literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "The Picador Book of 40" ed. by Charlotte Greig
If you had told me that there was a Picador Anthology of stories last year then I would have read it, why didn't anyone tell me? Most anthologies are published at a milestone like fifty years or one hundred years, but forty just made me even more interested to read it. I was fascinated to see how many writers could write something compelling about the number, the publishing house or something to do with writing itself - especially one of my favourite writers, John Banville - who managed to write about turning forty and what it means. There are many things to celebrate in this anthology and I'm glad Picador didn't take the usual milestones to write about. Here's what I thought...
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
The Art of the Antihero
Your True Direction Why Do We Love Antiheroes? In a world where heroes and villains are often seen as black and white, antiheroes exist in the gray area—and we can’t get enough of them. Whether it’s Walter White (Breaking Bad), Deadpool, Tony Soprano, or Loki, morally complex protagonists captivate audiences in ways that traditional heroes sometimes fail to do.
By R.T. Garner2 years ago in Geeks
Unveiling Chhaava: A Deep Dive into the Film's Acting Brilliance, Jingoistic Themes, and Subtlety Challenges
Chhaava, a puff biography of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji, who battled the power of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for nearly eight years in the 17th century, is a translation of best-selling novel by Shivaji Sawant. He followed his father Chhatrapati Shivaji's policy of resistance by locking horns with Aurangzeb in the Deccan in the latter half of his rule. With his unparalleled bravery and guerilla warfare, he severely dented Aurangzeb's humongous army and ego before his brother-in-law betrayed him.
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Several Perceptions" by Angela Carter
So I'm still trying to work my way through some Virago Modern Classics on the side of doing everything else on my reading list. This includes reading authors like Angela Carter. I've read a lot of her works such as The Bloody Chamber and others, but Several Perceptions was not only a book I had never read by her - I hadn't even heard of it until a few weeks ago. It really is a fantastic book if not a bit weird. However, there are Angela Carter's usual quirks for strange metaphors and folklore-inspired language. So, let's have a look at this new Angela Carter novel.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Light in the Dark" by Horatio Clare
I like to peruse the internet from time to time even though the social media space is not really of any particular interest to me apart from which new books and movies are coming out soon. When on social media, I saw that someone was reading a very interesting book entitled The Light in the Dark. With its wintery book cover and its lovely blurb, I was hooked entirely waiting to see what the structure, form and language within would be like. And so, on my Kindle, I prepared for some meditations on the winter. It was pretty incredible to be perfectly honest...
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Real life super hero
There's nothing wrong with liking comic books, I collect them all the time. From super hero to futuristic science fiction and every other type of story in-between, there really is a lot to discover and get into. Whole films and video games have been made based on these beloved drawings characters, that at one time only ever existed in the pages of comic books published by big name publishers. Unfortunately there are some people who take this obsession with nerd culture way too far, actually wearing superhero costumes and parading the streets fighting actual crime. Isn't that crazy? That vigilantes are roleplaying as their favourite fictional characters to stop real life scumbags. Some might see nothing wrong with this, but it is the policeman's job to correctly deal with crime in the real world. When citizens take the law into their own hands, oftentimes unintended consequences can happen. You see, there are certain vigilantes who see the world differently than most. The truth is, the matter between what is good or bad is entirely subjective. It's why I rarely discuss politics, when even my own friends and family have disagreements with me on particular topics, with that knowledge, you should know that when it comes to how everyone else living in the world sees things, these are going to be completely different from your own individual perspective. So dishing out just punishments is the same matter, many argue online if a killer and a kidnapper are as bad or equal to each other. The law exists to articulate correct punishments for those who commit a palette of different crimes, but the big problem with vigilantes is that they often serve up their own special brand of right and wrong and that can sometimes mean killing those who do not fully deserve it. That is exactly what happened in the city of Chicago in 2014, a real life super hero (a masked ordinary man in black leather Spandex without any super powers) calling himself the Dark Justice murdered several drug dealers in and around the city. Many called the masked man a hero, some even called him a super villain, but this mysterious masked avenger was neither, he