Left Behind Chapters 7 and 8

CHAPTER 7
Weird word/phrase- Dangedest

Buck gets into the chartered jet and the pilot mentions something about puddle jumpers, because we are now on Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy. The pilot (Ken) asks Buck what he thinks of the disappearances.

"Funny you should ask," Buck said. "I've got to start working on that in earnest today."
Yes, because there definitely weren't any good interviews to be had from anyone in the airport or any of the rescue teams. Buck is the worst journalist ever.

Ken's talking about aliens:
"They don't even take seriously anything strange within several miles of an airport. That's why you never hear stories of UFOs near O'Hare."
Yes, except for these:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/200806413559776
http://www.ufo-blogger.com/2008/06/disc-spotted-near-ohare-within-15.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuckcirino/351112882/

This book would be SO much better if it actually was about aliens. Or if there was less of an emphasis on religion (as much as there can be, with an interpretation of Revelations). You know who also kind of wrote about the Rapture? Dean Koontz, in The Taking. The Taking is a fantastic, fantastic book. It describes the world post-disappearances very well and has an atmosphere of eerieness and confusion. It's just great. I'd rather be reading that right now.

Meanwhile, Rayford has no interest in anything except waiting for Chloe to get home. He somehow 100% knows that the Rapture has happened and so is trying to figure out what happened by looking in Irene's Bible.

Rayford was revered, proudly introduced as a 747 captain to newcomers and guests.
I would think he'd be less revered when they find out that he only makes about 25K a year.

Back to Buck. Ken seems to think it's more important to talk about old boxers (the sport, not the underwear) than it is to, oh, I don't know, TALK ABOUT HOW OVER A BILLION PEOPLE DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR?

Fortunately, Buck was in great shape.
Phew! I was worried. You know, little known fact: spending lots of time in airplanes and in front of a computer screen= great exercise! You know that all those journalists have washboard abs. Heck, I'm staring at mine right now.

Discussing a plane that went down with no survivors:
"And this was after the disappearances?"
"Just last night. Totally unrelated."
"Wouldn't that have been a kick in the teeth?"
"Indeed."
Rayford, as per usual, shows no emotion whatsoever in the face of human tragedy. Maybe the fact that he is apparently conversing with Teal'c from Stargate SG-1 is rubbing off on him.

CHAPTER 8

Buck and his editor Steve are discussing a presidential election in Romania, because nothing else interesting is going on in the world, obviously.

"People took dirt naps."
"Ooh Steve, you talk just like a mobster."
Ooh, Steve, talk dirty to me!

Methinks Buck is supposed to come off as dashing and cavalier but...he doesn't.

Wtf, Rayford? He comes to the conclusion that "this is the word season of his life." First, DUH. Second, season? As opposed to week? Then he mentions that he's glad his parents died because they were sick. Really? You're going to use the word "glad?" That sounds really, really...unfeeling. Even if my parents had Alzheimer's before, I would be devastated if they both died around the same time! Rayford is a cyborg. I will bet you anything he's a proponent of utilitarian bioethics.

Rayford calls being a pilot a "highly paid" profession. I just saw the new Michael Moore doc and the only part that really stuck is that pilots don't get paid nearly enough. Maybe it was different in '95.

We learn that Irene dropped out of college when she got married, just like good little girls are supposed to.

"...he didn't enjoy having a pregnant wife."
Well, who's fucking fault is that?

We also learn that Rayford stayed away from home as much as possible while Irene was pregnant. WAY TO BE A MAN, ASSHOLE.

Rayford wants Chloe home. Not because he cares about her welfare or because he misses her, but because she would "assuage his grief and pain." Buck is a moron, but Rayford is almost evil.

You guys, here's a joke!
Ozark spelled backward is Krazo.
Ho ho ho! It's funny because Krazo kind of sounds like crazy.

So Hattie calls and Rayford is an ass and then he wonders "How selfish can I be?" showing a rare glimpse of self-awareness that I'm assuming will never rear its head again.

Hattie calls Buck to tell him about how Rayford was an ass and Buck is also an ass, rolling his eyes and saying he can understand Rayford's actions. Would it kill anyone to just show a little sympathy to Hattie?

Maybe Hattie showed more depth and sense when she wasn't under stress.
SERIOUSLY? This from the guy who has made no move to help anyone else? Hattie is the only one in the book so far who has even indicated that she cares about anyone other than herself. l;akdshf;asdhfasdfsd.