Excellent Series. Read them in order.
This book is the second in a series and had a tough act to follow, "Left Behind". The description and imagery in Left Behind was so intense and difficult to comprehend, less of an issue in this book. It still reminds me of an action movie, lots of cutting back and forth between story lines happening all at once, which makes it very interesting and addictive to read. Trying to judge it as a standalone would be difficult, because I can't imagine being as interested in all the relationship development if I had not known what the characters had endured together to this point. I would say this one read faster because it was less heavy material to ponder, much more about interaction and planning and relationships. I usually only read about 20 pages a day on most books, on books that are more interesting or read faster I'll read 50 pages, this one being a lighter read, I finished inside of a week. Not as many memorable or moving moments as the first book, but essential if you want to continue on the series so you'll understand several subleties about many of the interpersonal relationships. After I finished this one, I couldn't wait to get started on the third book, Nicolae, and that one did not disappoint! I'd definitely recommend make it through this one and keep going, the series gets better after this book.
In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear.
Those left behind face war, famine, plagues, and natural disasters so devastating that only on in four people will survive. Odds are even worse for enemies of the Antichrist and his new world order.
Rayford Steele, Buck Williams, Bruce Barnes, and Chloe Steele band together to form the Tribulation Force. Their task is clear, and their goal in nothing less than to stand and fight the enemies of God during the seven most chaotic years the planet will ever see.
one of the best books i've ever read i had never read a series of books the whole series gets you hooked and thinkin what happens next it will make you laugh cry mad and more faithful and look to the lord for answers in your life

(
9thof11) - WI wrote on 6/16/2009...
This is book two in the left behind series. Action picks up when a rag tag group of people who were left behind band together to fight the enemy and help others who were also left behind.
In this second book of the Left Behind series, Rayford, Chloe and Buck have oined up with pastor Bruce Barnes to form the "Tribulation Force", a group of new believers who came to salvation after the disappearances. Through their studying and researching of the Bible, they learn that the disappearances have begun a seven year period(called the Tribulation)during which the eartn will suffer the most catastrohic calamities in history.The task they have set for themselves is to alert the "non-believers of the deception of enemies of God.
Again I couldn't put this book down and finished it in a matter of days! Classic story of good versus evil...I find myself rooting for Buck, Chloe, Rayford and Bruce and intensely disliking the character of Nicolae Carpathia!
The first two Left Behind books are really the first "Christian" fiction that I've read and while the story is very interesting and moves forward at a nice pace, the juvenile writing (and totally unrealistic interactions between main characters) and terrible dialogue are so fully distracting that I can't bring myself to read the rest of the series. I am so disappointed!
Hoping that the second book might change my mind about the series, I took a chance. After all, many authors fail at nailing a good narrative their first book. I got about two chapters in and gave up. Much like the previous book, the writing is dry and dull. The same characters are involved in this one. And the characters don't so much develop as much as they just suddenly get new attitudes.
I am late at starting to read this series of books. It was well worth the wait. I could not put this book down. It has been quite some time since this has happened.
Whether or not you believe in the Bible, Left Behind does make for an interesting tale of comfort through crisis (especially post 9/11), conspiracy, a father's relationship to his daughter, and how a newsman deals with removing his feelings to get to a story. The best way to read this series is as a fictional novel in which extraordinary events have happened, people will start to believe in religion. Details are taken out of the Book of Revelation and fiction is added to make it an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the book and the and the rest of the series intense action and feeling which makes them page turners.