Make sure you read “Nudge” first…
If you haven’t read Nudge yet, why not? It is one of those books that stays in your thoughts and has a subtle but persistent effect on one’s semi-conscious mind. Nudge is a story about the major religions and how they got to be how they are. It sounds heavy, and it is certainly thought provoking and intellectual, but in a way that even if you don’t have a huge knowledge of other religions, makes sense.
A synopsis of Nudge: Sarah Sheppard, ambitious marketing exec and definite atheist gets rather forcefully headhunted by a strange middle eastern man who claims to represent God, now called Infinity to be inclusive. The job is to write a book that will speak to everyone, across the religious divides. To explain to them what Infinity really meant and how far our religions have moved from the message he/it meant to send.
Mmmm I hear you say. I did too until I read it and got engrossed in the concept.. and the excellent writing. So Nudge is this rather radical atheist’s journey of learning, understanding, and self discovery.
So why am I blathering on about Nudge when it’s a review of The Addendum? Well, of course, the book Sarah Sheppard was recruited to write was an addendum. And Sandra Moran being – well – Sandra Moran, she couldn’t leave the concept of the book actually being written alone. So now we have a literal addendum to Nudge.. helpfully called The Addendum.
The Addendum introduces us to the major ‘Nudges’ that have appeared in the last 2000 years. These Nudges were sent by Infinity to ‘nudge’ humanity along, but as we have free will, and because the message of the nudges were often written after the fact, the religious texts do not always represent what Infinity intended. The Addendum is Infinity’s explanation and correction.
It is hugely interesting, informative, well researched and brilliantly written. Sandra Moran always makes you think. Whether it is a moving romance set across a time in history when being gay was a life threatening option, or challenging us to think about how our religions have been twisted and tormented into institutionalized bigotry and hatred of anything ‘other’. The Addendum is no exception and will make you take a second look at the major characters included – at how they impacted the world and what we, humankind, have done with the messages they brought.