book I have ever had the displeasure of reading. Instead of challenging readers' ideas of religion, the author sits back and offers generalized critiques spouted from the mouth of a Messiah. These critiques, heavily pepperred with an enormous amount of Anti-Catholicism, are supposed to make the reader who entertains them feel "deep" and "open-minded." Well, I ain't buyin'. The lackluster theologizing combined with the shoddy plot (a plot buttressed with a prodigious number of asides addressed to those who do not know much about Christianity--e.g. "Jeza is entering the city in the same manner Jesus did one week before he was crucified. (see The Gospels)") made me wish the author was standing in my living room so I could shake my finger at him and chastise him in the way one chastises a bad dog ("Bad author, did you write this, did you?") Unfortunately, I must content myself with this review, which I only pray (to whatever god there may be) will reach his ears. By the way, wouldn't the Messiah go to a place that actually needed help? Jeza doesn't preach her Gospel in the places which would need help the most: South America, Africa, and Asia. She was apparently content to lecture the industrialized West on how best to improve their already incredibly well-off position.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardly Great Literature
Review: An entertaining, dumb thriller - hardly a reference point for the next century.The author wastes time preaching and doesn't exactly write well (yikes! that dialog!) but it's an "interesting" book. A good editor would have probably saved the author from his own excesses. The message isn't subtle (organized religion bad; Catholics really bad!) and gets old after 500 pages of hammering. There are much better informed iconoclasts around (James Morrow) who have done the topic justice and aren't boorish. Those are the writers who will be read in a hundred years while Last Day is forgotten on the big remainder table in the sky.
Rating:
Summary: A wake-up call
Review: This book is one of the most entertaining reads I've come across in many a year. A friend of mine begged me to read it, and I finally relented. Now I'm buying him dinner! This novel packs a wollap. It's loaded with pithy insights into the state of current society without missing a beat as a non-stop suspense thriller. The plot is clever, the author's perspective is mischievous, dead-on accurate, and scathingly witty. If you're the type who thinks organized religion is off limits to criticism, this isn't the book for you. But if you suspect the Big Guy might be getting just a little bit put-out with some of the self-righteous, intolerant religious attitudes out there, you're going to find this book fun and hugely satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: An insightful, well written, philospophical thriller.
Review: This book isn't so much about the Millennium itself as it is about humanity's relationship with God and themselves. It is a 90's/Millennium version of Charles Sailor's beloved "The Second Son", with many great twists and lessons for us all! Too good to miss! PASS IT ON!
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