Jackson Coppley's Blog, page 7

Mariah Burton Nelson

I met an interesting woman at a recent dinner. She played basketball at Stanford in the early years of Title IX. She witnessed firsthand the slow progress leveling the playing field at that institution. It went from women basketball players having uniforms with taped on numbers to being allowed to play in “the men’s gym.”

Her name is Mariah Burton Nelson. She played professional basketball with the New Jersey Gems by way of France and later the Dallas Diamonds, San Francisco Pioneers, and California Dreams. However, in those days, if the players were paid anything, the check might bounce.

In our conversation, Nelson did not lead with basketball, but with swimming. Her passion for water is clear from the home page of her website.

Speaking of her website, Nelson posted there an article she did for Forbes Magazine. Co-authored with Donna Lopiano, it is an essay entitled A Fair and Inclusive Solution for Transgender Women in Sports. It’s a thoughtful treatment of a current topic.

Check out Nelson’s website at http://mariahburtonnelson.com.

The Maidens

Alex Michaelides, known for his debut bestseller The Silent Patient, pens the narrative of The Maidens. Both are steeped in mystery involving psychotherapy; however, The Silent Patient is more captivating.

The Maidens begins with a series of murders of female students at Cambridge University which our protagonist Mariana Andros believes her niece's friend was a victim of. It turns out all of them were part of a cult-like group which was led by a handsome professor called Edward Fosca and referred to as "The Maidens". This prompts Mariana to be convinced Fosca is the one responsible for these murders.

Mariana insists to the officials that Fosca is responsible for the crime, yet they bring in another suspect instead. A second female victim appears afterwards, and as the young man could not have been the killer, a third woman is killed. Mariana pleads her case to no avail when another person is wrongly arrested for the murders. I’m sure the author’s intent was not comedic, but the police actions could have been a Monty Python skit.

There is a thrilling twist at the end of the story which will surprise you. However, when you wake up the next morning, you may be left wondering why the murderer continued killing after their motivation had disappeared.

The writing throughout is vivid and descriptive, even if some images are thrown in without any explanation. If you're looking for an entertaining read, then this book would fit the bill - just be aware that it may leave you with lots of questions!

An AI Story about David Sedaris

I was seated in Rehoboth Beach’s Browseabout Books, waiting for a talk by David Sedaris. Since I’ve been experimenting with Artificial Intelligence, I thought I would pass the time by pulling out my phone, picking the ChatGPT app, and telling it to:

“Write a story about author David Sedaris at a book signing In Rehoboth Beach Delaware.”

The following is the story. Perhaps one day, a child could turn to a chat bot and say, “Tell me a story about unicorns on the moon,” and it would dutiful fulfill the little one’s request.

This is Chat’s Story

David Sedaris, the renowned author known for his wit and humor, found himself at a book signing event in the charming coastal town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The event was held in a cozy independent bookstore nestled among the bustling streets.

As the clock ticked closer to the start of the book signing, a line began to form outside the bookstore. Excitement filled the air as fans eagerly waited for their chance to meet the beloved author. David, wearing his trademark spectacles and a warm smile, sat at a table adorned with stacks of his latest book, “Laughs by the Seashore.”

The moment arrived, and the doors swung open, welcoming the crowd into the bookstore. People from all walks of life stepped inside, clutching their well-worn copies of David’s previous works and his new release. The room buzzed with anticipation, blending the scent of fresh books with the sweet ocean breeze wafting through the open windows.

One by one, fans approached the table, expressing their admiration and gratitude for David’s ability to capture life’s absurdities and make them laugh. Some shared personal stories that his writing had touched upon, while others simply wanted to shake his hand and offer words of appreciation.

As David engaged with each person, he displayed his extraordinary ability to make ordinary moments extraordinary. He listened intently to their stories, his eyes twinkling with genuine interest. With his quick wit and clever banter, he effortlessly turned mundane conversations into unforgettable exchanges.

