Ep. 157 "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age" by Vauhini Vara; "This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" by Ilona Andrews

Transcript: JESSICA:  Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I'm the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.  Today's two reading recommendations are "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age" by Vauhini Vara and "This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" by Ilona Andrews.  First, we're going to hear from Kerry, cataloguing and acquisitions assistant, for a collection of essays that explores the impact of digital information. Over to you, Kerry.  KERRY:  Whether you know it or not, you have almost certainly participated in the development of artificial intelligence, if only by interacting with the internet and social media. In "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age," author Vauhini Vara examines the impacts of technology as it extracts, commodifies, and ultimately controls digital information and access to knowledge.  Vara is no technophobe — she has been a tech reporter for the Wall Street Journal and other outlets — and makes clear that she appreciates the advances of technology, while remaining cautious about how far we can lose ourselves to that progress. Vara shares her personal experience growing up with the burgeoning internet, utilizing new devices and digital services, and explores the process of extraction, monetization, and control of information and online behavior that forms the cornerstone of the digital age.  With straightforward, accessible, and relatable prose, this book raises intriguing questions about language, communication, technology, and humanity in ways that inform and shift our perspectives on the benefits and end goals of innovation.  For more on AI and the digital age, check out "The Worlds I See" by FeiFei Li, "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff, and "Attensity" by the Friends of Attention.  JESSICA:  Thanks, Kerry! It's fascinating how the author blends memoir-style storytelling with a sharp critique of technology.  Next, let's hear from Jayanne, librarian at the Freeland Library, for a tale of a fangirl's deepest obsession becoming her reality. Take it away, Jayanne.  JAYANNE:  "This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" is the first book in a new series, "Maggie the Undying" by Ilona Andrews. This writing duo pens some of my absolutely favorite books and they willingly admit that authors do terrible things to the characters we adore. That truth is painfully obvious to Maggie when she suddenly wakes up in a very real Kair Toren, the setting of her favorite, much obsessed about, series. While she is familiar with this fantasy trope, she's not sure how she fits in or how to get home.   She possesses nothing except an encyclopedic knowledge of the series and apparently an inability to die. To survive, she trades on her knowledge of upcoming events and the secrets and ambitions of the scary and powerful players in this world. That knowledge is limited however, because in her world, the final book was never published.   I love that Maggie alternates from being enraged at her situation to geeking out over the people and places that have lived in her head for so long. As she encounters characters she's known and meets others who were never mentioned in the text, her focus shifts. Now she is determined to protect them from the future she knows is coming. While Maggie may not appreciate it, I can't wait to see what the authors have in store for her next.  JESSICA:  Thanks, Jayanne! This husband-wife writing duo can craft a world so cohesive you'd never guess two people were sharing the same pen name.  Our recommendations this week are: "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age" by Vauhini Vara and "This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" by Ilona Andrews.  Join us next time, when we'll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.    Until then, I'm Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.   Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.  [END]