Guess Who’s Back? Greek Adventures, AI Insights, and My One and Only Favourite Author: Murakami
Some reads
I was MIA for a while, and while I don’t have a specific reason, it doesn’t mean I wasn’t engaged in my reading. My trip to Athens and the impact of “A Little Life” somewhat derailed my schedule, but during this period, I decided to focus on personal development. I completed my courses in artificial intelligence and spent a lot of time reading academic articles. And honestly summer in Rome is the reason why I’ve been feeling particularly lethargic. I apologise if anyone cares.
This is the most beautifully written book I have ever read in my life. Normally, if I like a short book like this, I complain that it was too short, but this is the perfect book. Any longer, and it would have lost its enchantment. It was truly magical. And the fact that I was in Athens while reading this book, made my journey more magical.
The unconventional love story — though it feels reductive to call it just that — between a teacher and his student is captivating. The student is not a child but a divorced woman with a child, so there’s nothing inappropriate about it. He teaches Ancient Greek in evening classes while losing his eyesight, and she is learning Ancient Greek while trying to find her words.
But it is not just a love story; it delves into childhood traumas and the power of language. I am personally amazed by the power of language, and this book explores it in a breathtaking way. It touched me on so many levels.
Additionally, as I am trying to learn the Greek alphabet, seeing pieces, tiny lines to be exact, in Greek was lovely. The philosophical references further enrich this masterpiece. It is indeed breathtaking, or as we Turks love to say when we like something: it was ‘delicious’.
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Well, it’s definitely an easy read and perfect for summer, but even by the third book in this series, it felt redundant. This fourth book is no different. The stories are so similar to the first two books that I kept wondering if I was reading the same plot. After four books, each filled with unnecessary descriptions like repetitive mentions of Kazu’s appearance, it’s clear that the series is going in circles. I understand that when an author creates an appealing world, they want to keep it going, but this isn’t expanding — it’s stagnating. There will probably be a fifth book as a cash cow, but I’m done with this universe that I once loved dearly.
Moreover, the timeline changes are confusing. In the previous book, the third one, we saw Miki as an older character, but in the fourth book, she’s an infant again. It would have been better if the author had delved deeper into the lives of the family members.
However, there is one precious life lesson from this book: life is too short to have regrets, so avoid making decisions that will cause immense grief and regret later on.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
“Eww brother, what is that?” That was me for the last 100 pages, give or take. Why? Because this protagonist is one of the most frustrating characters I’ve ever encountered. She’s a lousy friend with a weak personality, among other issues. But before delving into all that, I really need to learn more about all the pills mentioned in this book and whether it’s actually possible to go through such an experience. I need to talk to healthcare professionals and doctors because, honestly, it seemed a bit impossible to me. Like, how?
Our unnamed narrator comes from a WASP family, graduated from Columbia, yet had a childhood devoid of parental love. Her parents, both dead, were absorbed in their own worlds and probably married in the first place because of an unexpected pregnancy. However, I’m not a psychologist, so I’m not trying to analyze those dynamics. What bothered me the most were: Dr. Tuttle (how can a psychiatrist be like that?), the impossible amount of pills she took without ending up in the E.R., the specific pills mentioned, and the feasibility of a one-year hibernation project in real life. It all seems impossible.
But to be honest, it is a good book. Why? Because when I internalize characters and the story this much, it’s a testament to the author’s talent. It’s an easy read, and you’ll find some reflections of yourself in it as well.
Regarding the character’s — the thin, blonde, rich girl, or however you want to name her — friendship/love and hate relationship, she could have been a better friend to Reva. I personally hate the way she ‘cherished’ or maintained that friendship for years. Somehow, Reva was a friend, and I cannot comprehend the hate she had for her.
After the first half, or let’s say the second third of the book, I feared it was going to end up like the movie Remember Me about 9/11. And it did. It broke my heart, but I also liked the way the author handled it. She didn’t add unnecessary drama or make the unnamed narrator suddenly feel guilt or sadness. It was the perfect way to incorporate it into the story.
Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gosh.. I’ll do my best to keep this as nice as possible, yet I cannot promise. I have a habit when reading anything: if I see my name in English, Turkish, or Italian (sorry, I’m not able to read in other languages), I put little hearts next to it. I guess I love myself way too much. However, this book disgusted me, and I wanted to skip even the pages with my name on them. I wanted to skip 4–5 pages at a time. What is wrong with the late Gabriel Garcia Marquez? Is he some sort of pervert? This is the fourth of his books I’ve read, and three of them include ped*philic so-called love stories. What the f**k?!
