literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "The New Life" by Tom Crewe
I have to be perfectly honest, when I read the words 'Oscar Wilde' on the blurb, I was immediately sold. I found this book in a 'buy one get one free' offer at my local bookstore and the fact that it had won some awards was just a plus to everything else. By 'everything else' I mean the great storyline I had read on the blurb, the great smell of the book which reminded me of the books that sit on the shelf at the Café Nero. When I started reading the book I was honestly surprised at how engrossed I was and ended up finishing it within only some short hours of the night. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the story is immersive as hell. I have to say, whatever this book has won in terms of literary prizes, it truly deserves all of them. It is fantastic.
Annie KapurPublished about 3 hours ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Gathering" by CJ Tudor
When it comes to CJ Tudor, there are many books that I would call far better than average. Thrillers seem to be everywhere nowadays but I cannot say that there is any writing quite like CJ Tudor's out there and each book is different to the last. When I wrote my review of The Drift, I was aware that the storyline was an intertwining of many smaller subplots and stories that all eventually linked into each other. This is not just to create that realisation that is so satisfying for the reader, but it is also to expand the story beyond what the reader thought was initially possible. In this book titled The Gathering, CJ Tudor does that on a large scale, including vampires in the plot as well as our usual shifty humans.
Annie KapurPublished a day ago in GeeksStar Wars movies in chronological order
Star Wars became a cult phenomenon due to its groundbreaking filmmaking, iconic characters, epic storytelling, expansive universe, passionate fandom, merchandising and marketing, and lasting impact on popular culture. These factors have helped to cement its place as one of the most beloved and enduring franchises in entertainment history.
Yogesh SawantPublished 2 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "The White Hare" by Jane Johnson
Now, you all know by now that I love folk literature. This book has 'folk' written all over it and is probably a contender for one of the best books I have read all year. I had not really heard of Jane Johnson before reading this book and I am about 10'000x more interested in reading everything she has written and everything she will write now that I have completed The White Hare. I was not just completely won over by the storyline but all the folk references (and the Alice in Wonderland references) worked into the plot and woven around were immaculate. It felt absolutely magical to read. I would highly recommend this to all of my fellow folk lovers out there. It is just incredible and ever so immersive.
Annie KapurPublished 2 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration" ed. by Frank Abe & Floyd Cheung
This book was only released on the 14th of May and I spent a long time looking at it and going 'that seems really interesting' and then, not buying it. It was fairly pricey and so, I decided to get it on my Kindle instead. The Penguin anthologies have always interested me and I cannot possibly wait for 'The Penguin Book of Demons' that comes out in October of this year. I have read many over my time including another about the Japanese which was based on their short stories.
Annie KapurPublished 3 days ago in GeeksCannery Row by John Steinbeck
Published in the January of 1945, Steinbeck’s rowdy novel about life on Cannery Row during the Great Depression is probably best known for its host of characters and rambunctious plots that shoot off in every direction and envelope each aspect of society existing in that space. Possibly my favourite Steinbeck novel, this book has the ability to make you laugh, make you upset and make you angry, fearful and excited all in the space of just over 200 pages. One of Steinbeck’s shorter novels, it packs a powerful punch about life and camaraderie, nostalgia and superficiality during one of the most financially turbulent times in history.
Annie KapurPublished 4 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "Determined" by Robert Sapolsky
Sapolsky has come into my field of vision now and again. The first time was during one of my MA classes in philosophy in which I learned that Sapolsky's reductive belief systems about free will and determinism are not accepted by the philosophy community because of the way they prescribe the supernatural to something like free will and take the same level, though opposing stance, as the shaky premise that the butterfly effect relies on.
Annie KapurPublished 5 days ago in Geeks- Content Warning
Announcement of "Sunrise on the Reaping"
Those who know me know that I'm a huge Hunger Games fan, so this morning, when the shocking announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping came out, a sudden shot of adrenaline suffused my system, inspiring me to write and share.
Book Review: "Day" by Michael Cunningham
“Here, then, is the answer. A degree of cruelty is necessary because Garth, like most men, can only deposit his needs at her feet, can only declare his love—that romantic hallucination, which would begin to fade as soon as she said yes—can only say, Here is my desire, here is my loneliness, what are you going to do about it?” - Day by Michael Cunningham
Annie KapurPublished 6 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "Super-Infinite" by Katherine Rundell
Full Title: Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne by Katherine Rundell “But there are elements of each of us so particular, unwieldy, so without cliché, that it is necessary for each poet to invent his own language. It is necessary for us all to do so; owning one’s own language is not an optional extra. The human soul is so ruthlessly original; the only way to express the distinctive pitch of one’s own heart is for each of us to build our own way of using our voice. To read Donne is to be told: kill the desire to keep the accent and tone of the time. It is necessary to shake language until it will express our own distinctive hesitations, peculiarities, our own uncertain and never-quite-successful yearning towards beauty. Donne saves his most ruthless scorn for those who chew other wits’ fruit, and shit out platitudes. Language, his poetry tells us, is a set, not of rules, but of possibilities.” - Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell
Annie KapurPublished 7 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Creative Act" by Rick Rubin
Full Title:'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' by Rick Rubin “All art is a work in progress. It’s helpful to see the piece we’re working on as an experiment. One in which we can’t predict the outcome. Whatever the result, we will receive useful information that will benefit the next experiment. If you start from the position that there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, and creativity is just free play with no rules, it’s easier to submerge yourself joyfully in the process of making things. We’re not playing to win, we’re playing to play." - The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Annie KapurPublished 8 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "Influenced" by Brian Boxer Wachler
Disclaimer: This article deals with topics that may not be healthy for all to view. If you require help then please visit your local mental health facility and do not rely on social media for your wellbeing.
Annie KapurPublished 9 days ago in Geeks