What we have all seen by Mike Lucas Credits:
What we all sawMike LucasPenguin, $ 19.99
A decent introduction to Stephen King-style horror for first-time readers, Mike Lucas’s What We All Saw focuses on four friends — Shell, Gray, Charlie, and the narrator — who are told from principle, cover up the death of a child. Everyone has heard the rumors about Hag’s Drop, an imposing cliff from which, it is said, witches were thrown to death a long time ago. They say the place is still haunted by the spirit of a vengeful witch, and when children tempt fate by investigating, things take a deadly turn when a nightmare comes to life. I especially liked the character of Shell, a girl with animated vision problems who seems to be the most vulnerable to danger but who is also the wisest, the one who sees what others don’t see. The novel is still age-appropriate – nothing too horrible for the eyes – and is essentially a well-transformed story of friends dressed in the strain of psychological and supernatural horror.
A dolphin named Jock by Melody Horrill Credits:
WEEKA Dolphin Non-Fiction SELECTION Called JockMelody HorrillAllen & Unwin, $ 32.99
Melody Horrill grew up holding her breath, anxiously awaiting the next violent eruption between her parents. It was a childhood that left her disconnected from the world and the people around her. The serendipity in the form of an encounter with a damaged dolphin named Jock opened her “to the possibility of belonging, of love in its raw and unfiltered form.” In the dark history of his background is the light that Jock brought to his life when he began working as a volunteer, watching the river dolphins in the waters of Port Adelaide. The confidence that the lone dolphin showed her, her expressions of unbridled joy in her company and her desire for connection transformed her. The touching arc of its story has the satisfying quality of a contemporary fairy tale with an urgent message about the fragile but deep bond between humans and the natural world.
The word Hord by Hana VideenCredit:
The Word HordHana VideenPrinceton University Press, $ 27.99
When the term “wordhord” appears in Old English literature, it is usually combined with “unlock,” which is exactly what makes this book so charming. Unlock the treasure trove of 1000-year-old words in Old English that reflect our language and our understanding of the world. While some words in Old English such as “bliss”, “cild” (boy), “wis” (wise), “craeft” (craft) and “englisc” (English) live almost unchanged, others they surreptitiously incorporate into our consciousness. “Dom” has been replaced by “judgment” – of the French after the Norman invasion – but persists in “doom”. The earthiness of much of Old English makes it ripe for its renaissance. Take “end-woerc” for “butt pain” or “broken word” for a word that causes pain or distress. And what a pity not to be able to give COVID the most inspired name of “Oelf-siden” (enchanting elf): an unknown affliction accompanied by fever.
Nothing but the Truth by The Secret BarristerCredit:
Nothing but the truthThe Secret BarristerPicador, $ 34.99
When this anonymous British lawyer began, they had a strong conviction that “stories of bleeding-hearted sobs do not absolve you of your role in the social contract.” Exposure to the world of criminal law completely changed them. The Secret Barrister opens with law school and the hyper-competitive “brown-nosed race to the bottom” to get the student to have an experienced lawyer, building up to the point where they realized that people trapped in the criminal justice system could be genuinely. innocent. As the years go by, there are dangers of exposure to creepy cases and horrifying images, and how this can cause someone to stray between delicacy and paranoia. Sad as it may seem, this journey through the underworld of criminal courts is written with a lightness of touch, experienced ingenuity, and a perfected appreciation of the disordered complexity of human affairs.
The internet is not what you think it is by Justin EH Smith Credits:
The Internet is not what you think it is Justin EH SmithPrinceton University Press, $ 34.99
At first, while struggling with where the Internet has taken us, the philosopher Justin Smith accuses him of being “antihuman.” However, just as the Internet is not what you think it is, neither is this book. While Smith addresses what is wrong with the web, especially compelling is his exploration of how it affects our attention and how it encourages us to change our sense of self for “an algorithmically traceable profile.” of that. machine-assisted communication as an extension of all forms of communication in nature. As for human history, he argues, the evolution of the Internet “is just the latest twist in a much longer history of reflection on the connection and unity of all things.” Thus, although it shows how the network deforms us, it remains alert to the fabric of the whole fabric and its positive potential. This is a demanding read, but well worth the effort.