The Left Behind Complete Set, Series 1-12

by Tim LaHaye

“Dad, does this mean you would—?” But Rayford silenced Chloe again with a gesture as CNN cut to New York for a live response from Carpathia.

Chloe keeps getting told to shut up in this book, and it's become a *thing*

His voice was quiet and emotional. “I would like to thank President Fitzhugh for this most generous gesture. We at the United Nations are deeply moved, grateful, and humbled. We look forward to a wonderful ceremony in Jerusalem next Monday.” “Man, is he slick.” Rayford shook his head.

Is he, though?

If the current pilot stays with the 747 when it becomes AF2, what happens to the current AF2 pilot?”

It does not matter to this story

Chloe shrugged. “You’re sure you don’t want the job flying the new plane?” “Surer now than ever. I don’t want to have anything to do with Carpathia.”

Is this Raford resisting the call to adventure? We're halfway through the book. Please, one of our main characters, do something proactive!

The size of his own house had sometimes embarrassed Rayford, even when four people were living there. At other times he had been proud of it. It evidenced his status, his station in life, the level of his achievement. Now it was a lonely place.

I cannot tell if this is a large house or a small one. All I know is that it has a porch and "stately pillars." Other than that, it sure is a house.

Every room, every knickknack, every feminine touch reminded him of Irene. Occasionally something would jump out and flood his mind with Raymie, too.

Funny, as the only description we got of Raymie called him effeminate, or something to that measure.

Rayford was growing emotional, but he didn’t mind as much any more. His grief was more melancholic than painful now.

Glorious Appearing.

Just checked, and the phrase "Glorious Appearing" shows up 109 times in these twelve books (give or take a couple copyrights and tables of contents)

Rayford decided to cook for Chloe that night. He would prepare one of her favorite dishes—shrimp scampi with pasta and all the trimmings.

Shrimp scampi had better be an important plot point later on, or else this was a pointless divulgence.

In spite of him and all the negative traits she had inherited, she had grown to be a wonderful person. If there was one clear example of how Christ could change a person, she was it.

What are you talking about??? Either Rayford's view of Chloe was abysmal, or he doesn't think other people change that much.

He found himself identifying with Irene, remembering the hopeful expression on her face almost every night.

I'm picturing Irene as CGI Leia from Rogue One

But it wasn’t until now that he realized she must have been doing that work for him out of the same love and devotion he felt for Chloe. He had never grasped that, and his paltry attempts at compliments must have been seen as perfunctory as they were.

Just sounds like a bad husband

His goal was to tie the religious stories together so neatly that Borland would get an idea how his job should be done

Dick move

He banged out some notes on his computer, in essence outlining the assignments he had acquired in the trade with Jimmy Borland.

"in essence"

Even Hattie calls him ‘Mr. Secretary-General,’ and if I’m not mistaken, they spend almost as much time together off the job as on the job.”

Everybody knows Hattie's sex life, and they won't shut up about it. Not unrealistic, but it reflects poorly on everyone else. Like, imagine if your coworkers, friends, and family all gossiped about one of your acquaintances with the frequency and tone these characters take. You'd probably be a little skeezed out by the fixation.

“The U.N. signs a peace treaty with Israel and you think it’s bigger than the disappearances of billions all over the globe?”

Someone reminded LaHaye about the whole Rapture premise, I see

“Of course I’m coming, but I’m not riding along with you guys.” “You don’t want to be on the new Air Force One?”

This plane is definitely going to be bombed or something. It's like the poison thing all over again. As soon as the author is really interested in telling us who is on what plane, you just know it's gonna crash or explode or be attacked somehow.

Buck was pulling into the parking lot at New Hope Village Church just as Chloe was pulling out. They drew up even with each other and rolled down their windows. “Hey, little girl,” Buck said, “you know anything about this church?”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It just felt strange, competing with your new friend and pastor for a woman.

Is it a competition if the woman has made up her mind already? Or do you just want to call it that, Buck?

“Dad! What possessed you?” “I just got in touch with my feminine side,” he said.

He says about cooking dinner

By the time Rayford and Chloe were doing the dishes, Rayford had heard all about her awkward encounter with Bruce. “So he never owned up to sending the flowers?” Rayford said.

As much as I don't want more awkward scenes of misunderstood romance, it would be nice to get Chloe's POV for her plot. She's played a more active role than Rayford in this book, yet every other page is his perspective.

That threw the meeting into an uproar.

I love that 3 people can create an "uproar"

It was the first time the four of them had spoken so forcefully on such personal subjects.

"forcefully"

One or both of you should get as close to him as possible.” “I was close to him once,” Buck said. “And that’s more than enough.”

Not as close as you could have been, Buck, or as close as we wanted

“I’d have to sell out every journalistic principle I have.” “And those are more sacred than your responsibilities to your brothers and sisters in Christ?”

Ironically, the same call all Fox News employees have to make

Bruce suggested they pray on their knees—something each had done privately, but not as a group.