Among the crowd, there was a young aspiring writer named Emily, who had traveled all the way from a small neighboring town to meet her literary idol. Emily clutched her notebook tightly, her heart pounding with nervous excitement as she approached the table.

David looked up, his warm smile extending to her. “Hello there! What’s your name?” he asked.

“E-Emily,” she stammered, barely containing her excitement. “I’ve been a fan for years, Mr. Sedaris. Your writing has inspired me to pursue my own storytelling.”

David’s eyes sparkled with encouragement. “Well, Emily, that’s wonderful to hear. Keep at it! The world can never have enough storytellers.”

Emily handed him her notebook, asking if he would consider giving her some writing advice. David graciously accepted, flipping through the pages filled with her stories and musings. He nodded thoughtfully, occasionally letting out a chuckle as he read.

After a few moments, he looked up at Emily and said, “You’ve got real talent, Emily. Just keep writing, no matter what. Write about the strange, the funny, and the absurd. Let your voice be heard.”

Emily’s face lit up with a mix of gratitude and inspiration. She thanked David profusely, feeling her determination bolstered by his words.

As the day carried on, David continued to meet fans and sign books. The line dwindled, but the atmosphere remained charged with positivity and admiration. It was a true testament to the impact that his writing had on people’s lives.

As the last fan walked away, David took a moment to reflect on the day. He felt a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing that he had not only entertained but also inspired others to embrace their creativity.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, had welcomed David Sedaris with open arms, and in return, he had left behind a trail of laughter and encouragement. The stories he had heard and the connections he had made would forever be etched in his heart.

And as he closed his eyes, breathing in the salty air, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the gift of storytelling and the opportunity to bring joy to people’s lives, one book signing at a time.

BTW: While there, David signed a copy of his latest book for me. It was not the fictitious book Laughs by the Seashore ChatGPT dreamed up. It was Happy-Go-Lucky.

Expect a book review in the future.

Horse

Horse is a historical novel spanning many story arcs, all connected by what most people believe to be the greatest racehorse who ever lived.

The horse is an antebellum Kentucky thoroughbred named after the capital of that state, Lexington. His trainer and lifelong friend is Jarret, a slave. But the novel doesn’t start there. It begins in current day Washington, DC, with the unlikely developing affair between a Cambridge-educated art student from Africa and an Australian lass who has her dream job at the Smithsonian working with their collection of bones. Odd couple indeed.

It is, at its core, a story about race, particularly in the United States. Since the art student from Africa, Theo, did not grow up in the US, he is painfully blind to what most African Americans refer to as ‘the talk.’ The microaggressions Theo experiences are contrasted to those in the early part of the 19th century vividly lived by Jarret.

Art is the glue that binds the past with the present, since the art student Theo retrieves a painting cast by the curb with other clutter, which he discovers to be of the horse Lexington with an unidentified slave proudly holding his reins. Then we read the account of the painter, Thomas Scott, who tells of its creation 170 years ago. Interspersed with Scott’s chapters are those with Jarret’s voice.

The author, Geraldine Brooks, is a master of giving voice to these characters that sound of the period, but with each different. The story is compelling, not perfect, but the book remains thoughtfully complete.

I recommend it.

A World of Curiosities

Louise Penny is known for creating suspenseful events in her sleepy Canadian village of Three Pines. It's no different in A World of Curiosities.

The title of the book refers to a painting that doesn't appear until much later in the story. The narrative begins ten years ago, when Chief Inspector Armand Gamache meets his future son-in-law Jean-Guy Beauvoir while investigating the death of a woman found in a lake. In this case, two children are discovered to be victims of abuse. The local police have an unusual connection with the young ones, which leads to a dramatic showdown.

As soon as the painting is uncovered, a mystery unfolds and secrets embedded in it become clear. Later on, a serial killer resurfaces: someone Gamache had locked up a long time ago. All pieces fit together at last to complete the plot.

