literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "The Fears of Henry IV: The Life of England's Self-Made King" by Ian Mortimer
As you know, I have been reading books about every single king and queen of England since Edward the Confessor. I initially started with a book called Edward the Confessor: Last of the Royal Blood by Tom Licence, then moved on to Harold: the Last Anglo-Saxon King by Ian W Walker, which was about Harold Godwinson. I then went to William the Conqueror by David Bates, King Rufus: The Life and Murder of William II of England by Emma Mason (which I loved), and then Henry I: The Father of His People by Edmund King, Stephen: The Reign of Anarchy by Carl Watkins, Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior by Catherine Hanley - all the great ones that were Henry II: A Prince Among Princes by Richard Barber, Richard I: The Crusader King by Thomas Asbridge and John: An Evil King? By Nicholas Vincent. After this it went: Henry III: A Simple and God-Fearing King by Stephen Church, A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain by Marc Morris, Edward II by Seymour Phillips (my personal favourite so far), Edward III: A Heroic Failure by Jonathan Sumption and finally there was Richard II: A Brittle Glory by Laura Ashe. Now, we are moving on to:
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Seasoning the Sonnets: Shakespeare’s Use of Literary Devices
The topic of literary devices may invite eyerolls from high schoolers. But there is a good reason why we learn about similes as soon as the third grade. Writers use literary devices to hint at larger themes, ideas, and meaning in their works. Shakespeare is one writer who uses figurative language to craft the themes of his sonnets. Through the use of literary devices, Shakespeare reinforces that true love is constant and painful, while misguided love is deceptive and physical.
By Yulina Goto5 years ago in Geeks
Footloose in Polk County
Footloose is a film known for its portrayal of a town in which music was prohibited by law. This premise for the movie was based off of an actual law prohibiting music in Elmore City, Oklahoma. Polk County school board in Florida is having a similar issue with a different form of media.
By Amanda Jones5 years ago in Geeks
Vampires
Perhaps if Abraham (Bram) Stoker (1847–1912) had not suffered from an illness that forced him to bed until he was eight, the themes of endless sleep and resurrection from the world of the dead would not have inflamed his imagination so much. The miraculous physical recovery of which he was the protagonist, capable of transforming a sick person into an athlete, has much in common with the myth of the vampire who, through blood, rejuvenates, regenerates his own tissues, reverses the course of nature.
By Patrizia Poli5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Richard II: A Brittle Glory" by Laura Ashe
As you already know (good grief, you have to know by now!), I am reading a book about every single king and queen of England from Edward the Confessor onwards. I have covered so far: Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, William Rufus (William II), Henry I, King Stephen, Empress Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, King John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II and Edward III. And now, after all of this I am moving on to a king that was immortalised in the Shakespearean play that shows him as a narcissistic abuser of power and yet, a sympathetic character (and one of my favourite Shakespeare plays ever) - Richard II. This book is entitled: Richard II: A Brittle Glory.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Bewilderment" by Richard Powers
Initially, when I read a book outside of my reading comfort zone, I don't have very high expectations (because seriously, who does?) and I tend to try to let my guard down bit by bit. I feel like because of this, I have been able to make more informed judgements to myself about books that exist within the 'realm' of being halfway into my comfort zone and halfway out of it. This is definitely true for this text which is entitled Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Have I ever read anything of this kind before? Sort of. Do I want to read anything else by Richard Powers? Probably. How do I feel about this book? On the fence.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Literature Review: "In the Weird World Web" (TLS)
As I have said before, in my article entitled 'Unbind the Tongue' (TLS), I will be trying these out and, since there was a fairly good response to the first one, I think it's safe to say I would like to continue, though I don't know how long for yet.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "No One is Talking About This" by Patricia Lockwood
I had been waiting to read this book for ages because I needed it to come down in price. I wasn't about to pay full price for a book so short and so, I waited and waited and it's been almost a year. The book has finally shot down in price. No One is Talking About This is a book by the poet and 'modernist' writer Patricia Lockwood - littered with viral references that you will only understand if you spend every waking moment on the internet or watching streaming service television - I initially read this because I heard it was supposed to evoke Joan Didion. Instead, it fell completely flat and I don't think I have rolled my eyes quite as much at a book in a very long time. It really isn't like Joan Didion at all. Instead, it is just some middle class woman complaining about middle class problem - the main one being sitting on social media for a long time. So this is where I give a bad review of a book made for the TikTok generation: no depth, no meaning, simply nothing but references and jumps between topics. This might be the only book that is doomed to make you stupider and stupider as you read it.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Memoirs of a Geisha: Book Review
This is a review of one of my favourite novels: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. This beautiful piece of historical fiction was first published in 1997 by Chatto and Windus. A film adaptation of the novel also came out in 2005, and is equally beautiful. I first read this book when I was 14 and I remember wanting to learn more and more about geisha culture from then on. Geisha culture itself has changed so much since the time this novel was set. In the story itself, the main character Sayuri was taken from her family as a child to become a geisha, and she had no choice. The novel is also rather explicit, and the geishas were seen as sexual objects by some of the men, drank saké at a very young age, had their virginity sold to rich men for a lot of money, and were dependent on a danna, an extremely wealthy man who was normally a lot older than the geisha herself, and would provide her with everything she needed. It was normal for the geisha to be in a sexual relationship with her danna.
By Naomi Esméralda5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Edward III: A Heroic Failure" by Jonathan Sumption
As you probably know, I have been reading one book about every single king and queen of England from Edward the Confessor all the way through to Queen Elizabeth II. So far, I have read one book about each of the following: Edward the Confessor, William teh Conqueror, William Rufus (William II), Henry I, King Stephen, Empress Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, King John, Henry III, Edward I and Edward II. Today, I move on to the next king in English history, the woeful and tragic Edward III who just about - like Henry I - lost everything. This book is entitled Edward III: A Heroic Failure and it's by Jonathan Sumption.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
