literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "Sonny Boy" by Al Pacino
I had been waiting for this book since last year and honestly, I don't think anyone is disappointed by this giant narrative about one of Hollywood's most beloved and talented megastars. One of the last true movie stars of his era to still be alive and working, Al Pacino is perhaps one of the most expansive actors with the most range. From the iconic Michael in The Godfather Trilogy to portraying Shylock and doing that incredible speech in The Merchant of Venice. From Dog Day Afternoon to his Oscar-winning performance in Scent of a Woman. When it comes to Al Pacino, nobody could possibly have anything bad to say about him and this book goes on to prove that and solidify his space in movie history as one of the greatest actors to ever live.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson, published in 1951, marks a significant departure from her more well-known works like "The Lottery" and "The Haunting of Hill House." This novel blends psychological suspense with a coming-of-age narrative, diving deep into the mind of its protagonist, Natalie Waite. Jackson's exploration of themes such as identity, alienation, and the complexities of human relationships is masterfully woven into the fabric of the story.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Vertigo" by Harald Jähner
Full Title = "Vertigo: The Rise and Fall of Weimar Germany 1918-1933" by Harald Jahner You all know by now how much I love the cinema of the Weimar Republic and how interested I am in the culture that covered the entire era. In the 15 or so years that the Republic was around, we got some of the best movies that the old horror era has ever seen plus, when a lot of these directors got up and moved to America with the oncoming of Hitler to Germany, we then got the Universal Monsters era of the 30s and then some. The Weimar Republic was truly one of the first eras of actual film and its stars.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "When the Body Says No" by Gabor Maté
I have read some of this guy before and back then I was sort of in the middle about his arguments. The Myth of Normal is one of them and In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts is another. I understand the argument of psychology being the causation for diseases more than the actual biology of the human being themselves but I think it is a little overwrought and the author might be a bit enthusiastic to suggest it above the idea that diseases are a biological causation. In When the Body Says No, the author investigates whether there are personality types that have a higher rate of suffering certain diseases and what happens in these people's lives to get them there.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Saints" by Amy Jeffs
I have read the other books by Amy Jeffs respectably called Storyland and Wild. These books are both absolutely incredible and after reading them, I'm not sure that you would choose not to read her but, I think that instead curiosity would kill the cat and eventually, you will be overcome with that sense of longing for the knowledge that she has. An evocative retelling of the mythology of saints' lives, Amy Jeffs creates a compelling narrative out of fictions and histories from the church and its lesser known dates and folk. Amy Jeffs gives us a passionate and incredible account of these stories that, for some of us, would not have even been realised without her.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Fear in the Blood" ed. by Mike Ashley
Full Title = Fear in the Blood: Tales from the Dark Lineages of the Weird edited by Mike Ashley We are most definitely coming up to that time of year again where reading ghost stories and tales of the weird is not actually considered that weird at all. I am so excited it is unreal and for the start of this journey, I bought myself a copy of a new Tales of the Weird collection called Fear in the Blood. This book deals with horror stories written in families with some having families as the central theme. However, as we explore these families of writers, we also see how they incorporated some of the horrors of their own time into their works. It's not just about family - it's about so much more (and far more frightening).
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
A Halloween Reading List!
As you know, I love love love horror. I adore the extent to which the genre can be taken and am more scared by concepts than gore. This is probably why I find books scarier than movies because I know that the movie isn't real and hundreds of people are involved - but the book was the brainchild of one person and the more messed up the book is, the more you get worried about the author.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Nicomachean Ethics" by Aristotle
The only reason I was re-reading this was because I was listening to a podcast about the book and thought 'hey, I don't really remember this' and so I picked it up again. I was kind of thanking the heavens that it was shorter than I was trying to remember, but I wasn't thanking the heavens because this was another difficult read that, for some reason I decided to read next to reading Heresy by Catherine Nixey. The great text which happened to be a huge middle finger to Plato's Republic, Aristotle's philosophies have always interested me as the foundations for emotional criticisms and artistic criticisms. So, let's dive in.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
The Most Depressing Books I've Ever Read...
Here we go... You know I've read some pretty depressing books lately and you probably know that my mental state has not been great either. Franz Kafka does not make it better, if I have not repeated that enough already. Oh, neither does reading things like The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, that if there were not enough books on this list, hers would be there too. Some of these books I read recently and others I have read over the years but, I have been thinking for some time to give you a list of them and how depressing they actually are. I'm someone who really likes to get lost in the book and so, sad books don't often have too much of an impact once I get back to the real world - but these ones never left...
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Desolation Angels" by Jack Kerouac
I've got a confession to make: I've read this before. The reason why I read it again was simply because I found it lying around and thought 'oh wow, I haven't read this in ages!' as you do when you find random things whilst cleaning. Desolation Angels is perhaps one of those Kerouac novels that gets overlooked in favour of On the Road or even Mexico City Blues (I'm not sure why I have been seeing that around lately, but good for people reading Kerouac!) I once had a mentor who hated On the Road and couldn't stand Kerouac's style - but I have to say that though the man himself was flawed, I cannot fault Kerouac's classically beat style. It is fantastic and so is Desolation Angels.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
The Box Man by Kobo Abe
The Box Man ("Hako Otoko") was first published in 1973 by the Japanese author Kobo Abe. Renowned for his avant-garde and surreal style, Abe is often compared to Western writers like Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. "The Box Man" is a quintessential example of Abe's literary exploration of existential themes and psychological depth, embodying his fascination with identity, alienation, and societal norms.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
