Yes, yet another in the epic 'Left behind' series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. This book is the sixth in the series. The title 'Assassins' should have been enough to put me off - I would never, normally, read a book with that name. But I'd read five of the books, and wondered if they might start to get better...
But no. The story is still feeling very drawn out and long-winded. This book works towards the mid-way mark of the seven-year period of tribulation after the rapture. The 'witnesses' die, and Nicolae, recognised as the antichrist, is assassinated... but by whom? We're supposed to be left guessing, but it was so obvious that I thought I must be wrong.
It's fast-paced, with a lot of preaching thrown in. Still not much happens in real terms, however. I suppose the cliff-hanger (who killed Nicolae?) is left at the end to try and persuade people to buy the seventh book.
Not really recommended.
Yes, I did get a bit stuck in a rut. We bought several of these 'Left Behind' books very cheaply from the MV Doulos when it visited our town. Since we had them, I thought I might as well read them.
The first book, 'Left Behind' was powerful and exciting. Since then, they started to go downhill as the authors stretched the series into twelve books. Six would have been plenty.
'Apollyon' is the fifth in the series, subtitled: 'The Destroyer is Unleashed'. In this book Ray, one of the Tribulation Force (a small number of Christians) tries to find out what happened to his wife in events described in one of the previous books.
The Tribulation Force also decide to go to Jerusalem for a great meeting. Plagues of beasts led by Apollyon torment the people who remain.
I thought it rather gruesome in places. There is lots of fast action, but no characterisation to speak of. And, frankly, this book is not terribly well written.
Really not recommended. But these books are very popular in some circles, so if you liked the earlier ones, you might also like this one.
So, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins found a good idea for a series, which started with 'Left Behind'. 'Soul harvest' is the fourth book in what ended up as a 12-volume epic... which is considerably longer than the series actually needs to be.
The overall plot is that the rapture has happened, and the world is in the midst of tribulations. A small number of people have become Christians since the rapture. But they are having to be careful about what they do and who they talk to. They call themselves the Tribulation Force.
In this book, more disasters happen. They include a world-wide earthquake that kills millions of people and which ends all hope of a return to normal life. The Tribulation Force continue to support each other, and believers have a new way of recognising each other instantly.
I didn't think this was as good as the earlier books. The story is beginning to feel dragged out, and predictable. The pace is fast, but the writing isn't that great - it's full of slang and stilted conversation. Despite being the fourth book in a series, there's still no characterisation to speak of.
I kept reading because I was somewhat interested to know how the authors would move the story forward. But it was hard going, because I didn't care in the slightest about any of the people.
Worth reading, perhaps, if you have liked the earlier books in the series and wonder what is going to happen. But don't expect any depth of characterisation. And note that this series is based on just one of many possible interpretations of the book of Revelation.
Oh, I do like Rosamunde Pilcher. She has the most amazing gift of characterisation, creating people I find myself caring about enormously. I've loved all her books, and was very disappointed to hear that she's retired from writing. But what a wonderful gift she has left in this, her final novel.
'Winter Solstice' is the story of Elfrida. She is a retired - and somewhat eccentric - lady living in a small village. She slowly makes friends, and is generally contented.
Then a friend suffers a terrible tragedy, and she agrees to go to Scotland with him. She gradually takes in various lonely people, and falls in love.
It's a beautiful book. I loved every moment of reading it (well, other than the shock that happened early in the story), and wanted to start over again when I had finished. Possibly Rosamunde Pilcher's best ever. Her characters are warm, believable and lovable, the story is hopeful, and the ending satisfying.
Highly recommended.
(I wrote a slightly longer review of Winter Solstice when I re-read it nearly four years later)
Frank Peretti is an American Christian author whose work is a little different from most. It's dark, sometimes too dark for my tastes, and there's a great deal of suspense.
In 'Piercing the Darkness', a Christian school goes to court, accused of abuse; meanwhile, a likeable pastor is undermined and losing confidence. A reporter sees connections, and an evil plot is uncovered.
This novel is actually a sequel to Peretti's first book, 'This Present Darkness', and although it stands alone it's probably easier to understand if read afterwards. As with the first novel, angels and demons are portrayed as realistic beings, with a spiritual battle taking place alongside the earthly ones.
There is high tension and much drama before the evil forces are bound - for a while - again.
Definitely recommended.
(If this isn't long enough, I wrote a longer review of 'Piercing the Darkness' when I re-read the book five years later)
I do like Maeve Binchy's books. They're warm, and relaxing, and I find the later ones even more enjoyable than her earlier works.
'Scarlet Feather' is set, as are most of this author's work, in Ireland. Cathy Scarlett and Tom Feather are building a good reputation as a catering company in Dublin. They are close friends in a platonic way, each of them being involved in a different relationship romantically. Tom's girlfriend struggles to be a model, Cathy's husband is a high-flying lawyer.
We see the world through many of their friends, including some delightful - and rather neglected - young twins. Emotions run high and the catering company is almost destroyed; but Tom and Cathy rediscover what's important to them, and the book ends with a hopeful and reassuring conclusion.
The characterisation may not be quite as brilliant as that of Rosamunde Pilcher, but this was a very readable and moving book which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended.
(You can also read my much longer review of 'Scarlet Feather' which I wrote after re-reading over sixteen years later).