Penny's writing style is vivid and she skillfully portrays people's feelings throughout the book. However, this reader found it tiring at the end. I just wanted to get on with it. That didn’t ruin the book for me. A World of Curiosities is definitely worth reading.

ChatGPT and Me

I developed a fondness for ChatGPT. Until the day it lied to me.

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage. Whoever would have guessed it? AI? That’s some techie, nerdy thing, right? It’s only when ChatGPT put new meaning in the word Chat. A computer with whom you can converse. Sure, we’ve been doing it with voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, but telling Alexa to turn on the lights when you want a room illuminated and asking ChatGPT to write a poem is startling different.

Of course, as a writer and a technologist, I had to take AI for a spin. I’ve been using smart tools for some time: ProWritingAid and Grammarly for proofing my work before we branded them as AI. Now, I’ve been putting ChatGPT to the test. No, I haven’t asked it to write for me. I’ve been using it as a super Google, where I can be more vague about what I’m looking for.

Our publishing company listed a new book about several men taking a road trip. So, I told ChatGPT, “List books written in the past ten years about men on a road trip.” It produced a valid list of ten titles. I have a character in my latest novel who quotes Shakespeare and had a scene in which he talks about being in a play, so I commanded, “Provide quotes from Shakespeare about a play about to start.” Out came a suitable list to choose from.

I was on a roll.

Then came the time I was establishing characters for a novel I’m beginning. It takes place in Brazil. I asked ChatGPT for Brazilian women’s first names. Out came a list that seemed right. Same is true when I asked for last names. I like to ensure I’m not using a real person’s name, so I googled first and last name combinations. I was frustrated to be unable to find any combination that was not already taken.

So, I finally had the idea of getting to the point. ChatGPT is smart, right? It would be up for the challenge. I asked Chat to provide Brazilian woman’s names that do not appear on Facebook. It responded, “Here are some more fictional Brazilian woman's first and last names that do not appear on Facebook:” and provided a list of ten names. I was happy.

But then I paused.

I cannot say what made me doubt Chat. Perhaps it was what I’ve read about AI systems having ‘hallucinations,’ making stuff up. I checked Facebook. Chat lied to me. Each name was on Facebook.

I know about the huge data source ChatGPT has from a multitude of sources. I doubt it had checked with Facebook. But why did it have to lie?

Perhaps when I asked it “What is the difference between tomato sauce and tomato paste,” its answer could not be trusted?

Every Breath

Nicholas Sparks returns to his native North Carolina to spin an intriguing beach romance. He teases the reader by claiming he found a story written for a mailbox where people place such things for others to find. However, it wasn’t clear who wrote it. Sparks spent considerable effort to find the author. Once he did, we must find what happens. Thus begins the story.

The story takes place in the fall when few people are at the beach. We find our love interests in adjoining houses. The young woman is engaged to be married but taking time to put up the family beach house for sale. The man is a guest in the other house. He is from Zimbabwe, the son of once-wealthy farmers who wants as far away from the family as possible. He’s a safari guide in the bush and receives word that a father he never knew is dying and wants to meet him. So, that adds an interesting side story to the plot.

Of course, the two fall madly in love, but she it betrothed, and he cannot imagine living outside of game preserves. The second part of the book jumps in time, providing a second chance, but with complications.

Sparks moves the plot with excellent writing and provides his signature tear-jerking ending.

Little Red Riding Hood as Told by Jane Austen

I've been experimenting with ChatGPT. I just asked it to write Little Red Riding Hood in the style of Jane Austen.

Enjoy!

Once upon a time, in a verdant wood, a fair and modest young maiden named Little Red Riding Hood was sent by her dear mother to deliver a basket of victuals to her aged grandmother, who lived in a cottage on the other side of the forest. Little did the sweet girl know, that she would soon encounter a perilous situation.

