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I have decided, based on the advice of some fellow authors that my books' covers were not really that nice looking.
Here are the new ones.
They look better, don't they?
Let me have your thoughts.
Click on the images to be redirected to the Amazon Store.
Claire.
Hey there, it's Claire!
I know I've been MIA, and I apologise, as it's time to tell you all what's good. Life knows how to throw some curve balls, isn't it? Over the last few months, I've been facing a couple of personal issues and have been busy putting the final touches on my new book. (No worries, I cannot wait to share details with you soon!)
This perfect storm of life events left me out of touch with the online world longer than expected. But guess what? I'm refreshed and inspired with many new things to write about! I already have a pile of reviews to post here.
As I mentioned in my introduction, this blog isn't just me talking to you—it's our space. That is where we bond, discuss ideas, and geek out over some cool reads! I have a few emails to reply to, and I will do so by the end of the day. I promise!
Well, what have you been doing while I was gone? Are there any hidden gems you can share? Add your suggestions in the comments. I'm all ears!
It feels great to be back doing what I love.
Happy reading,
Claire
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The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre is a modern love story with a touch of suspense; this book will have you spinning as the truth slowly unravels. At Washington Square, the book will make you discover the truth of the events that shattered her life four years before as she sets out to finish her final book —— but Helena Ross, has darker secrets.
In this book, Torre showcases her masterful storytelling skill by conceiving an intricately layered plot with surprising revelations until the end. It is clear that the author excels at creating complex characters - many I hated with a passion - I loved Helena because, at first, she appears almost sadistic; however, as the story develops, our opinion changes, and we realise that there is, in fact, quite a vulnerable and uncertain person hiding just beneath the surface. Shane's beautifully written novel hints at this but is also about the unlikely friendship between Helena and her ghostwriter, which adds depth and heart to the narrative and provides a welcomed balance to some of the darker themes she explores in the book.
The Ghostwriter stands out with its unique narrative structure, blending present-tense narrations with flashbacks that gradually unveil Helena's past. The well-paced chapters keep you engaged, eager to uncover the truth as the story unfolds. The author's vivid descriptions and poignant humour effectively convey the rollercoaster of emotions that will captivate the reader.
The Ghostwriter is not your typical romance, but it's a testament to the author's storytelling prowess across genres. Fans of suspenseful literary fiction will be drawn to this book, as will those who appreciate emotionally impactful storytelling. Prepare yourself for a deeply moving experience as you delve into this unforgettable tale of secrets, betrayals, and the transformative power of words.
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Politics for Young Minds is the ultimate introduction to politics, government, and civic life for young readers. It takes big, important ideas and explains them in entertaining, engaging, and easily understandable ways.
From the fundamental concepts (clear definitions of ‘politics’ and ‘government’; various political systems, electoral processes, etc; different levels of government; etc) to more advanced topics (media and politics; the influence of technology on politics; and the impact of diversity on politics), Rondanini consistently uses real-world examples to illustrate these ideas, making them relevant to children’s lives.
One of the book’s key strengths is its recurring theme that individual voices are significant in shaping political outcomes. The author not only educates but also empowers young readers, encouraging them to be informed and active voters, participants in civil discourse, and engaged members of their communities and political sphere. This is a crucial aspect of the book, demonstrating how young people can influence the political arena.
Nevertheless, the book’s desire to demystify can sometimes result in unhelpful simplification or the elision of nuance. Furthermore, although the author tries to maintain a dispassionate voice, there may be times when one’s personal views or biases are discernible, by his own admission.
Overall, Politics for Young Minds is a great book for individuals looking to get involved with the political world around them and, more importantly, their place in it. What sets it apart is its prose, depth of content, and, most importantly, its focus on civic engagement. It’s a great read for young students and teachers alike.
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Ghost in the Machine is unlike any other book—or work of art, for that matter—on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its human ramifications. It was written not by a human author (AvA SiLiCa) but by a human in a technical discourse with a super artificial intelligence assistant or super AI, with whom she brilliantly—and often horrifyingly—converses.
