I just came off the emotional rollercoaster of reading "Under Your Scars", and I realized I needed something to help me recover—something engaging but not so emotionally draining. I had two books waiting on Libby, and since decision fatigue is a b!+ch, I decided to see if Google Gemini could help me choose between them without giving away any spoilers. As someone still new to AI, I was seriously impressed. Even though the two books were completely different, Gemini provided a perfect comparison. It focused on the 'emotional feel' of each story and even created a comparison chart for me. It made picking a 'recovery book' so much easier. I think I made the right call with Alchemy of Secrets especially since mysteries provide that 'puzzle-solving' engagement that keeps my mind busy without necessarily draining my heart. I’m really enjoying this book. I’ve been highlighting and taking tons of notes on my Kindle. I’ll definitely be using Gemini or other AI tools to help me pick books in the future—it made the whole process so much less stressful. ❓Have you used AI tools to help choose your next read? ❓Which app do you prefer? I know I've seen AI chat bots that are geared towards specific topics. I wasn't sure if there was one that was better suited for books & reading. Gemini did give me some suggestions to check out: •Claude •Readwise Reader •Perplexity AI

the votes are in, thanks to everyone who participated! for the first unofficial readalong we’ll be reading Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo. it sounds amazing and i’m looking forward to it! here’s a short summary:

Girl, Woman, Other is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain's colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean.

Sparklingly witty and filled with emotion, centering voices we often see othered, and written in an innovative fast-moving form that borrows technique from poetry, Girl, Woman, Other is a polyphonic and richly textured social novel that shows a side of Britain we rarely see, one that reminds us of all that connects us to our neighbors, even in times when we are encouraged to be split apart.

Bernardine Evaristo is the winner of the 2019 Booker Prize and the first black woman to receive this highest literary honor in the English language.

the unofficial readalong will take place 16 Feb - 31 Mar. so, now is the time to sort out library holds, ahead of our start in six weeks. i’ll post again as a reminder when the readalong starts.

remember! as this is an unofficial readalong there is no badge earned in participating, and discussion pertaining to the book should be kept in the book forum.

there is no rush in starting the readalong straight away on the 16th. this is meant to be very casual but will hopefully make the forum a fun experience as we read together.

thank you xxxx