literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "Cassandra" by Christa Wolf
The story of Cassandra is almost essential to telling the story of Troy. I have read about her many, many times over the past 15 or so years and have found her to be underwritten or ignored. Thankfully, there is now a book just about her and my gosh, it was a book. For those of you who do not know who Cassandra is, here is a bit of a background: Cassandra was a priestess of Troy, dedicated to the god, Apollo and stunningly beautiful and intelligent. She was one of the daughters of King Priam and therefore, was also a Princess of Troy. Sister to the ill-fated Hector, breaker of horses - she became known as a rhetorical device rather than a person. Versions of the myth about her state that she made a small mistake (the mistake varies from story to story) and was cursed with being able to see prophecy whilst having nobody believe her.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "A Darker Shade of Noir" ed. by Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is probably one of the foremost voices on women's fiction in the modern age and is perhaps one of the most influential women writers in the 20th century. Her writing of horror in the everyday world of being a woman is amazing and in this anthology, she forms a book of some of the best writers of her own era and those after her on the same subject. It's all about the body horrors of being a woman and with each story, there is a new perspective and a new idea. These stories are often horrifyingly addictive and have a special quality of being some kind of universal experience for women whether that be literally or through the metaphor that the story presents. The narratives are dark and often reflect the writings of Joyce Carol Oates and the way she interweaves the woman's body with her dangers and horrors.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Cloisters" by Katy Hays
As one of the most anticipated books of its year, it is clear that The Cloisters has bookshops everywhere writing reviews, going at marketing strategies, putting the book on a two-for-one offer so that more people buy it. But without all of this aggressive marketing, would the book have done well at all? Being in the bookish world means basically seeing this book ad nauseam and not wanting to read it because of the fact it was everywhere all the time.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksThe Disney Princess Tournament of Power
Who would win in a fight? It’s a question people have been asking for decades when it comes to their favorite fictional characters. It’s a question that spawned one of the most successful YouTube channels. It’s the question I asked myself when I was watching Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.
Book Review: "The Romantic" by William Boyd
William Boyd is perhaps known as one of the greatest writers of this age and, if any of you have read “Any Human Heart” then you will know that very well. To be honest, I have only read one other book by him apart from this novel being reviewed and his magnum opus, but I am sure to read more of his novels in the future, especially after this particular experience. So without further interruption, I am simply dying to tell you all about this wonderful novel about a man named Cashel Ross. He was born in 1799 and has had the most wonderful adventures.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksEmbracing Verbatim
Today, let's delve into the fascinating world of the word, "ver." This adverb holds the power to capture the essence of communication by using precisely the same words as the original. Imagine being able to recount a conversation, a speech, or a moment with absolute precision, word for word, without any alteration or interpretation. In our quest for accuracy, we often seek verbatim accounts to ensure the integrity of information shared. It's not about summarizing or paraphrasing; it's about preserving the authenticity of the spoken word. Just like a skilled actor who can recite lines flawlessly, verbatim allows us to mirror the exact expressions and nuances of language.
Sanjana DixitPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Death of King Arthur" by Peter Ackroyd
When it comes to Peter Ackroyd, I have read my fair share. I practically devoured his book Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem in about two hours a few years' ago. It was one of my favourite books of that year. I then went on to read his book The English Ghost and even after that, his biography of William Shakespeare. But there was also another side to me during this entire time: I was (and still am) a huge fan of Arthurian Legends.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Geeks- Top Story - March 2024
My Unpopular Literary Opinions
I have a vast amount of fairly unpopular literary opinions. From books that I feel have been overhyped to classics that I think are just people trying to sound intelligent without having any real value. From clichés and boring genres that take on no other form whatsoever to writers who are really not as great as everyone thinks they are. Here are some of my most unpopular literary opinions made flesh. I hope that you enjoy them and that we can maybe have a balanced discussion about it. (Also, please don't hate me. These are just opinions and are in no way representative of anything factual at all).
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Geeks Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
‘Jane Eyre’ is possibly one of the most influential books of all time from being written by a woman in a time where women’s writing was not just disrespected but women were discouraged from participating altogether in the activity. Fuelled by her short but incredible life, Charlotte Bronte would sit in an inn in Manchester and write up the novel that would become one of the most widely recognised female protagonist novels in the world. Not only that, but it also serves us with a great story about a woman overcoming obstacles in the face of adversity. To be known as one of the greatest novels ever written might be good enough for ‘Jane Eyre’ but it is also one of the most celebrated works of fiction by a female writer. It is testament to the achievements of women.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "Theorem" by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Pier Paolo Pasolini is one of those names that went down in cinema history because of his amazing contribution to European cinema. Films such as Oedipus Rex based on the Theban Cycle play by Sophocles gave rise to Pasolini's fame and reputation for perfection as a filmmaker. Unfortunately, Pasolini's life was ended while he was still relatively young. At the age of 53, Pasolini was brutally accosted and murdered in a terrifying and graphic way which I have chosen to leave out here. But, based on a play script that was made into a film and then written into a book of prose and poetry, Theorem is a strange outlook on life's unexpected events and how they leave us feeling changed.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Sea of Tranquility" by Emily St John Mandel
Reddit Book Club Pick Month: March 2024 “I think, as a species, we have a desire to believe that we’re living at the climax of the story. It’s a kind of narcissism. We want to believe that we’re uniquely important, that we’re living at the end of history, that now, after all these millennia of false alarms, now is finally the worst that it’s ever been, that finally we have reached the end of the world." - The Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in GeeksBook Review: "The Terror" by Dan Simmons
'...as old as God and twice as powerful..." I had heard about this book because of the TV Show that Ridley Scott made about it and before you ask, no I had not actually watched the show at all and I have not as of yet. I always thought that a horror novel this long could not possibly have that key simplistic storyline that gets developed by its atmosphere. And then I remembered how much I enjoy Stephen King novels. Another thought I had was: am I going to enjoy this? It doesn't seem like it's for me. And that is always my concern; is it a book for me? I have never thought too much of books about the sea unless they are written like Moby Dick or The Odyssey because those are absolute classics of the genre. Nevertheless, I would come to realise that The Terror is awesome in its level of brutality as it follows on from the classics before it upon the sea and in the depths of the mind.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Geeks