The Last Day

Rating:
Summary: Only my Opinion
Review: At the risk of incurring the wrath of the passionate admirers of this novel, I would like to say that I did not enjoy reading _The Last Day_ very much. I am slightly bemused by the vehemence with which an ordinary thriller is defended here and the strain of paranoia characterizing some of the favorable reviews. Surely we all should strive for a more open-minded tolerance of one another's opinion concerning a mere novel. Any criticism I have as to the quality of the author's quality of writing or intended message would only repeat the essence of what has already been stated in many of the negative reviews on this page. But I believe each of us should feel free to express our ideas without the personal condemnation and bizarre recriminations of any angst ridden faction with persecution delusions. It is, after all, only a novel.

Rating:
Summary: I don't answer to "little missy"
Review: Okay. It's time to set the record straight. All of you people who think that the negative reviews are coming from one person: It's time to face reality. There is more than one person in this world who dislikes this book. The book was terribly written. I highly agree with the person who wrote "all sizzle and no steak." And I am appalled to read that a "book critic for a Midwestern newspaper" would suggest that amazon.com "block" the people who have a less than glowing review. If you look at all of the other pages here, there are people who don't like popular books, and THEY aren't getting accused of being stupid and/or part of a cult. I, for one, did not like The Horse Whisperer or The Book of Ruth, or even the Street Lawyer. But no one told me I was stupid because I didn't like them! To suggest that someone who doesn't like the book is "unintelligent" is unfair. I am a well-educated professional in the advertising industry with a background in English Literature. And it ain't literature. I also think it is important for people to remember that the Apotheosis is not REAL...it's something the author made up and no one should follow it like it IS the Bible. Furthermore, I applaud amazon.com for allowing everyone to voice their opinions. I encourage everyone to notice how those that like the book proceed to bash those of us that didn't like it, by saying that we are uneducated and probably part of this big "conspiracy" (much like the one where the government tracks our movements through the toll booths) by the religious right, of which I am not a part. I am far from it. So I guess maybe it's me and this "guy from the religious right." Instead of bashing the people who don't like the book, stick to showing why you personally like the book. And as for proving why the book is bad, there isn't room on this site for me to "quote" all the poorly written dialogue. I po! int to the author's reference to Jeza as "the little prophetess" as enough of an indicator of the author's attitude toward women, and I also recount how upset Cissy was at Hunter because he was busy sleeping with other beautiful, but flat, women. Is that the way all women react when they can't have their way? Spoiled brats? It must be. Well, all I can say is that as a professional woman, I don't want to be called "the little" anything. The author can't conceal any of his patriarchical attitudes with the Apotheosis passage where he says women are equal to men. It's written throughout the rest of the book, less obviously, but still painfully there. Finally, I would like to say that I appreciate the fact that there can be people who liked this book. It's a valid opinion. So is my DISLIKE for the book. So enough of the right-wing, uneducated stuff. It serves no purpose here.

Rating:
Summary: Note
Review: Our university reading group here in Berkeley (32 members and a good cross section of students) read Last Day in December, 1997. It was chosen in January of this year as the most wretched fiction we read in '97. Particularly cited for recognition were dialogue, character stereotypes, and overall writing. Except for 7 people who didn't finish the book, the vote was unanimous. Best book was Underworld.

Rating:
Summary: Count me in.
Review: I read it and I agree with the more discriminating readers, this is a truly extraordinary book. There's no question that it poses a threat to the established religious order, and it's no wonder there isn't more than one fanatic on a "mission from God" to save us all from this novel. More power to those who have the perspicacity to grasp this powerful message. Spread the word. The religious right and their mental mind-control tactics will never win out over freedom and intelligence!

Rating:
Summary: Not that Bad
Review: The writing is primitive but its not that bad for what it is. I had to admire how the writer steamrolled through his material while making it apparent his ignorance of the subject matter. More attention could have been given the characters and there is no reason other than ego that it had to be over four hundred pages long. It all gets kind of repeatitive and seems padded. Still, I thought the way the media was shown and the churches were humiliated was good. Not exciting but made me think about things.

Rating:
Summary: Broken Promise
Review: At first this debut thriller showed promise. Unfortunately, that promise isn't sustained as it reveals itself as a quite mediocre novel whose easy swipes at Catholicism deteriorate into boilerplate, sophmoric moralizing of the most smug kind. The author's self-indulgence is limitless as he berates one with his personal prejudices concerning the imagined evils of the Vatican. The book founders on its one-dimensional treatment of important issues, ones that seem beyond the intellectual scope of the writer. What might have been a fairly good story ends as an excuse for airing the rather vicious views of a religious bigot.

Rating:
Summary: Pro Woman
Review: Some of these reviews are full of it. Among other wonderful things, this book is a strong, positive statement for women, and for religious empowerment for women. For example, on page 402, a new law is given to Man: "I say unto you, sons of Adam, here and obey the Will of God: Thou shalt honor woman as thy equal, and thou shall cherish her in unity with thy fellow man (Apotheosis 25:15)." And then it goes on to say, "Yet I admonish you, woman, do not harbor in your heart bitterness nor resentment toward your counterpart. For these are empty passions that will divide you futher. But rather, accept your partner and understand the forces of the ages within him, as he must strive to understand you. Together, work toward resolution and harmony whereby you and all your children may ascend toward godliness and the exaltation." Anti-women? Poorly written trash? I don't think so. Religious right, take a hike!

Rating:
Summary: Not Even Good Airplane Reading
Review: I don't really care about the religious overtones in this book as other readers did. I just thought it was bad. I found this book to be extremely poorly written. The dialogue was phony, the situations were contrived and there was absolutely no character development. It's easy to tell that the author is a Marketing professional. This book was all sizzle and no steak. A novel as a Jinggle writer would write it. Not even good airplane reading.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Story
Review: A good story, but I agree you have to be willing to overlook some putrid writing. Kind of a "Weekly World News" plot with silly characters. However, an interesting thriller at times. I enjoyed James Halperin's new book much, much more and it's a literary gem in comparison though.

Rating:
Summary: Sensational
Review: I don't care what anyone else says, any book that can make a grown man both laugh and cry is a hell of a read. I really enjoyed it and hope to see many more books from this author.