Ok, I initially picked this book up because it sounded like an intriguing plotline (a little like Stephen King's The Stand mixed with his novella "The Langoliers"). What I didn't expect was a thinly disguised piece of propaganda aimed to make readers feel horrible about themselves and basically live in fear for the rest of their lives. But enough of how I disagree with the ideas behind the book. As for the book itself, I can find practically no reason to continue beyond the first chapter. The characters are completely undeveloped and any interesting facets of anyone's personality is lost whenever he or she becomes "saved." I found myself becoming upset whenever one of the characters became "saved" because that meant he or she would no longer be an interesting individual and now would basically be interchangeable with any other of the "saved" characters. Don't get me wrong, I have a few friends that are part of this lifestyle and they are wonderful people who are not preachy or obnoxious in the least, but I would not last a minute with any of these characters - they are too simplistic and annoying to be believed. There's no surprises, no reversals, and everything that happens is completely predictable. This book is so elitist as to be down right insulting to anyone who doesn't subscribe to this particular ethos. I honestly don't understand who is buying all these copies. As for continuing with the series, you've GOT to be kidding. I'm an openminded person and I have no problem exploring lifestyles different from my own, but this book exists solely to make people feel bad about their choices, and to bully them into changing their lives through fear. I cannot support or recommend that.

Without giving away where I am in MY personal relationship with Christ... :-)

I offer the following observations: First of all, after reading so much fiction in which the forces of evil are given a staring roll (Stephen King, et. al.) it is refreshing to read a novel where a greater good exists and is given the focus. I'm not sure I understand the people who complain that they can't buy the premise of the whole book. We never have that problem with horror novels do we?

Secondly, the authors, admirably, don't succumb to the temptation of using sex or profanity to make the story more appealing to the average reader. I applaud them for this. I also applaud them for striving to keep the "story" true to their interpretation of scripture. Again, you might not agree with their vision of the rapture and the end-times, but if you let that get in your way, then you've missed the point.

That said, the authors don't have the writing skill to draw the average reader (meaning someone who didn't know this was a "Christian novel") in without either boring them or offending them with some pretty hard core scripture interpretation presented as part of the story. Catholics beware. Jews beware. Muslims and Hindus beware. There is a high risk that you will be offended, especially if you continue to read the series. On the other hand, you might come away with a better understanding of where fundamentalist Christians are coming from.

The authors had a wonderful idea and even have a great outline of a story. Unfortunately they lack the skill to make it work on anything more than an elementary level. There are far too many holes in their writing. For some reason, I keep comparing "Left Behind" with Stephen King's "The Stand" which also deals with a battle between good and evil and the decimation of the human race. King's writing left me with mental images of the destruction and horror those "left behind" had to face. I wasn't left asking myself, "Mmmm, I wonder how they cleaned up all the bodies and wreckage from the car wrecks and plane crashes the "Left Behind" authors merely allude to. I also cared about Stephen King's characters. The characters in "Left Behind" are incredibly one dimensional and stereotypical. At the very least, I wanted to know more of the thought process each went through prior to his or her conversion.

There was also a whole lot of suspense and believable conflict between people in King's book. I can't say that about "Left Behind." It's very predictable, and oftentimes quite implausible: What journalist, let alone one with Buck's reputation, would ever bring a woman he's known for two days into a meeting with a world leader just to introduce her?

The folks who are writing the glowing reviews for "Left Behind" are no doubt born-again believers. But they are the choir! The authors could have reached the masses!

For many many reasons I wish the authors were better writers.

This is the book that set off a world-wide obsession with the Left Behind series. This is the book that started the audio drama series, the kids' series, the movies, the board games, the website. This is the book whose following sequels hit and continue to hit the top of the New York fiction bestseller list.

So what's the big deal about Left Behind? While it differs from many denominational theologies and ideologies, even those who disagree on the Second Coming of Christ still enjoy reading these books. Why? Because it chronicles the fictional yet realistic events following the Rapture of Christ's people from the earth.

Here's the plot for this first book: Rayford Steele is an commercial airline pilot whose life is going okay. So okay, in fact, that he's pondering a potential deepening of his relationship with one of his online flight attendants, Hattie Durham. This, despite his happy marriage to his beautiful wife Irene, and their two kids, Chloe and Ray Jr. Meantime, famed journalist Cameron ("Buck") Williams is on Rayford's plane. Williams gained fame and renown by covering a massive air assault in Israel, one in which all of the enemy forces attacking were killed by a strange firestorm, and yet no casualties resulted on the Israeli's side -an event predicted by the Bible.

