literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
1984 by George Orwell
Published in the 8th of June 1949, George Orwell’s novel ‘1984’ is possibly one of the most famous novels of all of 20th century literature. Described as a dystopian novel and a cautionary tale against totalitarianism and surveillance, the repressive society of a superstate called Oceania takes shape as being a form of Great Britain in perpetual war. The constant propaganda and the requirement to obey certain messages and discard known histories plays on similar themes to Orwell’s earlier novel ‘Animal Farm’ when it comes to how knowledge and language is manipulated for the sake of maintaining power. Known for his messages criticising both extremes of the political stratosphere, George Orwell was a passionate democratic socialist who wove into his books the characters and plot lines which represent the abuses of power which have only unfolded into our modern times as a reality. Aren’t we all just Winston Smith?
Annie KapurPublished about 14 hours ago in GeeksBook Review: "Calling Bullshit" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
“Nothing that you will learn in the course of your studies will be of the slightest possible use to you, save only this, that if you work hard and intelligently you should be able to detect when a man is talking rot, and that, in my view, is the main, if not the sole, purpose of education.” - "Calling Bullshit" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
Annie KapurPublished a day ago in GeeksBook Review: "James" by Percival Everett
“With my pencil I wrote myself into being. I wrote myself to here.” - James by Percival Everett I have been waiting for this book for a long time. When it came out, I initially decided not to get it because it was fairly expensive. Having read some of the other books of the same author, I actually could not wait for James to be released. I was absolutely itching even though it was out of my price range. However, I ended up buying it when it came down in price slightly from a bookshop and ultimately, got to reading it when I arrived back home. From reading one of the best novels of the last 10 years, The Trees, and other great books like Damned if I do, Percival Everett is proving to be a really exciting voice in the world of literary fiction. In James, he takes one of my favourite novels: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and writes the first person narrative of one of the most intense and carefully crafted characters in American Literature: Jim.
Annie KapurPublished 2 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard
Full Title: The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and our Health—and a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
Annie KapurPublished 3 days ago in Geeks- AI-Generated
How Wicked Defy Broadway's Popularity
Twenty-one years ago, Wicked became the highest-grossing Broadway show surpassing the box office records better than The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. The musical adaptation has broken records, received accolades, and huge cultural popularity impact. Before it was a billion-dollar successful Broadway musical, it was based on a novel written by Gregory Maguire telling the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. With Wicked Part One starring Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande premiering in November (six months away). Let's look back on how this "wickedly" story became a Broadway fanatic hit.
Gladys W. MuturiPublished 4 days ago in Geeks The Unrivaled Art in “Goodnight Punpun”
I recently revisited one of my favorite book series of all time, Goodnight Punpun. And it was phenomenal. Goodnight Punpun is a very important series to me. Despite how dark and desolate the series is, it actually really helped me overcome a very hard time in my life. It’s one of those literary experiences that leaves you unable to do anything but feel, for better or worse, and I really appreciated its brutal humanity. It helped me come to terms with some of the trauma I was dealing with in my own life at the time I read it. It drove me to take action against my actively negative emotions and outlook on the world around me.
angela hepworthPublished 4 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "Henry Henry" by Allen Bratton
'If we become great friends, maybe it will have been worth it. Then when we’re old we can tell the story of how none of it would have happened if I’d been in good form.’ - Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
Annie KapurPublished 5 days ago in GeeksMy Day at the Hay Festival
As you can probably tell, I went to one of the most famous literature festivals in the world: The Hay Festival. It was the bank holiday and so, everything else was closed and, on top of that, John Boyne was in conversation on one of the stages. John Boyne is an author that I have read profusely and I decided to take my mother since her favourite book is also by John Boyne: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I had spent the days before checking out what he had done in Bath and listening to his episode of Desert Island Discs in which he doesn't only list his favourite music but also gives us an insight into his writing process.
Annie KapurPublished 5 days ago in GeeksBook Review: "Cardiff, by the Sea" by Joyce Carol Oates
“Live like it’s your life.” - Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates is quite possibly one of the finest writers of the past fifty years and has had a great range of novels to lend her name to. Apart from her novels though are her short stories. Now, I have always loved investigating her short stories - I have reviewed them often. 'Zero-Sum' was probably not her best but 'The Doll Master and Tales of Terror' was brilliant. This book named 'Cardiff, By the Sea' is a little bit different in the fact that it is a book of four short novellas rather than just short stories. They are well-written and in a classic Joyce Carol Oates style, deal with a woman's struggle in the world and how they have to bear the brunt of everyone else's bad decisions - including those of men. It is one of her better books in my opinion - every problem is rubbed raw and revealed to the reader as a series of sad vignettes.
Annie KapurPublished 6 days ago in GeeksFlash (2023) Rewritten
The Goal I will re-write the script of The Flash by making subtle changes to the details of events. I will only alter the film based on logic and 1 major change: Barry Allen acts with intelligence. I will keep continuity with the other films in the DCEU that were established to be canon with the original film. I will work within the confines of the original’s ideas and established rules. For example, I’m not going to just say the Speed Force can’t do something the film obviously shows it can do. I will also attempt to put as many fun story beats and cameos from the original into the new version to show that such goals could have been achieved through logical means.
Book Review: "Soldier Sailor" by Claire Kilroy
I have no idea how I actually came across this book. It was pretty much by chance. I liked the idea of the book, I liked the look of the book and I had seen it advertised in a couple of places on X. I read the blurb over and over again of what was advertised and thought to myself: I have to read this. Then I put it aside again and carried on. This went on for about a week before I gave in and bought the book. I am so bloody glad I did because reader, this book was a new level of extreme. The emotion that Kilroy conveys through the narrator is nothing short of a long-winded breakdown of emotion and nerves. It is fantastic, angry and feels like electricity is coursing through the veins of the protagonist, being beamed upon the reading public in sprays.
Annie KapurPublished 6 days ago in GeeksGo Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
Published on the 18th of May, 1953, ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ became the book that James Baldwin is probably most famous for. Including the very real impacts of violence upon the African American community during a time of turbulence for Civil Rights, James Baldwin became an absolute superstar not just of his race, but of the oppressed in every situation, in every country, all over the world. From Palestine to the Civil Rights Movement, from the LGBTQA+ to Muslim Migrants from war-torn countries, James Baldwin is the voice of the oppressed not just through the way he presents the division, but the way he presents a reality that the oppressors could not possibly be aware of. A reality in which every day is a fight to survive. What makes this even more real is that this is a semi-autobiographical novel. In my personal opinion, James Baldwin was the most articulate man in history.
Annie KapurPublished 8 days ago in Geeks