Witty Books That Might Restore Your Faith in the Human Ability to Write

If, like me, you live in a perpetual state of fight or flight over the use, misuse, and overuse of artificial intelligence, this article is for you.

When Michelle came to me and asked if I would be interested in writing the weekly library column, my second thought (after my initial thought of “Oh my gosh, I need to text my best friend and let her know I’m entering my Carrie Bradshaw era and should I invest in Manolos?”) was, “but I genuinely love to use an em dash- what if readers think I’m using A.I.?”

I heard somewhere recently (okay fine, I know exactly where…Tik Tok) that Kids These Days don’t believe that an entire research paper can be written without the assistance of artificial intelligence. Man, that enraged me. And after delivering a monologue of epic proportions to my unassuming husband on how Some of Us got through school on our writing and creative skills alone, and now those skills are the first to be sacrificed at The Altar to A.I. (slightly dramatic language…but I was feeling impassioned) a second emotion began to wash over me…empathy.

What a sad state of affairs we must be in if, in the pursuit of perfection, we mistrust ourselves to the point of believing a computer could create something more human than our own brains!

When I read a book, or an article, or even the caption to a Facebook post, I’m never looking for perfection (and hopefully you aren’t either, because this article is positively riddled with technical and grammatical faux pas.) I’m looking, almost exclusively, for personality. I want to feel like I’m sitting with the author, engaged in a lively conversation over a cup of espresso. And so, all this indulgence into my subjective opinions leads me, finally, to the purpose of this article:

More of My Opinions: Witty Books I Read This Month That Restored My Faith in Writing

1. Heartburn by Nora Ephron: I’m not sure how I’ve never read one of Ms. Ephron’s books prior to last week. Naturally, I’m still just as feverishly obsessed with her films as the first time I watched them, but somehow, that never translated into me researching her other works of writing. I don’t wish the same for you, hence her inclusion in this list.

2. I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections also by Nora Ephron: I’m telling you…she’s good. I started this one immediately after finishing Heartburn.

(Pro tip: I listened to this on audiobook using Libby- FREE for library patrons- because she narrated it herself.) She was a genius. It was a joyful listen.

3. Heart the Lover by Lily King: Whew! Talk about a book that will make you feel things! While my first two recommendations rely on their wit, Heart the Lover is a sharp and poignant novel that will transport you back to your early twenties…and all the euphoria, heartbreak, and confusion that that period of life brings. This was my first King novel, but doubtfully my last.

Are you looking to further discuss the books you’ve been reading with other real humans in an engaging and casual way?! Consider joining one of Wickson Library’s book clubs!

Books 4 Lunch is a drop-in book club that meets on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month in the Community Room. Bring along your lunch and a book you recently read to share with the group. Brews & Books meets twice during the first full week of each month- Tuesdays at Frankenmuth Kaffee Haus and Thursdays at Michigan on Main. And our Wickson Reads Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Room. More information, times, and locations can be found on our website: wicksonlibrary.org.