Both of their worlds - and the real world - are shaken as, in the blink of an eye, millions of people disappear, simply vanish out of their clothes, and out of this world. Rayford lands his plane safely, despite chaos on the ground, and rushes to his home. He finds that his suspicions are confirmed: his wife and younger child Ray Jr. have disappeared with the rest. Rayford searches for answers at the church that he had never before enjoyed attending with his wife. He finds the assistant pastor Bruce Barnes, who has been left behind, at the church, watching a video recorded by the church's pastor, describing THE VERY EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

The video tells of the disappearances predicted in the Bible, the path to salvation, and foretells of the events to come, according to the Bible. Rayford, his daughter Chloe, Bruce, and a small congregation of others searching for answers find their salvation in Jesus Christ.

Meantime, Buck Williams searches for answers too, as he watches a charismatic Romanian leader rise quickly to the head of the United Nations. He learns from Bruce Barnes' teaching that this leader is predicted in the Bible, and in the video tape. Buck must discover the truth for himself, before it is too late.

BAD:

I enjoy this series a lot, but for those whose theology doesn't line up, it's not an extremely critical aspect of the Christian life as to what manner Christ will return in. The authors, Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye rely on the Bible for their opinions, and the Bible makes it clear that Christ's return is imminent, and that it will occur "in the twinkling of an eye". Even if you don't agree with the pre-tribulation Rapture of Christ's church, this series is still quite enjoyable. Compared to some books I've read, this particular one isn't very violent, but for picky readers, you should know that there are some violent things that take place in the book: a double-murder described in rather gory detail, as well as the chaos and violence that occurs following the disappearances. (Drivers who disappear cannot stop their cars from plowing into houses, people, cars; people cooking on a stove that disappear leave burnings stoves behind them; even other airline pilots who disappear leave their passengers pilotless, to crash and burn)

GOOD:

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, that's the main message of this book. Those who were raptured were taken by God to be spared his great wrath and judgment. Many come to repentance, and faith in Him after the disappearances, and follow His leading thereafter. This book is very enjoyable to read, and it's quite the craze nowadays too.

THOUGHTS:
Jenkins' writing style isn't the best you can find, to be honest. It's the plot that keeps you enthralled. In fact, some of his writing skills seem to deteriorate in later books of this series. Still, the book is a good read, and you should read it some time. But be prepared to buy a boxed set, or perhaps the rest of the series, because you'll want to know what happens next, and there's 12 books in the series! Also check out the Left Behind movies, and the dramatic audio editions.

Out of the first five books in the Left Behind series, APOLLYON is the second worst of those five (LEFT BEHIND, TRIBULATION FORCE, NICOLAE, and SOUL HARVEST). After having got back on track with NICOLAE and SOUL HARVEST, LaHaye and Jenkins have gone back to the terrible writing and bad storytelling that was dominant in TRIBULATION FORCE. APOLLYON should have been a great book, after all it takes its title from one of the Four Riders of the Apocalypse who in the book happens to also be in charge of an army of demon locusts. However, the book doesn't focus on that and its really nothing more than an afterword. The book does focus on the gathering of the witnesses, but even that crucial event in the series isn't as detailed and involved as it should have been. Besides that, the novel spends a bunch of time jumping back and forth between characters and killing off one of the most exciting and interesting members of the Tribulation Force (am I the only one out there who thinks the series would have been a lot better if Raymond died?). So basically, other than the meeting of the witnesses, the demon locusts, and a little excitement inbetween the meeting and the locust, nothing happens. It's rather disappointing and a bit of a let down. After all, there's only so much Christian pulp fiction that one can read before it starts to fall apart.

For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.

