Rapturous Applause for Left Behind (Left Behind - Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins)

Member Name: nursingstudent

Product:	Left Behind - Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Date:	11/01/03 (216 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gripping storyline, Well created characters, Fast pace

Disadvantages: Waiting for next in series!

‘In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear.....’ Who were they? Where did they go? Why did they go? Are they coming back? Why were prosthesis and wigs left on seats along with piles of crumpled clothes? Why were women on delivery tables suddenly empty? Where were all the children gone? An intriguing start to an absorbing tale of mystery, confusion and discovery where the pace is exhilarating and the characters are really brought to life. Although this is a novel based on the earth’s last days as prophesied in the Bible and the authors interpretation of scriptures, it would appeal to anyone regardless of whether they were held religious beliefs or not as the plot and action are full of adventure and suspense. Indeed, I picked it up and started reading it quite by accident and found myself hooked from the very first chapter, I read the first nine books of the series over the Christmas break!

The basic theme of the book is the ‘rapture’, or the taking up of the faithful ones to heaven and what happens to those left behind. It details the emotions and practicalities of a small group of people who become very familiar to the reader as the series develops, they are all drawn together to solve the mystery and unravel the events that are to come. We are introduced to rugged Rayford Steele, the middle aged 747 captain who loses a proportion of his passengers during a flight, as well as his wife and son at home. We meet Cameron ‘Buck Williams’, the young and successful senior writer for a large newspaper, always eager to get the best story first. We have the company of Rayford Steeles daughter Chloe and also Hattie Durham, a flight attendant whose role develops as the series continues. We have the pastor Bruce who was strangely left behind yet would appear to have been a man of faith. And of course we have to have a baddie, and in this case it is Nicolae Carpathia, a man who seems to appea
r from nowhere to take the world by storm, he is charming and brilliant and hold people under his spell, he has world changing ideas which promise to bring a new Utopia. He rises quickly through the ranks as if by magic with people obeying his every command and the world loves him for his charisma and charismatic promises. Yet those who are unsure of his sincerity, including Rayford, Buck and Bruce amongst others, soon begin to realise that by manipulating world events he is fulfilling the prophecies that are laid out in front of them.

As the series continues we live through the seven year tribulation period and chapters and chapters of real on-the-edge-of-your-seat-stuff, night time escapes, plane crashes, murder, disease, high speed chases, espionage, earthquakes, executions and plagues. Even through all that though there is time for love, romance, babies and friendships, what you wont find is explicit love scenes which is very refreshing for a change.

I enjoyed this book in particular due to the dramatic and well written opening chapters, it sets the scene well for a huge adventure and leaves you wanting to know what happens next. The books have a huge following around the world and have topped many best seller lists selling millions of copies, there is even a website devoted to it at www.leftbehind.com, yet for all that I had not heard of them before. I recommend them for anyone who likes to read something just a little bit different and enjoys a fast moving plot with many twists and turns and is definitely thought provoking.

What others have said:

“I couldn’t stop reading Left Behind. I became so involved with the characters I forgot I wasn’t there with them” (A Denison, Fort Lauderdale)

“Here is a book that demands to be read” (Dr John F Walvoord, Dallas)

“Even those who are not connoisseurs of fiction will be gripped by this novel” (Dr Erwin W
Lutzer, Chicago)

And I would agree with them all!

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