The Last Day

Rating:
Summary: Modern day epic
Review: This is a classic tale about societal paranoia and the powerful religious forces competing for the minds of the confused masses. A very believable and terrifyingly depicted story that grips you by the short hairs and doesn't let go till the final page. Thoroughly engaging and masterfully written. Four stars.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a great book
Review: I'm not one to write in about things like this, but after reading some of these reviews here, I had no choice. I can't believe that people who call themselves Christians would practice such deceptions in trying to discredit this book. I couldn't miss the irony in the fact that they're behaving exactly like the religious hypocrites and mind-control demagogs portrayed in the novel! These self-righteous do-gooders are attempting to save us from the "evil words" of a book written to call our attention to this very danger! The Last Day is a magnificent story told with amazing insight, clarity and honesty. It should be read by all who support the fight against dogmatic religious tyranny.

Rating:
Summary: A hot book
Review: The Chicago Tribune ran a rave review on The Last Day saying, "The pace is furious and the plotting handled with style and wit. The only downside is we may have to wait another thousand years for a sequel!" They're absolutely correct. I got the book the same day and read it (all 484 scorching pages)in one sitting. This is genuinely one of the finest suspense thrillers ever. I've bought extra copies and I'm sending one each to my entire family. A truly incredible novel.

Rating:
Summary: A message that deserves to be heard!
Review: I can't say enough about this book. I loved it! It's unlike anthing I've ever read. A fascinating mystery that is seductive, frightening, amusing, surprising, and even educational. It's also addictive. Once you begin it, you simply can't put it down. Great entertainment!

Rating:
Summary: True Epic
Review: This book ranks with Clive Barker, Salinger, and William Shatner! Its an epic - took me two weeks to read- but worth it. The only book better is Area 51 but this figures in the Bible stuff better. I thought the pope would have a fit when he knew he read the date wrong and 2001 is right. Oops! Coronary time. Jeza is a great figure in english literature, like the Terminator or Kirk. This is the best book I read in a year. Epic and classic writting on a big scale with a lot of important stuff in it!

Rating:
Summary: Outline for the TV show
Review: Reads more like a rough outline for the tv show it's destined to be than novel. One can imagine this "concept" being pitched at a studio. Once the idea was sold, a novelization is patched together for "prestige", and the publicity boys start cranking up the buzz (cooked-up controversy is good). I think the boat was missed here because the no-talent hack hired to manufacture this literary mess wrote an overblown, long, boring tome that lacks imagination and excitement. Wait for the tv show- it will be free and you can do ironing while it's on. Much more intellectual stimulation and less of a waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Fun but...
Review: I really found it to be hilarious at times and its humor is its strong point. However, when things get serious the book comes to a grinding halt. Too often the author gets carried away with his personal crusades and neglects to tell a story. The lectures begin to drag and about 200 pages in the middle were interminable. When little Jeza, charmless as she is, lectures the pope and breaks St. Peter's altar, the book almost lost me. Still, it does have some funny moments and provoking ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Holy smoke!
Review: This is one of the most amazing pieces of fiction I've ever come across. Totally unique, astonishingly credible and realistic -- despite the most challenging subject matter imaginable. This author has achieved the impossible. He's created a worthy sequel to the New Testament in the guise of a brilliant suspense thriller. Done with humor, panache, style, wit, satire, insight and courage. I'm not surprised the "Religious Right" are bashing this book so hard.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie Idea
Review: In the hands of a professional screenwriter, the premise of this novel could be beautifully realized. Just keep the original author out of the creative process. The book is poorly written and aspects of the plot are silly. The basic idea has wonderful potential if the Jeza character is improved and made less of a freak. I'm interested in seeing the final result after a good writer salvages an excellent concept from this fiasco of a novel.

Rating:
Summary: Lenten Sacrifice
Review: Having finally finished Mr. Kleier's turgid tome, I will now offer up the pain I endured reading it and hours lost trudging to it's inane conclusion as part of my Lenten sacrifice. I don't think I have before encountered such misleading positive reviews. As a book editor, I encounter bad writing often. This, however, sets a new low for publishing. It is certainly in my top ten worst books of the past five years. I've read better dialogue in the bubbles above Superman's head. The plot idea gets a 3; plot execution (now that's appropriate) a -10. Jeza save book editors from "authors" who are as pretentious as they are talentless.