I always thought that the last book in the Bible, Revelation, was boring. That was before I read the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. The books in this series are my favorite of all time! For one thing, they are action packed! I love the part where the satanic anti-Christ, Nicholae, calls everyone who's anyone to a meeting and kills the only two above him! Oh, it gets better! He then manipulates everyone in the room into believing that they killed themselves! Among those in the room was Cameron "Buck" Williams. He was a newly saved Christian, and God protected him from brainwashing. Also, at the beginning of the series, millions disappear all in one instant! For those of you who don't know, this was predicted just over 2 thousand years ago! All the Christians disappear off the face of the earth, leaving the confusion and wreckage on Earth. Rayford Steele was piloting a Pan-Com 747 at the time. After the emergency landing, he drove home, already knowing what he'd find. His wife had told him about this, and he hadn't believed. He knew he and his daughter had been left behind. They eventually went to Hope Village Church and got saved. They ended up joining the "Tribulation Force", or the inner core of the church, along with Bruce Barnes, a pastor who got left behind because he thought he could get to heaven by doing good deeds, Buck, and Amanda. They survived everything together. This is where romance comes in. That's the next reason I love these books. Buck and Chloe have a cute little love story involving a cookie. Ray and Amanda fall in love, too. They have a double wedding. Amanda was killed just before Ray heard she could have been a spy for Nicholae. He was crushed. He just wouldn't accept she had lied to him. Another reason I love these books is they make me think. I mean, what if I was left behind? I mean I know I won't be but still. You see, when you read these books, the prophecies of Revelation aren't boring at all.

I've long been enamored with apocalyptic literature; something about a world slowly dying simply captivates my interest. So I was excited to hear of the Left Behind series.

The problem, however, is that the series gradually turns into more of an evangelizing text than a quality novel. Long, boring religious asides take up pages at a time while major apocalyptic events are expressed in merely a few paragraphs. Three trumpet judgements seemed to breeze through in mere pages.

While I enjoyed the first three books of the series, Soul Harvest seems to be sending it down a slippery slope, degenerating into a long religious tract. At the moment, I am reading Apollyon (book #5), and find it just as slow paced. However, I continue to read in hopes that it will pick up.

The comparisons between end-times novels which have been made by other reviewers is probably useful, so here's my take on the matter.

Last Day makes no attempt at all to adhere to scriptural prophecy. It is, in fact, less accurate scripturally than The Omen movies or End of Days. If you want a fun read and don't care whether the story has any connection to scripture, it's okay.

Left Behind is an action adventure written primarily for Christians with a huge cross-over into the secular market. It sticks very closely to scripture and to prophecy of the time during the Tribulation. There is never any doubt of the authors' position and which characters are good and which are bad. Beyond that, there's been so much said about Left Behind by other readers that probably every possible opinion has been expressed. Some love it. Some hate it. Personally, I like the Left Behind series a lot.

The Christ Clone Trilogy, my definite favorite among the list, is written for a secular audience with a big cross-over into the Christian market. Through most of the 3 books you don't know what the author's position is or which (if any) of the characters speak for him. Only in the last book do you find out he is a Christian and that he is using his story telling ability to reach the lost with the Gospel and the danger that faces them if they do not accept it.

We All Fall Down is a story of a man forced to make decisions about himself and God when faced by undeniable evidence that the Bible is true. It's an interesting exploration in character but the author's development of the events of the Tribulation is muddled and very thin. The thing most Christians object to about We All Fall Down is the non-stop use of extreme profanity by the main character. It was hard for me to get past all the f-words, and I certainly would not say I enjoyed it, still it made me think.

These books will take you on the ride of your life! The characters emotional battles as well as their physical emcumbrances will take you on a wild trek of emotions. Their struggles are realistic and the story line follows scripture accurately.

Much of the story is involved in rescue missions after the earthquake and the suffering they endure as a result. Will Buck find Chloe? What will happen when new trumpet judgments unfold? Tsion's messages offer hope to those who will receive it--even those who read about it in this book.

If Jenkins and LaHaye's interpretation of scripture is correct--about the rapture occuring before the great tribulaion, and I believe it is--then I'm thankful that I won't have to suffer through it. Will you? These novels are inspired of God and timely, because time is running out. Prophesies are being fulfilled regarding Christ return. You don't have to be "left behind."

I've read all but The Indwelling in this series and found this one to be entertaining but a little drawn out. Besides the continuing saga of good vs. evil as portrayed by Buck, Rayford and other believers against Carpathia and his henchmen, the book continues to move along in its narrative of the end days. The specualtive interpretation, based on Biblical Phrophecy is full of God's message all be it not so suttle at times. If you've read the others in this series you probably will read this book no matter what is said. If you're new I suggest you start with the original to get a complete feel for Jenkin's and LaHaye's apacopalyptic vision. If you just want to jump into the series, don't do it here as this book is a bit drawn out. I found myself saying "OK kill him already"! I thought there would be much more to this installment than there was but nonetheless found it rewarding. For believers and non-believers alike this is a fun book that will at least make you think and hopefully be a better person. There are tons of reviews for this book but I told myself I would review all in the series, so, peace be with you, share the spirit.

