Mary Irvine: Blogging about Book Reviews & AI

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Mary Irvine: Blogging about Book Reviews & AI

And now for something entirely different . . .

The year 2026 marks twenty years since I returned from foreign parts, choosing to live near ye Bonnie Banks. Glasgow University kindly gave me an M.Litt. in Creative Writing which led me to writing book reviews for The Clydesider.

I choose mostly, though not exclusively, to review local authors. I approach each book in the same way: Are they well written with correct use of grammar? Is the spelling correct? I do make allowances for speech. Does it flow? Presentation? Most of all is it a book I could recommend?

Before starting this issue’s review – a few sentences about the real/serious writers’ enemy – AI! Sadly, of late, AI has raised its ugly head. I admit AI has its uses but using it to produce a piece of work and then passing it off as one’s own unaided work is, in my opinion, cheating, an insult to the genuine, honest author. In the final analysis people being so deceptive are lying to themselves. For me suspicions are raised if a book is given for review and it is totally unlike a previous style, allowing for an author’s ‘style experimentation’. Many publishers now ask authors if their work has, in any way, been enhanced by AI. None of my reviews have involved AI. All the authors have relied on their own discrete talents. The tremendous amount of talent in all the arts, indigenous or imported, that is to be found in West Dumbarton leads to AI being redundant.

Should budding writers wish to learn/improve their writing ability please don’t cheat by claiming an AI piece of work as your own. Join a writers’ group such as The Leven Litts (Meets Alexandria Library every Wed. 1.30 – 3-30 p.m.) or the Clydebank Writers (Meets Clydebank Central Library every Thurs. 1.30 – 3.30 p.m.) . Learn together and accept critiques. Improvement may be slow but it will come.

The Review: Ninety Tiny Windows by Paul Underwood

Paul Undrerwood

The intriguing title ‘Ninety Tiny Windows’ drew me immediately, wanting to know what lay behind those windows, one of which is used on the cover, simple yet effective reflecting the contents. As an ardent fan of flash fiction, the secondary tile ‘A Collection of Flash and Micro Fiction’ strengthened the desire to explore more.

Flash or Micro

What’s the difference do I hear? I’ll try a short answer. (I could utilise AI here but I won’t – on principle.) There are ‘rules’ set by ‘them’ but there is much disagreement on definitions. Some claim flash fiction is a story less than 1,000 words. More is a story. But many short story competitions will not accept submissions less than 2,500 words . I did once enter an international competition with a story of less than 1,000 words and it came third.

Micro fiction is less than 500 or 300 depending on opinion. What is agreed is a Flash Fiction or Micro Fiction isn’t just a short piece of writing. It should contain all the components of a short story.

Good flash fictions are not easy to write but this author, Paul Underwood, has an obvious gift. He set himself a challenge, each day he would take a prompt and see where it led him, his inspiration as ‘twere.

It is so pleasing to read the work of someone who has knowledge and command of the English language. I particularly like the originality of the author’s similes. The metaphor of the ‘the silence felt too loud’ is but one example of how the author evokes a variety of emotions in the reader. Each piece flows, touching on a variety of subjects, sometimes verging on the supernatural. There is often black humour, quirky at times but also subtle, with many ‘twist in the tale’ pieces.

The illustrations, black and white (with shades of grey), complement the writing well.

Paul invites you to step inside his windows. Please do, you won’t be disappointed. Dip into it or read chronologically. Just enjoy.

Paul will be talking about his book at the Greentree Remedies on Tuesday, March 31^st at 11 a.m. Free entry and refreshments. As usual books will be available at a discounted price.

Mary Irvine, February 2026.