As she trod lightly along the sylvan path, taking in the beauty of the foliage and the song of the birds, she noticed a gentlemanly figure approaching her. This was none other than the notorious wolf, who was known to be cunning and devious. But Little Red Riding Hood, being a gentlewoman of good breeding, did not fear him and greeted him courteously.

"Good day, sir," said she, with a demure curtsy.

"Good day to you, fair maid," replied the wolf, with a suave smile. "And whither are you bound?"

"I am on my way to my grandmother's cottage, to deliver some nourishment to her," answered Little Red Riding Hood, holding her basket close to her chest.

"How delightful," exclaimed the wolf, his eyes glinting with avarice. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to show me the way?"

Being a trusting soul, Little Red Riding Hood agreed to the request, and the wolf gallantly escorted her through the forest. However, as they walked, the wolf began to ask her personal questions, and Little Red Riding Hood, being innocent and naive, answered them without suspicion.

"Tell me, my dear," said the wolf, with a sly grin. "What is in that basket you carry?"

"It is some bread and butter, and a pot of honey, for my grandmother," replied Little Red Riding Hood, innocently."

Ah, how lovely," murmured the wolf, his eyes gleaming with greed. "And where is your grandmother's cottage, pray?"

"It is just beyond the clearing, by the old oak tree," said Little Red Riding Hood, pointing ahead.

"Thank you, my dear," said the wolf, with a mocking bow. "I shall bid you good day now."And with that, the wolf vanished into the forest, leaving Little Red Riding Hood to continue her journey alone. But as she drew near to her grandmother's cottage, she noticed something amiss. The door was open, and the cottage looked ransacked. Fearful for her grandmother's safety, Little Red Riding Hood crept inside, and was horrified to find the wolf disguised in her grandmother's clothing, lying in her bed.

"Grandmother, what big eyes you have!" exclaimed Little Red Riding Hood, as she peered at the wolf.

"All the better to see you with, my dear," replied the wolf, baring his sharp teeth.

"Grandmother, what big ears you have!" cried Little Red Riding Hood, as she backed away.

"All the better to hear you with, my dear," replied the wolf, his eyes glinting with malice.

"Grandmother, what big teeth you have!" shrieked Little Red Riding Hood, as she ran towards the door.

"All the better to eat you with, my dear!" roared the wolf, as he lunged at her.

But just then, a brave woodsman burst into the cottage, and with his trusty axe, slew the wolf and rescued Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from harm.

From that day forth, Little Red Riding Hood learned to be more cautious and less trusting of strangers, and she lived a long and happy life, always remembering the perilous adventure that had taught her so much.

It Ends with US

I plan to release a romance novel soon. So, I felt I must delve into the work of the leading author in that genre, Colleen Hoover. My choice was her It Ends with Us.

The novel is written in a young woman’s vernacular. That’s expected. So too are the love interests, a childhood friend now a top restaurateur in Boston and a leading neurosurgeon, both rich, handsome, and, naturally, heads-over-heels in love with the main character.

The main character’s parents, the Blooms, could not resist giving their daughter the quirky name Lily. So, Lily Bloom’s desire, true to her name, is to become a florist. That she does and, true to the romance genre, her flower shop is wildly successful.

So, we have the perfect setting of a successful young woman with two men wanting her.

However, there is a very serious theme threaded into the story: spousal abuse. Lily grew up with a mom subjected to it, and she swore she would never marry a man like her father. But the story progresses to show how such abuse may creep into a relationship little by little.

The story ends unpredictably with only bad choses available. The author confessing firsthand knowledge of growing up in an abusive environment enhances the heft of the story.

So, bottom line: It Ends with Us is a classic romance tale layered with a serious subject handled well.

Carnival !

I'm considering writing a prequel to the Nicholas Foxe Adventures. It would take place in Brazil with a young Nick Foxe headed to Carnival. Of course, I had to have first hand knowledge of Rio de Janeiro and Carnival. Just returned with video of the event.

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/HsaU4DrWqcI