For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Assasins. It is was an excellent book, and was very well written. It is another exciting book in the soon ending saga of those that were left behind. I have been thoroughly mystified by the entire series. I've found that each time I've begun reading one of the books in the series, I was unable to put it down until it was finished. For me, beginning with Left Behind, right on through the Assasins, has been a fun filled adventure. As I finished each book, I began to eagerly anticipate the release of the next one. The authors have written a series of books that seems more truth than fiction. I could not help but feel that I was living the experiences of the characters. Their joys were my joys, and their sorrows were my sorrows. I feel as though I know each one of them on a personal level. I eagerly await the next book to be released in this delightful series. I would truly like to know when I can expect it. I applaud both Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins for authoring such dramatically exciting, thought provoking, and eye opening books. They have displayed excellence in authorship. I wish them continued success in their quest.

I thought that Heart of Darkness was an excellent book that everyone should read. I portrays every single persons true self, there sense of darkness and treachery in the world. Not every person you meet shows there sense of darkness, but this book displays how there is a feeling in that amongst all of us. Joseph Conrad shows a lot of feelings that some humans experience, like racism, and insanity. This book takes you for a real roller coaster ride. If you liked Heart of Darkness, you should see the movie Apocalypse Now. This movie is exactly the same thing as this except it's in a different time period. This novella is a story about Marlow and is adventure through the Congo River. As Marlow goes down the river, he encounters several obstacles that make him realize the true threat of the Congo River. The plot and the themes of the story are difficult to understand but eventually it can be grasped. The only attribute I particularly didn't like about the book was the extreme detail that Conrad shows in the book. I thought that he could have summed up most of the stories details to a shorter version. All and all it was a very interesting book.

Heart of Darkness is a novella that really needs to be read more than just once to fully appreciate Conrad's style of writing. The story is an account of one man's simultaneous journey into the darkness of a river as well as into the shadows of a madman's mind. There is a very brilliant flow of foreshadowing that Conrad brings to his writing that provides the reader with accounts of the time period and the horrible events to come. Through Conrad's illuminating writing style we slowly see how the narrator begins to understand the madness or darkness that surrounds him.

I recommend this particular version of the novella because it contains a variety of essays, which discusses some of the main issues in the reading and historical information. Issues like racism and colonialism are discussed throughout many essays. It also contains essays on the movie inspired by the book Apocalypse Now, which is set against the background of the Vietnam War. I recommend reading Heart of Darkness and then viewing Apocalypse Now, especially in DVD format which contains an interesting directors commentary.

There can be long debate about the hidden meanings, etc. in Heart of Darkness. And, of course, if one pays even a scintilla of attention. one's mind will no doubt be provoked by this deep, mysterious and moving tale. For example, there could be (I'm sure there has already been) a century long debate on the exact meaning of the title. However, besides the import of its moral/human/instinctive/spritual teachings, Heart of Darkness is often overlooked for the sheer excitement and anticipation the words cause. This is, to put it bluntly, a terriffic story. I was so anticipating the meeting between Marlow and Kurtz that I could barely stand it. And the visual imagery is astonishing. I will never forget the stakes with heads of savages. One must wonder how familiar Conrad was with the story of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula)!! Of course, it is the importance of the work that has made its immutable mark on literature. Any reader will surely be able to recognize his or her ! own instinctive/unconscious capabilities (desires, perhaps?) when they read this book. Who among us can wholly deny that we would not have behaved like Kurtz when left unrestrained by our society and placed in a position where it was not difficult to make a relatively unchallenged rise to power? Perhaps imperialism, left unchecked, is human nature, and our nature, our instinct is to civilize those different from us by way of any means feasible, which, with "savages" or the "uncivilized", is violence, fear or terror. Do a quick check of history, and you will find this to be true. The Heart of Darkness may in fact be the heart of man, a metaphor for the instinctive nature of man.

Considered by many to be the great American novel, Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is the story of a boy, Huck Finn, and a runaway slave, Jim, as they travel down the Mississippi River on a raft. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is the sequel to Twain's novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Where "Tom Sawyer" was more a care-free children's book, "Huck Finn" is a far darker less childlike book.

