EchoStar

Title: EchoStar is always listening

Autor: Melinda Salisbury

Language: English

Story:

Ruby and Deva are looking forward to go on a Ash Tree Foundation Performing Arts Camp. Unfortunately, their marks are bad so there's threat that they won't go. Deva's marks suddenly improve and she excels in the subjects. Ruby is curious, wanting to find out how it happened so Deva tells her. Curious Ruby goes on the forum and wants the AI too. Asking the person, she is provided with a download of an app. What could go wrong, right?

I've been enjoying this short stories about questioning AI and humanity. It does let the person think what future might hold if AI and humans are going to missuse it. It might be a short young adult novel. However, it has couple points to think about too.

A curse carved in bone

 

Title: A curse carved in bone

Autor: Danielle L. Jensen

Language: English

Story:

This is a continuation of the first book. Freya is trying to defeat her unseen fait which other people planned for her. Other people using and abusing her two god power to their own advantage. However, Freya stops to listen and wants to make her own life with her own hands and close ones. The fjor who she has to defeat is a child of god as well. Secondly, the fjor has a mask which people trust as he was always kind to them. But it starts to slip and crack. Will Freya manage to take out shackles which are tying her? 

I really liked the book but I still felt like something was lacking in character development. I cannot pin point what it was. The story by itself is very interesting. From absolute betrayal to find your own path, not having other people's shit manipulating you anymore. 

A Fate Inked in Blood

Title: A Fate Inked in Blood

Autor: Danielle L. Jensen

Language: English

Story:

Freya is married to Vragi, a son of fish god, who is enjoying himself to causing trouble for fun - killing fish as a sport which doesn't deserve this kind of treatment or causing trouble in people's life. He's known by leading in cruelty. One day, other leader of a clan decides to visit, her husband has a dirty plan to reveal her secret in a fight against Bjorn, son of fire god and son of the other land leader. Everybody at that moment finds out that she has a drop of goodness blood - shield maiden. However, they don't count with dear consequences of other clan's who want to posses this power as well.

My opinion:

I really enjoyed the first book as it seemed to have refreshing theme in my library. I was waiting every minute to read it as it had revealed story in a good pace. it's set in Norse country and is a bit different as a lot of characters in the book are children of Norse gods. I was rooting for Freya's fate to turn around. I had a lot of emotions going through as there is theme of abuse and power over women in the book. So it might be for someone a heavy read. 

Living with the Machine Human-generated fiction in an AI world

 

Title: Living with the Machine Human-generated fiction in an AI world
Autor: Nethergate writers
Language: English

The book includes 11 short stories about human and AI interactions which are critical for humanity. In the stories people are still on the edge of getting used to the machines where they are very weary of the robot interaction and they aren't trusting these new machines. I would say that all of the short stories are good for considering the possible outcome in our real world even though this is only fiction. In my opinion It's something how some people are approaching AI now as well. 

What I liked the most from the stories is the first one about the captain where AI saved not only other robots but also humans as the other party (of humans, who wanted to abuse AI and experiment) in a play didn't have best intention for either species.

Would I recommend the book? Definitely if you like to take into consideration different view of the AI and the world and let yourself think.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents

 

Title: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Autor: Lindsay C. Gibson

Language: English

The book is about how past actions of our parents are having consequences to our adult relationships. How parents who were distant or anxious shaped us into similarity or we found ourselves that coping mechanism as an adult doesn't work. And if you wonder why some of the adult relationships - friends, colleagues or romantic ones doesn't work, there's some of the explanation. 

75% of the book is very heavy read for head but in my opinion for somebody who is trying to find themselves, set boundaries with others and be happier in life is a must read. Nonetheless, make sure that you prepare yourself a bucket of chocolate or you talk to a friend when you read the first half!

22 Things a Woman Must Know If She Loves a Man with Asperger's Syndrome

 Lately, my head has been stuck either between animation or looking up information about Asperger's as I have people in my life who think differently. I do not want them to name them being ill because that wouldn't be true. It's not an illness. The brain just works differently. Unfortunately, a lot of people who think differently, do not fit into society which causes stress as they have to learn society rules to fit in. Without being suspected to be different.

Lisa Jewell - Invisible Girl

 Hi all!

For our college homework, we were tasked to read a book any of our choice from either ESOL library or the main college library. I knew the main library had very easy books in their library so I chose something from the ESOL library on our level of the building instead. There were so many options which I liked and it was hard to choose any particular one. But this one - Invisible Girl - caught my eye with its intruding cover and the annotation at the back.

Title: Invisible girl

Author: Lisa Jewell

Language I read it in: English

The book has interesting story line. However, the the topic is very difficult read and I had had a problem with it. In the book is about sexual abuse, harassments and rape.