299 Days - The Preparation (Review)

 Last week, Glen Tate, author of "299 Days - The Preparation", was interviewed on The survival Podcast, by Jack Spirko. I am a big fan of TSP and Jack's interview compelled me to go online and purchase the book from Amazon. I chose  the Kindle version for $9.95. As this is book 1 in a 10 part series, this could be a very expensive novel.

Apart from all the spelling and grammatical errors, there is other evidence of lack of proof-reading. It was a little distracting in the beginning, but I got used to it as I got caught up in the story.  At $14.95 for a paperback, and $9.95 for a Kindle book (and considering that this is book 1 of 10) I believe that either a little more effort should have been spent on proofreading, or that the price should have been a little lower. (Hell, send me a copy, I'll proof read the damn thing and make corrections). The other thing that I found odd was the abrupt ending. At first I thought there was something wrong with my Kindle. I have never seen such an abrupt ending. "His shed was getting filled up. Good." What the hell kind of an ending is that for a book? In fairness, I will mention that part 2 - "The Collapse", is available on Kindle for $6.95, and I will be reviewing that in a few days.

Now that those little pet peeves are out of the way, let me say that for a first novel, I think the story is well conceived.

Some "survival" novels are either completely absurd, or are so buried in a sermon (and the author's efforts to imply that every non-evangelical reader is doomed), that the story fails to keep the reader engaged. The fact that this is a largely auto-biographical novel, lends to the credibility and bonds the author to us. More than that, Tate does a good job of gradually introducing someone who may not have yet started prepping, by slowly describing his personal journey towards enlightenment. Readers at every level of prepping will be able to identify with the main character. Most long-time preppers,  will get a kick out of it - as I'm sure many went through similar stages of understanding. His struggles to "convert" or "deceive" his wife for the greater good are also something that many of us can relate to, and will find entertaining. The book really starts to jell about 1/4 of the way in, and as the story is very believable and easy to identify with, it is a real page-turner and is hard to put down; I read it in one sitting. "299 Days" was an honest story that new and seasoned preppers alike, will easily identify with.  Grant's dialogue with his friends from the gun store are very genuine and entertaining and allows Tate's sense of humor to shine towards the end of the book.

"299 Days -The Preparation" does a great job of illustrating that "prepping" isn't irrational, fear driven, or something only engaged in by camo-clad militia men in their neo-nazi clubhouses - as the mainstream media would like us to believe. Tate uses his main character, Grant Madsen, to remind us that prepping is the natural responsibility of every man who loves his family and understands that the man's duty is their security. He subtly touches on the ideas that public schools, TV, and government propaganda are the tools that have dumbed us down, kept us asleep, and prevented us from understanding that there is a genuine, immanent disaster coming, or that we should do anything but watch "reality" TV and just trust that the government will take care of us. He also illustrates the comparison between prepping and other taboo behaviors, and shows how he personally overcame the social stigma of bulk shopping, buying guns and ammo, and making disaster plans. This book fills a niche that has been neglected for a long time. It addresses the average white collar suburbanite, and shows that prepping isn't loony, difficult, expensive, or something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. It IS something to keep private, and only share with those who need to know. There is a superb scene between Grant and his 15 year old daughter, where he explains the reasons it is important not to let anyone know of your preparations - not even your best friend.

"299 Days" is a good novel to share with friends and family who have been reluctant to deal with the need to make preparations; for those who can't see "prepping" as anything more than a socially unacceptable behavior for "conspiracy theorists", "wackos", and "nut jobs". It is a good kick in the rear end for those who have been procrastinating getting in shape, or who have stalled in their prepping plans. It is entertaining, realistic, and motivating. I believe that Tate has a winner on his hands, and have no doubt that this will find it's way to a lot of Christmas stockings this year. Good. - FT

(I couldn't resist ending my review with "Good". ;-) I know that Tate has a great sense of humor, so I hope he will tolerate  my feeble attempt at humor.)

One thing that should not be overlooked in your long-term preparations is Pure Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth from Freshwater Organics. Not only should it be added to long term food storage to ensure that is remains bug free indefinitely, but it should also be taken as a daily supplement to help eliminate parasites, remove heavy metal from the bloodstream, balance cholesterol levels, and eliminate toxins from the intestinal tract. It can also be used as an incredible natural and organic insecticide, to absorb odors, as a mild scrub, in gardening, and over 100 other uses. I highly recommend that every prepper pick up a minimum of 10# of our Fossil Shell Flour, as well as the book "Going Green Using Diatomaceous Earth How-To Tips" by Tui Rose. Both are available from FreshwaterOrganics.com
 
Look for a review on Tui's book next week.