Judging from my rating you can see that I do not agree that this is in fact the great American novel. Twain seemed far too unsure of what he wanted to accomplish with this book. The pat answer is to expose the continuing racism of American society post-Civil War. By making Jim simultaneously the embodiment of white racist attitudes about blacks and a man of great heart, loyalty, and bravery, Twain presented him as being all too much of what white America at the time was unwilling to acknowledge the black man as: human.

However noble the cause though, Twain's story is disjointed, at times ridiculous, and, worst of all (for Twain anyway), unfunny. The situations that Huck and Jim find themselves in are implausible at best. Twain may not have concerned himself too much with the possibleness of his story; but, it does detract from your enjoyment of a story when you constantly disbelieve the possibility of something happening.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is an important book in that it did affect much of the American literature that followed it. However, this is another novel which is more important to read for its historical significance than for its story.

Want a book with an adventurous twist? Then Huckleberry Finn is the book for you. Not only is Huckleberry Finn an adventurous book, it is also can be comical and light, though the book has a grave meaning, showing the wrongs in society at the time in the late 19th century.
The book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer precedes Huckleberry Finn, where in the beginning of Huckleberry Finn, Huck lives with the widow Douglas, though doesn't like the high class living, and frequently leaves to see his father, who's always drunk, or just hangs out in the woods. While in the woods, Huck meets Jim, a slave who escaped and needs to cross the Mississippi River to the freedom on the other side, in Illinois. Although this book portrays a serious meaning, it can also be funny and witty.
I liked this book because it was witty and comical, though it had an important message at the same time. I really liked this book because of this, though the southern accent complicates the understanding of the book. Overall, I thought this book is definitely a classic and a must read for all age levels.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was one of the best books that I have read in a long time. The way the Huck lives his life is very interesting in ways that I can relate. Whether Huck is sneaking out of the house or talking to his best friends about big plans they have, it all makes sense to me. Mark Twain did an excelent job with all the characters and how they all have different problems at home or with some of their friends. He also shined in this book when he came up with all the ideas for the kids to get in trouble with, like starting a gang or running away and taking off down the river and getting caught up with con artists. In my opinion the best part of the book is right off the start when the Widow adopts Huck and tries to clean him up and get him to study and learn new things, and huck wants absolutely nothing to do with any of it. Then right when Huck gets to the point of losing it, he runs off until Tom tells him to come back so they can start their new robbery gang, which meant that Huck must return. When Huck returns the Widow Douglass' sister Miss Watson is living their now with Huck and the widow and the head servant Jim. Overall, I would have to say the this book was very well written and explained and I would have to give this book 4 out of 5 possible stars for my grade. So if you like funny books with some action in them, this book is for you.

It's probably gotten to the point where John Grisham's grocery list would sell.

It would probably be almost as good as THE PARTNER.

Grisham is a very capable writer. While it's doubtful that his books will ever be read as great literary classics, he does have a way of writing page-turning suspensers that have merit (THE CLIENT and THE FIRM being obvious examples).

But, in THE PARTNER, Big John misfires. The premise is a good one: a lawyer in-the-know screws his evil partners and disappears with $90 million. But the main character, Patrick, is portrayed by Grisham as being so totally in control that he seems almost too superhuman to care about.

This is not to say that the book isn't a page-turner; Grisham has the knack of keeping the reader interested, no matter how silly the plot. But the subplots go nowhere (particularly one involving Patrick's ex-wife), and the ending, which is supposed to be ironic, is so out-of-the-blue that it seems like a cheat.

THE PARTNER, then, is interesting enough to keep you reading, but is, ultimately, a disappointment.

Having read all of Grisham's books I'm a huge fan. His earlier books had more spectacular stories, but his style has become much more sophisticated in the last few books (and nothing can beat the Rainmaker, which is a book I would want to have written myself). The Partner didn't let me down, it lived up to my expectations. A carefully calculated plot that covered all possible angles of the case (but WHY did the bimbo have to be Swedish?). The only reason why I didn't give it a 10 is the ending though... I had the last chapter figured out long before it happened and although I wished the end wouldn't happen I was 99% sure it would. It would have been fun with a slightly different surprise, although (hoping not to give anything away) I liked the fact that it didn't end like a few of the previous books... nuff said!!! Anyway, if anybody's thinking of buying it my advice is to stop thinking and start reading. Grisham is the master of suspense, I read it in little over one day... I couldn't keep my eyes off it!!

