literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Review of 'Fresh'
Fresh takes readers back to college in this hilarious, relatable, and realistic read. Elliot Saves the Day Quite possibly, the best part of Fresh is the main character. Elliot is a breath of fresh air, reminding readers that we are all flawed and make mistakes.
By Cyn's Workshop5 years ago in Geeks
Ghost Boy
I picked this up because I had thought about teaching it to my students, and I found that I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. At first glance, I expected this to be a stereotypical “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “it’s what’s on the inside that truly matters” type of book--and it was--but I found that it was also so much more than that.
By Kurt Mason5 years ago in Geeks
10 Great Scenes from "War and Peace"
"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy has constantly been referred to as one of the greatest novels ever written in the history of literature. Upon its first publication, it comes in at about 1'220 pages and yet, ever since it has been read far and wide proving that the size really does not put anyone off (and if it puts you off let me tell you, it is well worth the read). From 1865 to 1867, it was serialised in "The Russian Messenger" and then it was published in book format two years' later. It was meant to be followed by Leo Tolstoy's take on "The Decembrists" (sharing the title with the group) and yet, the novel was abandoned. Ever since, "War and Peace" has become a symbol of just how good literature can be.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Diaries" by George Orwell
George Orwell’s Diaries are absolutely fascinating. Split between international travels and domestic travels, it shows how the Orwells moved all over the world during the time they were alive. It also shows the various payments and commissions, royalties and expenses of George Orwell in his great lifetime. Journeys across Morocco and stops off in Spain, adventures in Casablanca and the history of the fall of France to Spain in the early to mid-20th century. It is not actually as much about the states and affairs of Britain as you would like and neither is it the obsession with the destruction of the iron curtain that you though Orwell was heavily involved in. But instead, there is a great viewing of a man who had keen observation of everything around him. There is everything from political observation to the way in which people were dressed. There were observations on market places, money, stalls and women. There are government observations and reads from the snippets of newspapers. Orwell had a keen eye for everything and it does not stop at the start of his diaries. It is perhaps more ardent in pursuit of meaning than any of his novels. He never glosses over a detail but stands to admire it long after the detail in question has possibly already passed him by.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
"The War of the Worlds" Still Guides Readers on Science v. Religion, Post-2010 (the Year It Is Set)
“[what’s needed] is not bravery, but circumspection.”— the protagonist (never named by H.G. Wells) The place is Earth. The year is 2010. Pious men use technology to terrorize and destroy their global neighbors.
By Bill Mitchell5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Maidens" by Alex Michaelides
Books with twists that you never expect are some of the most exciting books to read. For example: we have the novels of Agatha Christie, the books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and down the line we get this resurgence of thrillers that we are witnessing in our own day. In the last few years I have read my fair share of great thriller novels and most of them have been absolutely amazing. Recently, I did finish the new and best-selling “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides which is about a woman in a mental facility who will not talk. A doctor takes his chances to get her to open up but written in the first person from the doctor’s perspective, this book is nothing like you would expect. The twist is something far more horrific than you think it is. After reading this, I thought it would be a great idea to wait for the next thing from this author to float my way and thus, here we have “The Maidens”. I was super-excited to read this and then I opened the book and made my way inside its dark and blood-splattered pages. Flashlight in hand, it was not what I expected at all.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Take Another Look.
I recently stumbled across the title of an old book that I read when I was a young teen. One early morning I was searching Spotify for an upbeat playlist of Broadway musical tunes --great for running!-- and found a song from Daddy-Long-Legs. I thought, That is the exact name of a book I read in school! I remembered nothing about it, except that my twelve- or fourteen-year-old self thought that this book ended in a surprisingly happy way. In mid-stride I clicked over to the full album on Spotify and listened to the rest of the songs, confirming that this soundtrack was taken from the book I had read as a child.
By Hannah Marie. 5 years ago in Geeks
10 Great Scenes from Shakespeare Plays
I am a person who adores Shakespeare. I have posters of him in my bedroom, I have his plays in beautiful editions and, oh yeah, I teach Shakespeare Plays too. The way I became interested in Shakespeare was fairly strange. I remember watching Ian McKellan's Macbeth and then Ben Whishaw's Hamlet then basically thinking to myself 'what?' and 'how?' I was shocked at the sheer amount of energy given into these performances, and as the curious nine-year-old I was, I wanted to find out more. Over the years, I became more and more enamoured by Shakespearean Verse, going on to read all of the plays attributed to him (yes, and 'The Arden of Faversham' even though it is not technically canon). And as someone who is now in their mid-20s, I can honestly say that I have spent a good portion of my life researching, studying, re-reading and critiquing the work of the bard.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Cement Garden" by Ian McEwan
Domestic Thrillers are a point of interest in my reading life, I have read many from the strange tragedy “The Arden of Faversham” all the way down to the novels of Lisa Jewell and company. There are huge differences throughout history when it comes to the domestic thriller, but I have never quite been able to put my finger on what has been missing until now. Children. Children are not left out, if you ask me. But in the realm of domestic thriller, the ‘thrilling’ nature of the book normally takes place between the mother and father rather than the children and the parents. Be that as it may, I think I have finally found a domestic thriller that does not only the latter one, but seems to do both in quite a stomach churning manner. When I say I have read a lot of Ian McEwan, I even have a signed copy of that book he wrote about Shakespeare’s Hamlet. But, I had constantly overlooked this one for some reason and to be honest, it has thoroughly disgusted and surprised me. But mostly, it disgusted me.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
