literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "Conversations on Love" by Natasha Lunn
The first thing I did with this book is I grabbed a highlighter, not because there were lots of important things to note, but because there was a lot of wider reading and people referenced and interviewed within - including the brilliant Alain de Botton. I have to say that there were a few things I found to be say, overly optimistic about this book and, I think it presumes a lot about the general population that it doesn't have any data for. This book, despite its presumptions, deals more with feelings and the author's (fairly uninteresting) love life but atop of this, it doesn't give us any statistics to wrestle with, nor does it present a coherent argument. Be that as it may, at times it can be a fairly enjoyable read with some lovely familiar characters such as: Roxanne Gay, Dolly Alderton, Alain de Botton and many more.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Classic Crimes" by William Roughead
So let me begin by saying that if you are a true crime fan then you probably don't want to skip over this book. Classic Crimes by William Roughead was hailed as a brilliant collection by Joyce Carol Oates among others. The introduction goes through what we should expect from this book including the fact that true crime is perhaps one of the oldest genres of writing. Roughead seeks to delve into the psychological states of these select criminals of the 18th and 19th centuries, looking at the changing meaning of 'morality' and how the justice system formed and reformed itself over the course of time. Yes he tells a great story of criminality, but we can also learn a lot from his analysis.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Rereading Review: "The Pickwick Papers" by Charles Dickens
When I reread books it is more of a spur-of-the-moment thing than I would like to admit. So far, I have reread Martin Chuzzlewit, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, A Tale of Two Cities and I guess there are some others if you go looking. I won't tag them all below because I know there's a few and I don't want to annoy you. Anyways, I have been rereading The Pickwick Papers recently because I just wanted to reread that hilarious section when the club has to use that horse and cart to go to their destination and it all ends in shambles because none of them know anything about guiding horses and thus, the horse starts going sideways. I was reading the introduction to this copy I had and Neil Gaiman states that as a child he didn't understand why the book was funny and to this day, I wonder how that guy ever became famous for his writing. How can you be a child and not find The Pickwick Papers funny? I know children who barely know English who find that book funny. One of the characters is literally called Snodgrass - which is funny whichever way you look at it.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Collected Short Stories" by EM Forster . Top Story - June 2026.
You know I have a thing this year for reading huge books of at least 700 pages and you've probably seen how they've been split into 'parts' when it comes to reviewing them. I've often said that I haven't got a clue as to how someone can really review a book of 700+ pages in less than 1000 words. But maybe they know something I don't. Thankfully enough for those of you who don't like huge books, The Collected Short Stories of EM Forster is a tiny little book - so small in fact, it fits into my jacket pocket when I carry it about. It's one of those old Penguin Books, and if you didn't know, those old Penguin Books were all made a certain size so that they may fit into the pocket of a Barbour Jacket. I have no idea why or how that is relevant but there's some fun trivia for you. Now, on to the short stories.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Rereading Review: "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens
It's been a long time since I first read A Tale of Two Cities and honestly, I just wanted to reread some Dickens this year, but I'm being choosy about it. I started with one I didn't like too much the first time I read it, Martin Chuzzlewit and thus, I wanted to read one that was perhaps in my top five favourite Dickens novels of all time: A Tale of Two Cities. This book is probably only second to Bleak House for me and even those two novels change places in the top two depending on how I'm feeling. Though I have to say, Bleak House is one of those books where the language is so beautiful that you could literally start to cry for no reason - just awe. Some of the words could give you Stendhal syndrome.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
This novel was first published in serial form between March 1852 and September 1853. Like many of Dickens’s major works, it appeared in 20 monthly instalments, with the final part being a double issue. The novel was illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne, known as “Phiz,” who had collaborated with Dickens on several earlier works.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
If Time Stopped
Introduction This is inspired by the current situation with Vocal Statistics on May 4th 2024. As I have used many songs about time for my stories I have decided to use AI to create a piece for this. It is a bit more upbeat than I expected but it is ok.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "London" by Peter Ackroyd (Pt. 7)
It is well known that for London there is, in fact, a city beneath the city. Sometimes referred to as a kind of necropolis, sometimes thought to be the place of monsters and liminal spaces. Peter Ackroyd invites us into this folklore before dispelling it and thus moves on to talking about how the city is almost apocalyptic in itself. Even Dostoevsky found it depressing - and you have to do some real work to make Dostoevsky more depressed. There's something horrifying about the London streets according to Ackroyd and he makes light work of telling us how the whole city has always been run by money. Many people were shocked at the condition of the poor but I do want to say, it's not like the condition of the destitute was better anywhere else so I think that might be an exaggeration on the part of the writers Ackroyd is referencing.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "London" by Peter Ackroyd (Pt. 6)
It's true that London was filled with horrors, gambling and drink, drug addiction and prostitution. But it's also true that London was once filled to the brim with beautiful gardens as well. Gardens still dotted around London include the famed Hampton Court Gardens, which I love and of course, Kew Gardens - which is beautiful too. But the secret gardens that come from the age when Industrialisation was first beginning to take hold that have happened to survive are some of the most intriguing and, according to the author, tell us the most about the history of the city.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Project Hail Mary Champions Platonic Love
Spoilers for Project Hail Mary the book and film. I’ve become enamored with Project Hail Mary. I’ve read the book, watched the movie, and listen to the soundtrack nearly every day. Ryland Grace, a biologist turned schoolteacher, and Rocky, an alien engineer, constantly invade my thoughts. The two have one of the best friendships I’ve ever seen in media – and that comes from someone who’s consumed a lot of media. It’s because of that friendship that makes Project Hail Mary is so compelling.
By caitodoesstuff5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "London" by Peter Ackroyd (Pt. 5)
During a section aptly named Voracious London, I was shocked to learn how historical the state of London drunkenness actually was. Gin palaces, taverns, ale houses, public houses and everything in between were ripe and fitted for the 18th and 19th centuries. Clubs and pubs were everywhere and how. Men, women and often children would take up their drinks and their activities within and there was a club for just about everything on a weekly basis. Ackroyd tells funny tales of people being arrested for drunkenness but even I know that it wasn't uncommon for people to go out drinking in London and then because it was dark, fall tipsy into the Thames. Honestly, it was a funny few chapters in which I had a good laugh at things about how rowdy and obnoxious London was back then - even though every time I have been it definitely still is now. It just doesn't have the same allure and draw to it - it's just expensive for no reason.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
