The Ghostwriter - A.R. Torres

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

Politics for Young Minds - Luigi Pascal Rondanini

⭐⭐⭐⭐

 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.

Ghost in the Machine: A Convergence of Human and Artificial Minds - AvA SiLiCa

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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. 

An Italian Wife - Ann Hood

⭐⭐

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.

La Décision (The Decision) - Karine Tuil

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

An emotional representation of the human experience of betrayal and abandonment - Eve Hamilton (unpublished poem)

I am pleased to review a poem by Eve, the narrator of Volume 2 of my book.

Her work is unpublished, so I will avoid copying the text here and place in the title what I think is the essence of her poem in a single line.

However, I will provide a link in this comment when and if the poem will be available online.

Rating: 5/5

This poem delves into the universal themes of betrayal and loss, weaving them into the narrative of an abused and neglected horse. This horse, a poignant metaphor for the soul, vividly embodies the pain and suffering of individuals who have been betrayed and abandoned by their loved ones. Its emotional journey, from hope to despair, resonates deeply with the reader, drawing them into its world of anguish and resilience.

The story of the horse is a powerful portrait of the pain and suffering of individuals whose trust has been abandoned, betrayed, or abandoned. The vivid description of the physical and emotional suffering of the horse lies with those who have encountered its experiences of abuse and abandonment. 

The author's use of the first-person narrative creates a strong connection between the reader and the metaphorical horse, creating a deeper emotional connection in the lines "I've worked so hard, I've trotted for miles, my feet are sore" and "I thought they loved us, so why are we here?" They evoke empathy and understanding as readers see the parallels between the horse's experiences and their own. 

The execution pen is a metaphor for the terrible and hopeless situations in which individuals are betrayed or abandoned. The other animals in the execution pen symbolise their shared experiences, constructing separate injustices and emphasising that prevalence. The horse’s shattered dream of a peaceful retreat to greener pastures represents the lost hopes and aspirations of those whose lives have been enriched by the actions of others. 

The final line, "The kill pen will be our last ever sound," is a haunting and powerful statement about the terrible and irreversible consequences of betrayal and abandonment. 

Throughout the poem, the author skilfully uses literary devices such as repetition, emotional detail, and rhetorical questions to enhance the emotional impact and build allegorical meaning, emphasised in the story of the horse.

In conclusion, this poem is a masterful exploration of the human experience. By narrating the tale of an abandoned horse, the author crafts a poignant and universally resonant commentary on betrayal, loss, and the indomitable spirit of humanity in the face of suffering. The poem’s emotional depth, vivid imagery, and inspirational message make it a truly outstanding and unforgettable work of art, one that leaves a lasting impression on the reader's heart and mind.

Reawakening the Magic by Facing the Shadows Series on Audible - Free Promo codes for the US and the UK

 Dear reader,

Now that Trevor Grant and Eve Hamilton have completed their production, I am delighted to offer you an exclusive opportunity. You can get a free promo code to listen to my story and their version on Audible, a privilege reserved just for you.

Here is the description of the work as published on Amazon.

Feel free to contact me to get the codes. I hope you will leave an honest review to help me promote these books.

This two-volume collection traces the roots of iconic fairy tales to uncover the surprisingly unsettling themes that endure through sanitised modern retellings aimed at young audiences today.

Book One digs into the original, disturbing folkloric underpinnings of classics from “Little Red Riding Hood” to “Sleeping Beauty,” exposing troublesome tropes that romanticise abuse, normalise child neglect, tout female disempowerment and more. Cultural analysis reveals that the evolution of these tales toward more “palatable” variants allowed problematic notions to persist subtly.

Book Two offers reimagined versions of the same fairy tales reshaped to promote healthy relationships, model redemption, celebrate diversity, resolve conflict through communication, and impart values of empathy and courage. By preserving the magic of these classics while confronting darkness, fairy tales can enlighten new generations rather than perpetuate the prejudices of the past.

This set delivers insight into the complex role iconic childhood stories play in conditioning cultural beliefs across generations. Fairy tales endure because their primal motifs speak to timeless truths in the human experience. But as moral guides, we must ensure their lessons enlighten young minds rather than preserve archaic limitations.

By tracing the genealogy of famous fairy tales from obscure folkloric origins to their iterations as sanitised children’s canon, patterns emerge in the selective editing that allowed unhealthy tropes to persist. This forgotten context explains how even whimsical fantasy worlds children inhabit subtly normalise notions modern society rejects, from violence and xenophobia to female disempowerment.

But examining this heritage creates opportunities to consciously reshape fairy tales to nurture values like empathy, courage and redemption instead. The author does just that in Book Two, offering short updated versions that retain magic while promoting positive ideals. This set inspires readers to think critically about the stories we feed impressionable minds and their immense power to mold our cultural conscience. For fairy tales that illuminate progress already underway can transform society ever after.