Never Lie by Freida McFadden: Fiction

In Never Lie, the author, Freida McFadden uncovers the horrifying tale of what happens to a couple, Tricia and Ethan, on their quest to find a home of their dreams.  On their visit to a manor they were stuck there due to a vicious winter storm outside. This manor belonged to  a psychiatrist, Dr. Adrienne Hale who disappeared many years ago. 

The winter storm kept them in this manor.  Tricia found a stack of cassette tapes, recordings of Dr. Hale's sessions with her patients. Tricia listened to them as there was nothing else to do in the manor but wait for the winter storm to subside. 

These tapes uncovered a whole series of unusual circumstances experienced by each of Dr. Hale's clients. When Tricia listened to the final tape she discovers the alarming truth.

Never Lie is a story of unusual circumstances that a young couple endure during their search for a home of their own.

The Exchange by John Grisham: Fiction

 

In The Exchange: After The Firm, the author, John Grisham explores the adventures of the main characters, Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby.  

Mitch works for an international New York law firm. He is sent to Libya to negotiate the release of Giovana, daughter of a senior parter of the law firm. She is taken as a hostage by the Libyan authorities who will not release her until the ransom is paid. 

Mitch works with Abby to resolve this unusual situation.  It is unusual as there is no ransom until later in the story.  Once the ransom is made known they try to obtain the ransom money from their various international sources.  There are many interactions between these sources from different countries. And in the meantime, Giovana is held hostage with no knowledge of her whereabouts in Libya. There are clues but, to their knowledge, no definite location. 

The story unfolds with some dramatic moments as the various clues are identified enabling them to verify and trust each step they take to resolving this hostage crisis.

Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence - Non-fiction

"Artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted many industries around the world—banking and finance, pharmaceuticals, automotive, medical technology, manufacturing, and retail. But it has only just begun its odyssey toward cheaper, better, and faster predictions that drive strategic business decisions. When prediction is taken to the max, industries transform, and with such transformation comes disruption.

What is at the root of this? In their bestselling first book, Prediction Machines, eminent economists Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb explained the simple yet game-changing economics of AI. Now, in Power and Prediction, they go deeper, examining the most basic unit of analysis: the decision. The authors explain that the two key decision-making ingredients are prediction and judgment, and we perform both together in our minds, often without realizing it. The rise of AI is shifting prediction from humans to machines, relieving people from this cognitive load while increasing the speed and accuracy of decisions. 

This sets the stage for a flourishing of new decisions and has profound implications for system-level innovation. Redesigning systems of interdependent decisions takes time—many industries are in the quiet before the storm—but when these new systems emerge, they can be disruptive on a global scale. Decision-making confers power. In industry, power confers profits; in society, power confers control. This process will have winners and losers, and the authors show how businesses can leverage opportunities, as well as protect their positions.

Filled with illuminating insights, rich examples, and practical advice, Power and Prediction is the must-read guide for any business leader or policymaker on how to make the coming AI disruptions work for you rather than against you." 

Source:https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/power-and-prediction-the-disruptive-economics-of-artificial-intelligence/9781647824198.html

Personal Comment: It is an interesting portrayal of the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the current world of business decision-making. Some will thrive while others will struggle to survive and cope with these unusual changes in the world of business today.  

Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney

Audio Version of: Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney. 

As outlined in the Indigo Books Review: Books Biography & Memoirs

"A gripping first-hand account of the January 6th, 2021, insurrection from inside the halls of Congress, from origins to aftermath, as Donald Trump and his enablers betrayed the American people and the Constitution—by the House Republican leader who dared to stand up to it.

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump and many around him, including certain other elected Republican officials, intentionally breached their oath to the Constitution: they ignored the rulings of dozens of courts, plotted to overturn a lawful election, and provoked a violent attack on our Capitol.   Liz Cheney, one of the few Republican officials to take a stand against these efforts, witnessed the attack first-hand, and then helped lead the Congressional Select Committee investigation into how it happened. In Oath and Honor, she tells the story of this perilous moment in our history, those who helped Trump spread the stolen election lie, those whose actions preserved our constitutional framework, and the risks we still face."

Personal Comment: As I absorbed the audio version read by Liz Cheney I grasped and understood the realities of the events surrounding the January 6th attack on the capital of the United States of America in Washington, D.C.  America was on the brink of losing its democracy. But thankfully it did not happen as a result of the strength of its institutions that dissipated the situation to normality. 

Fourth Wing: Fly or Die by Rebecca Yarros

Author, Rebecca Yarros takes the reader into a world of fantasy and realism where you are faced with the realities of an elite world of a war college for dragon riders.  

The main character Violet Sorrengail, daughter of a tough Commanding General has ordered Violet to join the many candidates who are persistently struggling to become part of the elite Navarre dragon riders.  It is a difficult journey for Violet as she overcomes one hurdle after another, especially since every colleague or perceived friend could have her dead if necessary, as indicated in the title--you either fly or die.  Each individual would kill anyone to ensure their individual chances of success.  

Apart from being petite in size and stature, Violet has to cope with meeting the demands of her mother and ensuring that she succeeds at every turn while watching her back every single moment.  

There are no friends in this war college as each one is just brutally attempting to succeed at any cost. It is an unusual narrative of life in a war college for dragon riders.  

 

A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson: Fiction

Solace is an imaginary town in Northern Ontario created by author, Mary Lawson to portray the nuances of family life in a small town.  The three characters are seven-year old Clara, Mrs. Orchard--a next door neighbour and Liam, an unemployed person who returns to Solace.  

Clara is on a constant vigil at the front window of her home waiting for her missing older sister to return. Through her monitoring she notices many goings on that don't seem right to her.  Mrs. Orchard is taken to hospital and Clara regularly cares for her cat Moses while Mrs. Orchard is away.  

In the meantime, Liam arrives at Mrs. Orchard's house and appears to have packed and removed boxes from the house.  This upsets Clara as she surmises that it is not at all appropriate for Liam to do this. 

Clara is kept in the dark as to the realities of this situation and hence the novel takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of these three characters.   It provides a suspenseful interplay of viewpoints from these characters that reveal their individual roles in this story. 

Saints by Orson Scott Card: Non-fiction

Scott Card, author of Saints, portrays the lifestyle of the Mormons living in America, specifically in Utah.  

It is an epic narrative of the lifestyle of the Mormons. The author details the different characters as they engage in their life of independence with strict obedience to the hierarchy of the Mormon Church.  They follow their rituals as prescribed by the leader of the group. They appear content and in acceptance of their lifestyle, living up to their interpretation of God's will for them on earth. Their hierarchy determine how they will practise their religion and live accordingly. They have their own mode of dress and travel within their environment.  

It is a different form of living and the citizens of this group are confined to their lifestyle with no regard or care for the rest of the citizens in America.  They believe they live by the word of God as interpreted by their leader.

This narrative informs and educates the reader about a group of people living independently according to their Church laws, and yet are bound by the laws of America. It provides very interesting and valuable insights into the lifestyle of this group who live harmoniously among themselves. For some readers it may be an "eye-opener" to the lifestyle of others living in America today.