This book was action packed non with stop suspense throughout. Grisham wrote the story extremely well. It was a perfect plot that was cleverly unfolded. Patrick worked for a law firm. When the firm got a case that ended up stealing 100,000,000 dollars, he stole the money, faked his death, and ran from the U.S., and ended up in Brazil. He lived happily there, just like everyone else for four years, until one day, when they cauhgt him. From then on, Grisham slowly unfolds the story making it impossible to put the book down until you've read every single page. Be prepared to stay up all night long for the next couple of days once you start it.

I thoroughly enjoyed LEFT BEHIND and looked forward to reading TRIBULATION FORCE, the second book in the series. I'm sorry to say, I was disappointed. LEFT BEHIND engaged me. I realize that it is basically Christian pulp fiction, but it was a good story (isn't most pulp fiction?). I wish I could say the same of TRIBULATION FORCE.

The book starts off pretty much where LEFT BEHIND ended. Buck is working and living in Chicago after being demoted. Rayford is still flying planes, Bruce is still pastoring, and Chloe is settling in back home. There are a few minor twists and turns, but nothing really major. There just isn't any suspense like there was in LEFT BEHIND. I won't give away any of the interesting plot lines here, because there aren't many. With that said there are two other reasons why TRIBULATION FORCE failed where LEFT BEHIND succeeded.

The first is all the romance. Chloe likes Buck, Buck likes Chloe, Chloe sees a woman going into Buck's apartment, Chloe hates Buck, a woman named Amanda likes Rayford, Rayford doesn't like anyone for awhile. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug. Yuck!!! Intelligent readers will understand why all the romantic stuff is there and in order not to offend anyone, I won't reveal why. Let's just say that LaHaye & Jenkins aren't just decent storytellers, they are also brilliant marketers and salesmen as well. They really know how to increase an audience size. Nevertheless, though all that romantic goop increases sales, it also takes a lot away from the story: you can't have many murder attempts when people are trying to get to know each other better.

The other reason this book fails to achieve what LEFT BEHIND did is the huge 18 month plot hole. The entire set of books takes place roughly over a period of 7 years. Ask any wise person and they will tell you that every moment in life is precious. Well, apparently there were 18 months of the character's lives that just weren't important enough to be written about. We get a sort or flashback here and there, updating what went on during those 18 months, but that's it. I understand sometimes that writers get in a rut when writing epic tales of grandeur and fastforwarding ahead in time is a good way to keep the story going. However, these books aren't an epic series. There aren't 100 different major characters. There's approximately ten and that's it. Also, usually when authors fastfoward and leave out huge blocks of time, it fits the story. Not here. I think it's more of a copout than anything else because the authors were too anxious to get into the plagues of Revelation than take time to develop the characters and flesh out the story more. Speaking of copouts, I'll leave with one.

Tribulation Force is book #2 of the continuing drama of those Left Behind. So far our story focuses on four heroes-Raymond Steele, Cameron "Buck" Williams, Minister Bruce Barnes and Chloe Steele. They all join together to form the Tribulation Force. Once they learn everything that happened-it all comes together and makes sense. But with the disappearance it ushers in a seven-year Tribulation period. In this time, the earth will experience the most catatrophic calamities in its history. Those left on the earth face war, famine, plagues and natural disasters so devastating that only one on four people will survive. The situation is even worse for enemies of the Antichrist and his new world order. So the task of the Tribluation force is very clear-their goal is to stand and fight the enemies of God during the seven chaotic years the planet can ever fathom.

(NOTE: Tribulation Force-Left Behind II is now on VHS & DVD. Also take a look at my other reviews written on the 'Left Behind series' to follow this exciting most talked about series-just click on my name above.)

For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.

After reading "'Tis", I've come to the conclusion that "Angela's Ashes" was so wonderful because, psychologically, Frank McCourt never left the Limerick slums. He told the story of his childhood with a stunning urgency and directness, as if the events he described had happened yesterday and not enough time had passed for analysis and interpretation. In "'Tis" we learn that perhaps Frank never achieved the distance of maturity and contentment that would have allowed analysis or interpretation. He can't tell us what his wounds signify because they're still so fresh. And for a man who left Limerick over fifty years ago, that's rather sad.

I wonder how Frank McCourt feels knowing that the childhood that shamed him was, in the end, his key to the literary fame and fortune he so keenly envied throughout his adult life. The final irony of "'Tis" is this: The only way Frank McCourt could overcome his childhood was to reveal it. It's a pity the book ends before McCourt realizes that he can, after all, achieve the American dream. Turn your soul inside out and watch the checks roll in.

Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, a memoir about growing up under difficult circumstances in Brooklyn and Limerick, became an unexpected sensation a couple years ago, and deservedly so. McCourt, using delicate, direct prose, related the difficulty of an impoverished childhood troubled by a hard-drinking, irresponsible father. Angela's Ashes closes with McCourt's journey back to America, and its sequel, 'Tis, picks up almost precisely where its predecessor left off. If McCourt's patriotic closing sentiment in Ashes seemed a bit too simplistic, 'Tis makes it clear that America didn't immediately offer milk and honey to her prodigal son. Undereducated, unwashed, and plagued by eye troubles, McCourt struggles to carve out a life in New York, working as a busboy to the privileged in the '40s before joining the army and eventually returning to New York to resume his education. McCourt is fine prose stylist and a colorful storyteller, and 'Tis, for its first two thirds at least, proves a worthy successor to Angela's Ashes. As McCourt grows older on the page, however, the faux-naif narration that works so well in describing his life as a child and a young man begins to seem more like a device behind which to hide. Later chapters dealing with his marriage and teaching career prove less compelling and less cohesive: Some events (the dissolution of his marriage) seem out of the blue, while others (his own drinking) drop out of the narrative entirely. Closing chapters dealing with the death of McCourt's mother and father are quite moving, however, and readers of Ashes will no doubt find 'Tis a satisfying, if less essential, sequel. DWW

I really have a hard time finding time to read these days...and therefore suppliment my thirst with audio books. I bought Angela's Ashes wondering if I'd like it. I hoped it would compare with a favorite biography by Russell Baker I read a number of years ago. Well...it was different...but easily as good. Russell Baker was growing up in the 30's in America...You're very quicky reminded of what real poverty is when you discover Frank McCourt's tragic story. I was very impressed with Frank McCourt's fabulous way of telling a story.....gritty realism mixed with heart and humor. When the book ended, I remembered seeing a sequel on the shelf called "Tis". The next morning I stopped at the book store before coming into work so I could buy the audio book. I couldn't wait to continue with the story. "Tis" certainly didn't disappoint! It picked right up where Angela's Ashes left off. That wonderful master of story telling was telling about his experiences in New York....meeting his wife...becoming a teacher....and all of this was mixed with determination, humor, and realism. If you loved Angela's Ashes....there is another winner out there for you to love too...'Tis!

I have to admit that I have not really given Jack London his proper due up to now. Perhaps it is because I don't by my nature like outdoor adventure type stories, or perhaps it is because I associate White Fang and "To Build a Fire" with my youth. The fact is that Jack London is a tremendously talented writer. His understanding of the basics of life matches his great knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes. The Call of the Wild, despite its relative brevity and the fact that it is (at least on its surface) a dog's story, contains as much truth and reality of man's own struggles as that which can be sifted from the life's work of many another respected author. The story London tells is starkly real; as such, it is not pretty, and it is not elevating. As an animal lover, I found parts of this story heartbreaking: Buck's removal from the civilized Southland in which he reigned supreme among his animal kindred to the brutal cold and even more brutal machinations of hard, weathered men who literally beat him and whipped him full of lashes is supremely sad and bothersome. Even sadder are the stories of the dogs that fill the sled's traces around him. Poor good-spirited Curly never has a chance, while Dave's story is made the more unbearable by his brave, undying spirit. Even the harsh taskmaster Spitz has to be pitied, despite his harsh nature, for the reader knows full well that this harsh nature was forced upon him by man and his thirst for gold. Buck's travails are long and hard, but the nobility of his spirit makes of him a hero--this despite the fact that his primitive animal instincts and urges continually come to dominate him, pushing away the memory and reality of his younger, softer days among civilized man. Buck not only conquers all--the weather, the harshness of the men who harness his powers in turn, the other dogs and wolves he comes into contact with--he thrives. This isn't a story to read when you are depressed. London's writing is beautiful, poignant, and powerful, but it is also somber, sometimes morose, infinitely real, and at times gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

The two rivals circle the ring, probing for any point of weakness. The duel has lasted longer than either competitor had anticipated. Weakened by fatigue, the challenger feints high and goes for a crippling blow. No, this is not a boxing title match in Las Vegas. This is a life-and-death struggle of one domestic dog for survival in the cold, icy, barren regions of the Alaskan plains. This is a clash between the civilized and the primordial. This is the conflict between domestication and liberation. This is the Call of the Wild.

