I just finished reading Black, Red and White by Ted Dekker, and I wanted to know what you all thought of it. I found the plot to be very involving, but the characters didn't develop much. Also, the ending wasn't very satisfying, as it left a lot of things unsaid. I haven't read Green yet, and I'm curious to hear from someone who has as to whether it's good or not. Opinions?

This is one of my favorite series ever! I agree with you about the plot; it definitely kept me up reading at night. But I see what you mean about the characters. All of them except for Thomas seemed almost fully developed when they were introduced. That didn't really bother me when I was reading, though. I really liked when you saw Thomas for the first time after 15 years have gone by, and seeing how he had changed from Black to Red.

Green was really good too. But it ends kind of strangely. I really liked the ending, but my brother hated it!

Which book was your favorite?

I just got the first three books at the library today, and so far I like them. I'm about halfway through Black. I'll probably read Green when I finish these.

Very few books have perfect quality. And I must admit that Ted Dekker's aren't even close to perfect as far as writing style, character development etc...go.

However, the themes are what make a book, and I think that's what makes the Circle Trilogy really, really powerful.

I can honestly say, that they gave me a new way of looking at things, and that they have actually influenced my life! The love of Christ for His Bride is especially apparent. I loved these books.

My mom and I have both read the Circle Series, and both like it. She's read Green, and was dissatisfied with the ending (I'm not even halfway, and the book is back at the library, so it'll be a while before I can give my opinion). Have you read The Lost Books? And he has another trilogy that ties in, which you should read before you read Green. The books are Showdown, Saint, and Sinner. Another book, Skin, has a reference to The Lost Books.

I love Ted Dekker's books, but the way he ties them all together so that you don't know which to read first can get kind of frustrating. Good hunting. Or...reading.

I found the Circle Trilogy to be an excellent read as well as containing some very thought-provoking themes. I love action, adventure, mystery, allegorical characters/situations, and combining many plots into one story. These books had good amounts of each. Even more so, I was impressed by the obvious parallels his books contained to aspects of the Christian faith. I actually enjoyed a fictional book series for once (I am very select on my reading and usually limit myself to only theology and classics because they provide depth).

It has been mentioned that the characters may not have been developed to their full compacity. However, I beg to differ a bit on that note. I believe that the characters not being fully developed actually enhanced the story. It kept the reader focused more on the plot and the meaning behind the actual events. Dekker did a good job of attaching his readers' hearts to the characters situation at the beginning, and then let the plot line be the driving point since in contained the more vital message. At least, that is how I viewed the book.

I have read all of these books, and I like them for the most part. The parallels are quite obvious and Dekker has very well developed characters and plots. The only thing that I don't like about the parallels is the that they are sometimes contradicting. The main thing that I don't like is that the parallel of the Scab disease is compared to the Raison Strain instead of the sin of unbelievers. And in Green, his parallel with end times seems somewhat warped, as well as the issue of eternal security (with Samuel). But all in all, these were very good books and I enjoyed reading them. I love how all the Books of History series' wind together into one story. Ted Dekker truly has great talent!

I really enjoy Dekker's books. I'm almost finished with Green. The plot is very engaging. Like some people have noted, the characters could use a bit more development. Also, I disagree with some of his theology. However, over all, they're a really great read. I also enjoyed his Paradise Novels, which are sort of a spin-off of the Circle Series.

I would definitely agree that Ted Dekker's ability to connect his stories to spiritual truths is exceptional. The series offers such a fresh perspective on Jesus' love for his people. I had heard that in order for one to fully understand what's going on in any given Dekker book they would need to read most of the others, so I'll have to give Saint, Sinner and Showdown a read. I'm still torn about reading Green, though... some people love it, some hate it, and I would be so disappointed if there was no real ending to the story. I probably won't be able to resist.

Amazing series! The ending was both terrible and ingenious at the same time!!!!!!!!!!

These were very well done books. I really loved how Ted Dekker incorporated good and evil so plainly in the other world.

You really don't understand the Circle series until you've read Green, though.

A great series by a great author; keep it up, Ted Dekker!

Is this a good place to complain about how bad the ending was? Green was good until the end. It was a very- contrived- way of making the series a circle. It's like he thought, as an after thought, "Hey, I know, let's make poor Thomas an everlasting groundhog day story, looping forever and ever throughout all of history!"

The rest of the books were great though. I very much enjoyed this series.

I didn't really like the ending of Green... it seemed like an ending, then all of a sudden they're all "Hey, let's go back and try this again!" Up until that point it was a good book though.

I agree. The ending was...unsatisfactory.

I liked the little 'temporal loop' that needed to be completed. That was the sci-fi tease for me.

There were only two things that kept me reading.

1) The Roush. Without them, the books would have been completely bland.
2) Seeing how it all ended. This happens fairly common with me, especially with stories that don't capture my attention immediately (Like Suzanne Collins' Gregor and the Underworld and The Hunger Games, the latter of which caught my attention more than Gregor, but still... They were okay/good books, though, I am NOT bashing Ms. Collins.