The overwhelming sense of unworthiness seemed to crush him, and he slipped to the floor and lay prostrate on the carpet. A fleeting thought of how ridiculous he must look assailed him, but he quickly pushed it aside. No one was watching, no one cared. And anyone who thought the sophisticated airplane pilot had taken leave of his senses would have been right.

“I guess you’ll have to widen your search.” Bruce said, blushing. “It wasn’t me, but I’m flattered to be suspected. I only wish I’d thought of it.”

The Case of the Anonymous Flowers arrives at another twist in the road

“Seriously, who do you think it is?” “I don’t even know where to begin.” “That many possibilities?” “That few. In fact, none.”

the president of Pan-Con himself, Leonard Gustafson.

Hahahahaha! LEONAAAARD!

Rayford thought the analogy a little sloppy, but he couldn’t argue the logic.

This narrator has no right to judge analogies

Several hours later Rayford left the cockpit of his 747 in Baltimore and was met by a Pan-Con operative who presented him with credentials that would get him into the White House. Upon his arrival, he was quickly whisked through the gate.

Frankly amazed that the story managed to jump forward this far in time without giving us five updates on what Buck is doing and what kind of soda Rayford picks to go with lunch

“And just how much is a gazillion?” “More than either of us can count.” Buck sighed.

and he’s heading to the Vatican for the papal vote right after the treaty signing next Monday.”

What are the chances Carpathia gets named pope? I'd say 30% right now.

“More likely he feels he has to meet you. Hattie told him you were a Christian.” “Oh, great! He’ll never trust me.” “Probably wants to keep an eye on you.”

I'm still unclear to what degree Carpathia knows himself to be the Antichrist. If he believes that, then surely he would believe the rest of Christianity. But then, why would he still be the Antichrist?

He longed for the Glorious Appearing and the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. But in his mind, until he learned and knew more, anything normal he wanted to accomplish—like investigative reporting and writing, falling in love, getting married, maybe having a child—all had to be done soon.

Carpathia himself addressed these issues in his customarily direct and sympathetic way. Rayford shuddered as he listened.

How diabolical!

“They will lead the way, destroying their weapons of destruction and shipping to New Babylon the remaining 10 percent.

You couldn't find another word for "destroy"? Just had to use it in the same sentence as "destruction"? Fine. Whatever.

Buck booked the last flight out of O’Hare to Cincinnati that evening.

As is tradition, we need all the travel details. We got your tickets, layovers, connecting flights. Want to know if Buck flew first class or just Comfort Plus? We got that too! Step right up, step right up! There's a sale on flight attendants telling characters to please buckle up, and you bet your ass Tim LaHaye said, "I'll take twelve!"

“My dad’s going to be jealous when he gets home,” she said. “He loves Chinese.” Buck reached deep into the big sack, pulled out an extra order, and grinned. “Gotta keep the dad happy.”

Buck loved to hear Chloe talk,

I know you better than that, Buck. I've been in your head.

Within a few minutes, Buck had Chloe connected to the Internet and set up with a new e-mail address. “Now from here, just like with your cell, you can reach me anywhere in the world.

The candies were still shrink-wrapped and had been delivered by a reputable company.

What a coincidence! I use a reputable company for all my deliveries, too.

At Rayford’s insistence, Buck had agreed to leave his car in the Steele’s garage during his trip. Buck and Chloe left the Tribulation Force meeting early to get to the airport. Traffic was lighter than he expected, and they arrived more than two hours before his flight. “We could have stayed longer at the church,” he said. “Better to be safe, though, don’t you think?” she said. “I hate always running on the edge of lateness.” “Me too,” he said, “but I usually do. You can just drop me at the curb.” “I don’t mind waiting with you if you don’t mind paying for the parking.”

Left Behind: Tribulation Force is a book where people discussing parking at an airport gets a whole scene.

Chloe seemed awkward, but Buck had nothing for her to carry, and they weren’t at the hand-holding stage yet, so they just kept moving.

Buck pretended to look out the window as he stared at Chloe’s reflection a few inches from his own.

This line is supposed to be sweet, but just comes off as creepy.

She laughed again. “You’re really paranoid about that big old parking garage, aren’t you? No, see, the deal is that I bring you here, wait with you at your gate so you won’t feel lonely, and then I stay until you’re safely on the plane. I wave as it takes off, pretend to be rooted to the spot, and only when the jet trail fades out of sight do I venture out to the car.”

THE WHOLE PLAY-BY-PLAY

“Come on. Don’t you remember our first cookie?” The day they had met, Chloe had eaten a cookie and he had dabbed a tiny piece of chocolate from the corner of her mouth with his thumb. Not knowing what to do with it, he had licked it off.

Why do we have to keep returning to this moment???

“You feel like a cookie?” he said, setting her up the way she had him in New York that first day. “Why, do I look like one?” Buck laughed, not because the joke was any funnier than the first time, he decided, but because it was theirs and it was stupid.

Buck carefully folded his cookie sack and laid it in his carry-on bag.

Cookie sack