was a mad man. Hell bent on lethal justice. He became the city's most wanted. Police searched for the comic themed killer for months, but the masked man was clever, a criminal mastermind who always avoided the cops and bounty hunters, never killing them if any of them actually confronted him. He would only knock out those who served the law, killing the true criminals in society. Dark Justice didn't just go after drug pushers, but other killers too, he tracked down and killed men who were a part of the mafia and other shady criminal organisations. He even prevented terrorist attacks from happening, by murdering the monsters before they could strike. It was these big named criminals that he ended that earned Dark Justice his super hero status. However he often made mistakes too, he had killed the wrong people who were later proven innocent long after Dark Justice already strangled those victims. His most infamous miscarriage of justice was when a convenience store was robbed by a hooded man in a balaclava. The thief had only stolen from the cash register, but when Dark Justice appeared he pulled out a silenced pistol and shot the robber down, shooting three bullets into the man's skull. Of course the shopkeeper thanked Dark Justice, especially after getting his money back. The footage was recorded on surveillance cameras and had leaked online, news anchors obviously called out Dark Justice as an unruly vigilante who was taking things way too far. However there were people online, fans of Dark Justice who actually defended his actions, saying he was a true hero who put an end to masked robbers like that permanently and that his actions should be applauded not frowned upon. As time dragged on, more and more police officers began to crack down on Dark Justice as he often committed/prevented crime in the same areas towards the north of the city. One night law enforcement actually tracked Dark Justice down to his exact location, a thrilling police chase ensued as the wannabe super hero climbed up drain pipes and jumped from roof to roof, clearly showcasing his superior parkour skills to the firing police officers down below on the ground, who unfortunately could never catch up with the masked criminal. He got away, escaped true justice. After that night, Dark Justice disappeared entirely, the crime in Chicago went on and police struggled to crack down on the madness. Most people missed the masked vigilante, moreso due to his novelty as there are a lot of comic book fans who really liked the idea of a real life super hero. Law enforcement had mixed feelings about the man vanishing, as that meant he could never be caught. Some speculate that Dark Justice is still active, only now does he hide himself away from the public eye. Becoming more of a secretive serial killer who only kills "bad guys" according to his own deluded, moral code. It has been 11 years since Dark Justice ended his super hero career in Chicago. To this day nobody knows what became of him or where he is. Comics have been written (then later banned) about him and there was even an independent movie in the works (that also got cancelled). I don't condone the actions of Dark Justice, but there are far worse and evil serial killers to ever walk this beautiful yet deadly earth.
By Joseph Roy Wright2 years ago in Geeks
The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
Carson McCullers’ novel, "The Member of the Wedding," was first published in 1946, marking a significant addition to the literary landscape of the mid-20th century. McCullers, already acclaimed for her earlier works such as "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," continued to explore themes of loneliness, belonging, and the tumultuous journey of adolescence in this novel.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Days of Abandonment" by Elena Ferrante
Now, you're probably thinking about why I'm only reading this now. To be honest I think I have only ever read one other Elena Ferrante novel in my life and I remember disliking it. Her female protagonists are often obsessed with the men they are with and are two-dimensional characters who complain about practically everything. Unfortunately, this was no different. I have been trying desperately to enjoy this author because everyone else does. But her storylines are only average and her characters are often insufferable. So, unfortunately I think I'm going to stop reading her for a while until someone recommends something I might actually enjoy by her. I apologise.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Eventide" by Kent Haruf
The second book in the series beginning with Plainsong had to be one of the weirdest discoveries of books I've had in a while. I waltzed through Amazon, looking at how Plainsong had gone back up in price and slowly giggling to myself about getting it on sale. Slowly scrolling down the page, I saw then that there were two more books in the series. I started to read the blurb to the next Eventide and began to panic. The two beloved characters of the first novel were now about to encounter 'tragedy'. I was beside myself. I purchased both books despite knowing I did not have the funds to do so. As of January 3rd (when this review is being written), I have finished the second book and it was incredible, heartbreaking and completely immersive. It was just as good as the first book...
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