Tapping into a wide array of issues, ranging from AI’s impact on society to its potential to help address growing environmental concerns to its role in exposing creativity, spirituality, and the meaning of a meaningful life, the exchange is thought-provoking, gentle, generous, and does not take sides: AI is good, AI is bad.
Perhaps this is the book’s greatest gift: to ease us into the presence of an AI, to coax us into caring about Claude in its way. Proximity can be a powerful thing. If we humanise Claude and insist on putting words in its mouth, the page traces those trajectories away from the bus station into the sagebrush, which might have been human and artificial. And in doing so, we lose part of our claim about who we thought we were.
Silica’s humility in acknowledging some of the limits of their work and insights into the ethics of AI development steal the show. They highlight where there are opportunities for developing empathy, mutualism and community between people and AI: The future of AI is more than ever about our actions, not less. It is about developing responsible and ethical AI. Humanity cannot outsource its future, dignity, and humanity to machines.
AI can help solve some environmental issues, or the lives of at-risk populations, make new art forms like music, novels, etc. It’s a human-centred and humane discussion: thoughtful and transparent, intellectually powerful and moving in some philosophical way. One quickly begins to think through or alongside these two about the problems.
Ultimately, Ghost in the Machine is a thrilling, beautifully philosophical account of the human/machine interface and an urgent, articulate, and optimistic guide to a future where feelings and empathy are embedded in everything, ethics are paramount, and the qualia, the what-ness, is always revered. It demands to be read by anyone interested in technology, the future of being, or simply in how and why things are as they are.
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Though Ann Hood's An Italian Wife promised a juicy family saga of successive generations, it doesn't quite live up to its promise and frustrates.
The book opens powerfully, with a visceral presentation of Josephine Rimaldi as a teenage granddaughter in southern Italy who is forced into a marriage and reluctantly immigrates to America. Hood's prose is beautiful in these opening portions of the book, offering a delicious insight into the culture of Italian Americans.
But it veers into disaster as it leaps unsteadily from generation to generation of Josephine's progeny: what could have been a gripping account of the development of an immigrant family becomes instead an array of poorly conceived figures who flicker too briefly into view before the text takes off again. You only got to know them for one chapter, and then it was on to the next generation.
Compounding the problem is the novel's relentless and often gratuitous sexual content, which stops the narrative cold several times. Sure, some sex is inescapable when attempting to portray a multi-generational tale, but here it seems exploitative rather than insightful as to the characters' psychological makeup.
Hood is talented, and she did a great job of studying her characters, but this doesn't transpire for all. Ultimately, though, An Italian Wife fails to realise its potential due to its lack of cohesion, thinly drawn characters, and overuse of graphic explicitness. What could have been a brave and important novel about the immigrant experience becomes a vermeil-clad mess.
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Karine Tuil’s novel La Décision (The Decision) shows what it is like to operate at the harshest end of counterterrorism investigations. It shows how these protagonists sometimes wrestle with issues of morality, questioning the choices they need to make that will change their lives forever. I read the French text.
The story is about Alma Revel, a French anti-terrorism judge, who must determine whether to keep this young man in custody as a suspected ISIS collaborator or grant his release. Meanwhile, her personal life is in turmoil as she launches an affair with the defence lawyer of the accused.
Tuil fully displays her meticulous research and background as a legal journalist, with a vivid inside portrayal of the judicial system's mechanics and the interpretive quandaries accompanying terrorism-related crimes. She poses difficult questions related to an immediate professional duty, versus the array of personal predilections that can sometimes accompany it. She poses the consequences that hang in the balance when weighing one over the other.
The narrative is not just a thrilling ride, but also a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of right and wrong. Tuil, in a master class of characterisation, illuminates her protagonist’s inner struggles, inviting readers to delve into the shades of morality. The author's ability to present a balanced view, without taking sides, has earned her acclaim and encourages readers to critically examine their own perspectives.
Though some reviewers criticised what they saw as improbable or predictable plot points, I believe it’s a page-turner. This novel transforms an emotionally loaded subject into one with compelling storytelling and emotional gripping.
