The Last Day

Rating:
Summary: Great Idea
Review: The idea that the messiah might return in the form of a woman is a fascinating one. As I was finishing this novel last night, I couldn't help thinking that the idea was squandered in a dumb thriller. A more capable writer could have brought such a character to life, explored a myriad of possibilities. Instead, heres a female messiah al a Gloria Allred, more a obnoxious fundamentalist who just finished the Classics Illustrated version of St. John than a christ. This is got to be the most ridiculous dialog I've read in years and certainly the worst researched thriller around. What a waste of a good idea.

Rating:
Summary: Someone doesn't know his Bible
Review: I must respectfully take issue with those reviewers who feel this novel errs in its biblical foundations. As a tenured divinity college professor, I can attest that the biblical references cited are simpatico with Judeo-Christian scripture. Further, I find nothing here to offend even orthodox Jewry. Bear in mind, the book is not religious in genre, it's a secular, mainstream novel, and an exceptionally well written and thoughtful book that too many people are getting overly upset about. THE LAST DAY is a wonderfully engaging and challenging suspense thriller. Why not simply let people read it and enjoy it? I'm including it in my curriculum.

Rating:
Summary: Let's set the record straight. . .
Review: Anybody who tells you this book is trivial, boring, anti-religious or hateful is either blind, dishonest, or desperately hoping to discourage you from reading it. THE LAST DAY is top-drawer entertainment and a well-crafted suspense thriller that packs a tremendous wallop in its message. I have one irrefutable point to make to the "know it alls" who are trying to censor this book and/or claiming it isn't scripturally justifiable: NOBODY knows how a genuine Messiah would react to the current state of the world's organized religions. Every day you read about abuses of ecclesiastical power--cover ups of priestly pedophilia; hypocritical materialism; misappropriation of congregational funds; hidden agendas against women, races and sexual persuasions; and let's not forget CENSORSHIP. At last, we have a book that speculates on how God might righteously judge His churches the way His churches have been self-righteously judging their flocks all these years. It rings damn true. Fortunately for some of the world's organized religions, this is merely fiction. Or is it?

Rating:
Summary: Secrets Revealed???
Review: I preferred The First Immortal to this book. For some reason this author has it in for the Catholics and spends most of his time bashing them. The big secret he reveals is the Vatican Bank scandal, news to those who missed the headlines some years ago and didn't see the last Godfather film. The messiah hates Catholics in this novel so much that she sets the ecumenical cause back 1000 years. Let's hope the actual messiah will be more tolerant and appreciate the well-meaning faith of millions, as fragile and misguided as it is at times. And be less apt to break things!

Rating:
Summary: Are we all reading the same book?
Review: I think some of the reviewers here need to go back and read the novel more carefully. The Messiah of this story is one of the most fascinating, credible and compelling characters I've ever encountered in fiction. Unlikeable? Only if her straightforward honesty and unvarnished truths hit too uncomfortably close to the mark! Hateful? Her compassion for children, the aged, women, the ill, the starving, the unloved and the downtrodden is heartwrentching. Condemning of religion? This messiah shows an impartial respect for all faiths--just not some of their hypocritical leaders! Like Christ, against all odds, this Messiah stands up to the self-important "High Priests" who obstruct God's Will. Biblically ignorant? I've checked most of the scriptural references in the novel, and so far, they're 100% accurate--and brilliant in how they're used to skewer the self-righteous phonies in the book. This is a poignant tale, well told. Why do I get the feeling some people don't want this book to be read?

Rating:
Summary: Less than Expected
Review: Not much to this and what there is is much less than one might expect. A terrific premise wears thin after 400 pages and one is left asking "what is the point?" Maybe my expectations were too high, but this novel is just second-rate horror/thriller stuff that fails miserably as entertainment or mainstream fiction. Wait for the tv movie it seems to be a rough draft for. Maybe a skilled screenwriter can do something with it if the original author isn't involved.

Rating:
Summary: Millenial Junk Food
Review: The end of the millenium is bound to attract the attention of many writers and there is an opportunity for a great book. This is not that book. The story here is pretty thin and its background is poorly researched. The author seems to have little understanding of his subject and his interpretation of church history, the bible, and Israeli politics is laughable. Some of the errors could have been caught by a good editor, which this novel needed badly. The result is a ponderous, silly, and superficial book that leaves the reader craving something more substantial.

Rating:
Summary: The Church Finaly Gets Its Due
Review: I'm delighted this book has shown the elitist clergy for what it is. If anything, the book is too easy on the pope, who is actually shown as a man of faith. That is one mistake, but otherwise Kleier is not afraid to scream "frauds!" on every page. Jeza, the new messiah in the book is a fresh take on the old religion, crying out for women to throw off their chains and close the churches. The old faith is just that - old. The books Jeza offers a Newer New Testament with answers for today (including the end of sacraments and woman's right to choose. Right on! This is the most spiritual and deep book I've read since King's The Stand. An important book that every so-called religious person should read to see their phonyness laid bare. I loved it!

Rating:
Summary: Time Killer
Review: I read this on a 4 hour plane trip and it helped pass the time. As the book centers on a clone, it is interesting that the book itself is a bit of a clone: a little "Frankenstein", "Contact", and "Passover Plot", with Martin Luther thrown in. This novel tries hard to be more than it is, but never gets beyond being an average and derivative thriller. If a reader has time to kill, it will serve that purpose. Otherwise, there are far superior and thougtful thrillers to spend one's time on.

Rating:
Summary: Messiah for TODAY
Review: There has existed a literary void concerning just what the forthcoming millenial festivities may have to offer the spiritually derelect like myself. Well, here's the book for which I've searched. For the reader seeking to be well-versed in the latest of New Age philosophy and politically correct aphorisms, this devinely inspired author presents Jeza, the female Christ and feminist warrior. She offers daily affirmations to religiously oppressed and acts as guide to the most recent empowering spiritual trends. For those of us with short attention spans, Jeza does magic and orders special effects. What more could the spiritually starved want? If this is not the most important, profound, deep, and enlightening book of the millenium, I would like to know what is and if it's available at the same discount as this life-changing volume?