literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "The Library of Greek Mythology" by Apollodorus
It is not every day that I decide to change my usual path of reading modern horror but I was recently realising that I miss the old days where I read mainly the classics, or classical stuff. My horror addiction is not recently but is far more pronounced than it used to be and for a while now, I have missed the lingering flavour of something more academic. I decided to give The Library of Greek Mythology by Apollodorus a go since it had been sitting on my academic TBR for quite a long time (I am actually embarrassed to say how long). Not quite the depth I would usually choose but enough to get me restarted and recharged again. So I apologise if you do not want me exploring my passions of academic literature like I once did a while back, but here we are. You're going to get it anyway. That doesn't mean the other books will go anywhere, but I think I need to tone down the amount of horror I'm reading and make sure I'm balancing my mind correctly.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
5 Great Horror Stories Not by Poe
When we talk about horror short stories and how much they scare us, we cannot do that without talking about Edgar Allan Poe. Though the stories like the terrifying twins in The Fall of the House of Usher scare us as much as Montressor's scheme in The Cask of Amontillado. Though the beating Tell Tale Heart terrifies its readers as much as the elusive Premature Burial and The Raven has definitely scared more than one soul upon a midnight dreary. There are scary stories that are just as frightening not written by Edgar Allan Poe too. So let us explore 5 horror stories not by Edgar Allan Poe for a truly spooky Halloween.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Just Like Home" by Sarah Gailey
At the moment, I am still riding the high of modern horror and in this modern psychological horror, though it did not seem like my thing to begin with, I can definitely tell you that it is really quite good. It may not have been my favourite read of the year, but it definitely was not a bad attempt at new-age horror. It had some qualities of 1970s and 1980s horror paperbacks with an essence of psychological thriller. I enjoyed it, though I would not be looking deeper into something that probably is not there. It was not that scary or that deep, but it is an enjoyable light horror read for anyone looking for some particularly good themes and a readable writing style which is both atmospheric and sensory.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Just Stay Away" by Tony Wirt
It's not every day that I decide to read suburban horror or anything of that same sort, but I took a chance on this one here. Just Stay Away is advertised as somewhere between a psychological thriller and a horror novel but I think it is more along the lines of a suburban thriller. I would not say there is anything psychologically messed up about it and though it starts off really well, it becomes boring and repetitive quickly, finding itself droning on with the reader only waiting for something new to actually happen. With plot holes that are not explained and an ending that is underwhelming and rushed - I feel like this book was quite promising and then drowned itself out before it could become something better.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "This Thing Between Us" by Gus Moreno
There were many times were I thought to myself that maybe I should be reading a more modern horror with more modern themes and more modern things. That was when I came across Gus Moreno's This Thing Between Us where the horror is so modern that some of it comes in the form of the world's smartest smart speaker. Although this may have had a lot of potential, I found myself bored with the writing style, annoyed at the lack of atmosphere and just felt nothing for the main character. Though the concept was there, it would have been better written by a more experienced writer who can do atmosphere, character-based plots and narrative voice very well. It doesn't have to be Stephen King though I would love to see his take on it. I just don't think this guy was the right guy to write this story. It always felt lacking and underwhelming and the ending left me with nothing. No emotion, no insight, no questions - just nothing at all.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Photographer" by E.S Blake
I've never heard of E.S Blake and yet, I am compelled to know more. I read this book on the 6th of October 2023 and for some reason, felt like I was getting to the party a bit late. I managed to read most of it on a train I was taking back home which took roughly two hours and the rest earlier on in the same day. Notably, I couldn't wait to get my train home not only because I was taking the train home but because I wanted to read this book. Filled with atmosphere, tragedy and character development that is resonant of a Victorian novel, I found this book an intrguing read for those of us who love character-based descriptive novels.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Illusions" by Liz Hyder
I like to read historical fiction now and again, in fact my favourite modern author is Philippa Gregory and I have read everything she has written to this day. There is something about historical fiction that takes you away from your own time, but does not read like a textbook or as if it is trying to prove something to you. Instead, often written in a first person narrative, it is bringing life to people we can no longer communicate with. We can interview and ask questions to the past and receive answers. The importance is not in whether these answers or conversations portray any realities but rather it is about how the answers and conversations shape the story we are getting immersed in. Do these characters provide us with ample space to keep asking questions, keep the conversation with the past going and do we feel invested in them even though we know they are long dead? I have to say that for The Illusions by Liz Hyder, the answer is definitely yes.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Classic Book Review: "Necronomicon" by H.P Lovecraft
The Necronomicon has long been associated with the peak of modern horror for many readers and horror enthusiasts. To be perfectly honest with you, most of the stories are quite frightening and you probably don't want to be reading them at night under the sheets. However, there are some that are clearly better than others and it would be false to say that this is the best horror anthology I have ever read in my life. Let me take you back to when I was fifteen years' old for a second - I have to show you something...
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Turnglass" by Gareth Rubin
It is not normal to come across a tête-bêche in the modern day - an outdated and often over-ambitious way of writing it involves physically flipping the book over and reading an entirely different story after finishing the first. Literally meaning 'head-to-toe' it is a book that runs cover to cover and quite literally, head to toe. Often, both the stories are linked together some way and honestly, I was surprised that it was actually done with so much success. You can, as with a tête-bêche, start with either side of the book and it should still make sense - and it does. There are, however, some faults in that one of the narratives is clearly not as strong and atmospheric as the other and very clearly, one is far more immersive, to the point that the second half for me, became tiring and boring. However, both of the narratives play off each other and help solve the mystery of the other and so, even if it isn't for you - you have to respect the ambition here.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY; The Genesis of Cosmos
When antiquity first began, an infinite emptiness known as the primordial vacuum existed before time itself had completed its garland. The elements of earth, air, fire, and water slept in this abyss, entwined like threads waiting to be woven by someone skilled. The world had its beginnings there, it was a site of boundless possibilities, and the gods themselves intended to paint the universe on it.
By The Must-Read 2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Night Shift" by Stephen King
Recently, I have been reading more Stephen King, attempting to fill the gaps from my teen years. I was first, in my early teens, terrified by Salem's Lot so much that I didn't sleep for a while. The TV Show was fine for me and so were those weird comics of it you find on the internet. But the book scared the daylights out of me and to this day, I wouldn't be able to tell you why. It is probably thanks to my over-active imagination. I have read many, many, many Stephen King novels and anthologies over my time and so, I move on to this one entitled: Night Shift: Selections which starts with The Boogeyman and a man who is responsible for the deaths of his children.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
