literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "A Gate at the Stairs" by Lorrie Moore
From the start of this book I was cautious. This is not my kind of writing at all because of the way it is written. The character often comes off as abrupt and more than often, pretentious. Lorrie Moore is not particularly my favourite writer and probably is nowhere near my top 50. Her writing can often feel emotionless and bland with no colour or air to it. However, the storyline to this book is its saving grace as it winds around the college life of probably one of the most insufferable female protagonists I have read in a while. Why? There is always some 'great drama' happening in her life which seems to me a completely and utterly inaccurate way to present the lives of college students who are simply trying their best. Be that as it may, many of the characters of this book are completely insufferable and so, I cannot take too many points away as that might be the whole point of the book. As far as I know, this book is just a collection of bad people.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Lodger" by Helen Scarlett
I love crime novels as much as the next person. Everyone and their cat is probably well in tune with my adoration of the British Library Crime Classics series edited by Martin Edwards. When it comes to reading crime I normally look for the criteria of the book having a simplistic storyline and branching out from there. But this novel entitled The Lodger by Helen Scarlett has managed to confound me. This is not a book with a simple storyline, in fact there are many things that are rather complex about it. There is a whole host of characters from every walk of life and at the heart of it, there's a dead woman with a questionnable reputation from every person that knew her. But not every person who knew her knew the same things. It was a fantastic read.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
5 Horrifying Moments in Charles Dickens' Novels
Warning: Spoilers! Charles Dickens was born on the 7th of February 1812 in Portsmouth, England. He grew up in a lower middle-class family and, by the age of 12 was working in the workhouse making labels for bottles after his father was sent to prison for unpaid debts. Later on, Dickens would attend Wellington House Academy before starting his journalistic career which would focus on social injustices against the poor. Many of his novels would concentrate on the same theme and in 1836, he published The Pickwick Papers, bringing him fame and starting off his illustrious career in the literary world.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion" by Margaret Killjoy
This was a difficult one. The book was not all too long, nor was it overly complex and it started off really sounding quite good. A bad-ass female protagonist with a story of returning back to her former haunt and an elusive 'Clay' - it all sounds pretty good. Unfortunately, the writing really let this story down so I will not be moving on to book two in the series as I genuinely do not think it is worth it. However, do not simply take my review as gospel - check out the book for yourself. It has an audience - it just was not my thing.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
5 Gruesome Moments in Shakespeare's Plays...
I personally love Shakespeare. A lot of my degrees were centred around Shakespeare and dissecting his plays. It was such an enjoyable task to read, watch and experience different plays done in different ways and a lot of the time, I have been able to pick up and gage the intricacies of a great play. From the 1590s onwards, people far and wide have been enjoying Shakespeare and his plays, the mysteries of his life and whether, just whether, Prospero's speech at the end of The Tempest really is Shakespeare's own goodbye to the stage as he steps into retirement.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Uzumaki: A Twisting Tale of Unnerving Horror
Known for his masterful ability to weave captivating tales of dread, Ito's manga "Uzumaki" stands as a testament to his uncanny talent. With its chilling narrative, surrealistic artistry, and nightmarish imagery, "Uzumaki" takes readers on a harrowing journey into the very depths of the human psyche.
By Joshua King2 years ago in Geeks
Top Ten Scariest Powers in Anime
1. "Cursed Eye of Madness" (Tokyo Ghoul) – This chilling power manifests as a red, twisted eye capable of seeing the inner hunger within people. Those who possess this eye uncontrollably succumb to their darkest desires, transforming into bloodthirsty creatures. The fear lies in the constant battle to resist succumbing to the unquenchable urge to consume human flesh.
By Joshua King2 years ago in Geeks
Top Ten Strangest Anime Weapons
1. The Scissor Blades (Kill la Kill) - This weapon from the high-octane anime "Kill la Kill" takes the term "bad hair day" to a whole new level. Ryuko Matoi wields a giant, transforming scissor-like blade that emerges from her hair. With this peculiar weapon, she's hair-raisingly ready to take on any foe!
By Joshua King2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Dead Water" by C.A Fletcher
When it comes to water-based folk horror, I am normally quite curious to see what can be done with it. From All the Murmuring Bones to The Lighthouse Witches, it is clear there are some really great reads of that type out there. However, there are also some try-outs that did not quite make the cut of being the best of their kind. Nobody was ever telling anyone to reinvent the wheel, but the standard I usually set of water-type folk horror lies somewhere in the regions of Lucie McKnight Hardy's Water Shall Refuse Them - even if it did have the same storyline. Unfortunately, this book here, Dead Water by CA Fletcher, does not take much influence from any of the already mentioned texts, but rather tries and fails to reinvent the wheel. With terrible pacing, messy shoehorned pop culture references and scenes which go on for longer than they are supposed to, it is no wonder as to why this book does not really constitute good folk horror.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Too Much of Life" by Clarice Lispector
Born in 1920 in Brazil, Clarice Lispector was probably most famous for her literature that challenged traditionalism, looked to the future and had a mass following which made her one of Latin America's most incredible literary voices. Her introspective style often made her stand out amongst the other writers of her own time, changing the way people thought about female writers in a way only equalled by the likes of probably Isabel Allende.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Small Angels" by Lauren Owen
As some may know, my favourite genre in the whole world is folk horror. There is something about the whistling in the woods at night that is really and truly terrifying. It is why I enjoy films like The Wicker Man (1976) and Midsommar (2019). It is why I enjoy other books like Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley and why I am absolutely in love with the fin-de-siècle gothic. It's also ironically, why I do not particularly like the outdoors. I mean, anything could happen and maybe, like Don Quixote, I've driven myself mad from too many books.
By Annie Kapur2 years ago in Geeks