Jack London centers his story on a dog by the name of Buck. Buck is a big, strong dog, his father being a St. Bernard and his mother being a Scottish shepherd dog. At one hundred and forty pounds, Buck was no mere house pet. Kept physically strong with a love of rigorous swimming and constant outdoor exercise, Buck was a lean, formidable dog. Undoubtedly, his great condition was part of the reason that the gardener's helper dog-napped and sold him to dog traders, who in turn sold him to Canadian government mail couriers. The gold rush in Alaska had created a huge demand for good dogs, which eventually led to the "disappearances" of many dogs on the West Coast. Buck was no exception. He was sold into a hostile environment, which was unforgiving and harsh. Although civilization domesticated him from birth, Buck soon begins almost involuntarily to rediscover himself, revealing a "primordial urge", a natural instinct, which London refers to as the Call of the Wild.

This book is set in the Klondike, a region in Alaska that was literally stormed by thousands of men looking to get rich quick via the gold rush. Transportation was increasingly important, but horses were near useless in winter, prone to slip and fall on snow and ice. Dogs were by far the best means of transportation in Alaska at the time, somewhere near the end of the 19th century. As the demand for dogs grew, the prices for good dogs skyrocketed. This price hike inevitably created a black-market- style selling of dogs, and the gardener's helper Manuel did what many men did; they sold the dogs for a good price.

A recurring theme in London's novel is the clash between natural instinct and domesticated obedience. Soon after the dog traders captured Buck, a man broke him with a club. Buck is thoroughly humiliated, but learned an all-important truth of the wild: The law of club and fang. Kill or be killed. Survival is above all. Buck resolved to himself to give way to men with clubs. In the beginning, Buck had problems with this new restriction, but learned that when his masters' hands hold whips or clubs, he must concede. However, that did not keep Buck from doing little deeds like stealing a chunk of bacon behind his masters' backs. However, as London says, "He did not steal for joy of it, but because of the clamor of his stomach . In short, the things he did were done because it was easier to do them than not to do them." In this way Buck learns the way of the wild but also acknowledges his inferiority to men with clubs or whips. Eventually in this novel, Buck throws away his old life completely and replaces it with his natural urge, the primordial version of himself, the Call of the Wild.

Another underlying theme is the relationship between dog and master. In the beginning, Buck is acquainted with the Judge with a dignified friendship, his sons with hunting partnership, his grandsons with protective guardianship, the mail couriers Francois and Perrault with a mutual respect. Against the man with a club he despised but gave respect. However, when Buck met John Thornton, he loved his master for the first time ever. There wasn't anything Buck wouldn't do for his master. Twice Buck saved Thornton's life, and pulled a thousand pounds of weight for Thornton's sake. Even after Buck routinely left his master's camp to flirt with nature, Buck always came back to appreciate his kind master. However, even after Thornton was gone and Buck had released all memories of his former life, Buck never forgot the kind hands of his master, even after answering the Call of the Wild.

Jack London truly brings Buck to life. Using a limited 3rd person view, the reader is told of Buck's thoughts and actions. Obviously, London gave several ideal human qualities to Buck, including a sharp wit, rational reasoning, quick thinking, and grounded common sense. However, he does not over-exaggerate the humanity in Buck, which would have given an almost cartoon-like feeling for a reader. Rather, being a good observer, London saw how dogs acted and worked backwards, trying to infer what the dogs think. The result is a masterful blend of human qualities and animal instinct that is entirely believable. It is obvious that Buck's experience was similar to many other dogs' experiences.

The Call of the Wild focuses on a house pet named Buck who is stolen from his comfortable life and inserted into a harsh life working as a husky dog in Alaska. Buck becomes acquainted with some vicious animals and begins slowly to de-evolve. He reverts back to a wolf like his ancestors were before him. The Call of the Wild is useful as an historic tribute to the Alaskan Gold Rush. It tells of the hardship up in Alaska through the eyes of a dog but it's about more than a search for a metal. It's about an animal de-evolving. He is removed from domesticated life and finds the life of a working dog difficult at first but he eventually grows to love it. A man saves him from his turmoil and he becomes domesticated again but he can't silence the wolf inside him. On the death of his new master he reverts to the wild where he stays forever. How can this be classified as a children's book? This is one of the most adult stories I have ever read and I don't think any child will get the books qualities. This can only be appreciated by very mature adults but if you can appreciate you're life will be better for it. This is a great read - an all time classic.