I cannot believe this. Everyone is obsessed with his cholera novel, but in the story, the perverted protagonist is also having an incestuous relationship with a minor. Does it only bother me?
Also, this book is supposed to make a reader question life, etc., yet I could not help but wonder how we are supposed to believe in a love story of a ninety-year-old pervert who suddenly wants to have intercourse with a virgin. This is sick. Some might call it love, but this is a sick story of a man who is about to die and suddenly realizes the life he has wasted, so his pervert instincts are trying to make up for the youth and years spent without love. But still, I felt sick when both characters were in the same bedroom. I wanted to puke.
Oh my dear, I love Murakami. I know I keep saying this every time I read one of his novels, but I just adore his work. Once again, the brilliant master Murakami tells a story in the most magical and simple way. I love the elegance of his writing. It’s so easy to be captivated by his narratives. You can simply ignore everyone and everything after reading the very first word, and then you become part of the story. This particular tale felt like a movie I was observing from a very close distance to the characters; I was watching a film through the pages.
“Nineteen-year-old Mari is waiting out the night in an anonymous Denny’s when she meets a young man who insists he knows her older sister, thus setting her on an odyssey through the sleeping city. In the space of a single night, the lives of a diverse cast of Tokyo residents — models, prostitutes, mobsters, and musicians — collide in a world suspended between fantasy and reality. Utterly enchanting and infused with surrealism, After Dark is a thrilling account of the magical hours separating midnight from dawn.”
The description above only scratches the surface. It’s so much more. Murakami allows us to explore a wide array of elements, from Chinese prostitutes and brothel managers to identity crises. While life unfolds in one realm with its bizarre events, Mari’s sister, the “sleeping beauty” as I’d like to call her, sleeps but seems to exist in another dimension, and the way that aspect of the story is portrayed is truly thrilling.
As the story evolves, the chapters (the reality and the sleeping beauty — how I refer to them) become shorter, which amplifies the thrill and excitement to the point where I couldn’t stop reading.
I need — again — a sequel for the other characters because I simply cannot get enough of Murakami’s writing, and I am just curious.
There is one thing that bothered me at the end, but I’m not going to spoil it, so I’ll keep quiet. Once again, Murakami has delivered another masterpiece. I think — lowkey — I am super jealous of his talent.
It’s an easy read in terms of pages and the flow of the story, but it is definitely a narrative with many layers.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick
For those of you who know me, I have a lot of thoughts — both positive and negative — about artificial intelligence. The way people use it to take shortcuts and cheat has troubled me for a long time. This frustration doubled when I earned the same degree as others who graduated thanks to ChatGPT, (even though they couldn’t construct two full sentences in English. I know life isn’t fair, but this situation still bothers me). Anyways, I was worried about my job in digital marketing, a field that could potentially be taken over by AI. This was my concern until I read “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI” by Ethan Mollick.
This is not a technical book that delves into the backend of AI. Instead, it primarily explains large language models (LLMs). The most important aspect is that it describes how we can efficiently implement AI in our daily and professional lives without becoming dependent on it, using the simplest and clearest language.
The chapters assess the current state of AI from different perspectives, such as in the workplace, education, and creativity. Honestly, for someone who does not come from a technical background and has no intention of becoming part of that field — such as white-collar workers who are afraid of losing their jobs to AI — this book is a must-read. It is written specifically for them.
I underlined so many things that I’m a bit worried about mentioning everything, as it might turn this review into a lengthy essay.
One of the key takeaways from this book is to use AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), to increase efficiency and enhance your own knowledge, but not to cheat or obtain direct answers. AI relies on the input we provide. Ultimately, the way we frame questions and the responses we receive depend on us. Another important concept to keep in mind when working with AI is “hallucination.” AI can produce incorrect or nonsensical answers, so while it can assist with many tasks, we cannot solely rely on its outputs.
It is inevitable that AI will impact the job market, leading to some job losses while creating new opportunities. Instead of focusing on potential catastrophes, we need to learn how to effectively use and benefit from AI. Understanding this complex (and self-described “sentient”) entity is crucial. Ultimately, humans will decide how this powerful tool is used. If AI falls into the hands of those with malicious intentions, the consequences could be severe. Therefore, managing AI responsibly and ensuring its alignment with ethical standards is as important as its development. For further insights on this topic, I recommend reading the book by Mustafa Suleyman.
Overall, this book helped me overcome my fears and gain a new perspective on how to use AI properly while maintaining my self-respect. It also highlighted several additional readings I need to explore to deepen my understanding.
