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Sign of intelligence

There's been a lot of coverage lately about the rise of Artificial Intelligence. How a photographer entered a computer generated image in a competition and won. How journalists are finding news articles so successfully constructed that they struggle to recognise when they are false or not written by humans.

The publishing industry is deliberating on its response too. Recent articles in the trade magazine 'The Bookseller' have reported on academic and educational publishers being ready to 'embrace' AI opportunities. And book-to-film and packaged books are also seen as suitable uses for the technology. But at what cost to the creatives in the industry, one commentator asked. Publishers can't support creatives on one hand and undermine them on the other.

I confess that I'm burying my head in the sand with this issue currently. Things seem to be happening too fast for me to keep up! 

But our guest author Kate Sawyer who visited us in Woodbridge for an event with Browsers Bookshop and Woodbridge Library to launch her new novel 'This Family' has clearly been thinking about the issue.

When asked about copyright, in the light of the recent Ed Sheeran case, and where writers gain their inspiration for their stories, she said: "Just as he said there are only so many notes, there are only so many stories. We're all talking about the same things. 

"AI doesn't worry me because computers can't generate that element of surprise, the human element that makes the story exciting and good. And that's why sometimes you can read something that's classed as romance but it can be about so much more...a brief and brilliant portrayal of grief, for example. We're all telling the same stories, I think, just in different guises."

Thank you to everyone who came along to hear Kate last week. She delighted us all with her energy and determination in what was a wide-ranging discussion about writing, publishing and life! I'm hoping to announce another author visit very soon.

But out next meeting is to discuss Katherine Heiny's novel 'Standard Deviation', on Monday 22 May. Scroll down for details of this month's book group meeting, and please reply to this email if you are hoping to come along so that I have an idea of numbers for chairs and catering!

Thank you for reading.

NOVEL OF THE WEEK
The Family Retreat
by Bev Thomas

I do like the occasional domestic psychological thriller and this one certainly had me gripped trying to guess what was going to happen next. There were some great twists though some of the themes were dark and challenging and it was quite unsettling as the story moves away from its opening as an innocent, recuperative family holiday in a cottage by the sea in Dorset.

Jess needs a break away from her job as a GP in the city. She's always trying to do her best, go the extra mile and help others, but for the moment she needs to focus on herself and her family.

Her neighbours at the holiday cottage seem to have a few issues of their own going on, though, and Jess can't help but get involved. Only the situation is very different from what she imagined, and the consequences are far reaching. A great page turner though ultimately addressing some big issues.

For recommended non-fiction titles, take a look here.

NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE WEEK
Hermit
by Jade Angeles Fitton

This is part memoir, part musings and histories of Hermits through the ages. As the former, I found it rather odd but, as the latter, there were lots of interesting thoughts and ideas about isolation.

The author tells us that her long term relationship had broken down, but it was abusive, so there are a number of issues that she has to deal with in building her new life on her own. As she confronts these, she explores how other people live alone.

Talking to hermits throughout the world, the author introduces us to monks and hikikomori, the female hermit and the anchoress. She asks whether aloneness or hermitic living is possible through modern technology and transport, and what we really think of people who remove themselves from society. 

For her own life, struggling to find somewhere to live, she comes to understand certain features of simplicity and isolation. How time passes at a different rate when you're alone, she says, and how you are better able to access memories. But how maintaining your own existence requires practical self-sufficiency.

Solitude can enhance and enable our creativity too, she says. And it is important to find the space to listen to and understand our own thoughts and opinions. In the 21st century is it possible to find this isolation, to become a hermit, with the constant hum of communication? Although connection is associated with increased mental wellbeing, studies show that the more online we are, the more unbalanced we become in real life, she says.

The author embarks on another relationship but as lockdown hits, they find themselves holed up on the Scilly Islands with a hermit-like existence of limited food and resources. 

There's a lot in this book to enjoy and explore though, for me, this was outside the author's personal story. Overall it's a fascinating account of recovery, home and finding solitude in the natural world.

For recommended non-fiction titles, take a look here.

CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
Molly and the Dolphins
by Malachy Doyle
illustrated by Andrew Whitson

Captivating illustrations make this picture book really come to life as Molly learns to sail and has adventures on the open sea.

Molly's father is a fisherman who decides to make a dinghy for his daughter and teach her to sail. It doesn't take long for Molly to get the hang of it and is thrilled to find dolphins join her, leaping through the waves.

Soon Molly is allowed to sail on her own but on one outing discovers that the dolphins have been caught up in the fishing nets. Fortunately her dad comes to the rescue and they're able to cut the dolphins free.

Another day, Molly sails a little further out than usual and the weather changes. She realises that she's in trouble and there seems to be no one who can help her. What will she do? 

It's a very lovely tale of the bond between father and daughter, a friendship between a young girl and a pod of dolphins, and adventures on the sea. Suitable for children aged three upwards, I rather enjoyed it!

Read about more recommended children's books here.

NOTE THE DATE!
Browsers Bookshop Book Group

at St John's Hall, Woodbridge

Monday 22 May 8pm 
talking about...

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Reviewers say this is one of the funniest books you'll ever read, a comic masterpiece - will this tale of a middle-class marriage make us laugh? What makes a good comic novel? Which reviewers' comments do we trust?!
Buy your copy from Browsers Bookshop Woodbridge with the book group discount and read along. Everyone is welcome to join the meeting and please let me know by replying to this email if you're planning on coming.
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Copyright © 2023 Catherine Larner, All rights reserved.


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