50 Books 2013: Update [5]

I haven’t managed to read as much this month… I’ve finished two books, and have two on the go at the moment… But I’m definitely way behind in this challenge now!

Book 13
Agenda 21 – Glenn Beck
This was an interesting read… With the real UN Agenda 21 as a basis, the author develops a, hopefully, far fetched conclusion to the aims of the Agenda – an extreme version of Sustainability where everyone has been relocated to ‘Compounds’ and their only objective is to protect their environment, produce energy and, rather counter-intuitively, have children. Completely controlled by the ‘Authority’, there are no freedoms, no luxuries and no escape. It’s an interesting premise, and having read some of the reviews, there is clearly a huge split in opinion as to how ‘possible’ this future might be. As someone who has worked in the arena of Sustainable Development, with a construction focus, for the last 20 years, I find the likelihood of Agenda 21 spirally to this extent remote, but the book does raise interesting questions regarding ‘State’ control over consumption, energy and property – and perhaps some of the solutions touched on here will ultimately occur, in some form or another, if real change is to happen. Having read Glenn Beck’s own thoughts on this subject, I have to admit that I disagree with virtually everything he says – and, while I accept that I am simplifying his arguments hugely here, his view that sustainability is anti-American is particularly irksome! The book itself feels a bit like a short story stretched into a novel, but a thought provoking read nonetheless – and at the very least may encourage more debate.

Book 14
Did You Miss Me – Karen Rose
Another great read from Karen Rose. She is one of my favourite crime authors and I’ve read all her books. Each book tends to focus on another character in an, at times, quite loosely linked group of people. Six degrees of separation…the colleague of a friend of the sister of the main character in the last book territory! This familiarity with each character, and the links to the previous books, is great though, and provides you with an immediate investment in each of the new characters – they have often been touched on in the previous book, so you already want to know their story! I can’t tell you much about this story without giving too much away, but it was a page turner – the son of the main character has been kidnapped, but not for the immediately presumed reason. Her past is catching up with her… Karen Rose’s books also always have a (passionate) love story running through them – which may or may not be your cup of tea!

I’m now reading two books – one on Kindle and one ‘real’ book!

Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve and Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan. I have read a few of Anita Shreve’s books and have always enjoyed them. This one hasn’t quite gripped me yet though. Maine however has drawn me in, and I am already really enjoying it. I will tell you more next month!

I will be linking up again with Julie over at Mama OWL in her 50 books challenge May round-up!