literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Re-reading: "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters
So a few days ago, I had an itch to re-read a great book I'd read a couple of years ago called Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. It is a great book and the problem I'm having this time is because I know the story, I'm seeing other things that I didn't see before and pretty much losing my mind over it. The main question I have is: what is the point of the body?
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "I'm Not Scared" by Niccolo Ammaniti
I've never heard of this author before and so it would count as a part of my one random book per week. If you don't know what that is, it is where I grab one book by an author I've never heard of before who has written a book that I have not even remotely heard of before. I cannot have heard of it through conversation or on Instagram or anywhere else. It has to be a book that has never even been mentioned to me before. This week, I chose this book entitled: I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti. Let me tell you, at times, I was pretty scared.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The London Satyr" by Robert Edric
I found this book at the library after an intense searching session of something to read that was dark, murky and was filled with atmosphere. I found a few books and honestly, the horror section of the library I go to is incredibly sad with only a couple of small shelves. When I found this, it was not in the horror or thriller section, it was under literary fiction. It wasn't that I minded but I would've put it in a different place. On the whole, this book was pretty damn good, you all know how I feel about intense atmosphere and that is probably the main reason why. I've seen many reviews absolutely slating this book and that is mainly because they didn't get it.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Gingerbread" by Robert Dinsdale
I have read some Robert Dinsdale before. Known for his whimsical and often dark take on folkish and fairytale customs, The Toymakers was possibly one of the most memorable dark fantasy books I had read in a long time when it first came out. Since then, I haven't read much by him because of a changing TBR and for some reason, me moving away from dark fantasy novels. Recently, I rediscovered Robert Dinsdale in the form of this novel entitled Gingerbread and honestly, I couldn't be happier to see a beloved author again. I know, I know Gingerbread is older than The Toymakers but really, apart from Paris by Starlight, I hadn't heard of other novels by him - this was a lovely surprise and I adored it.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Edward VI: The Last Boy King" by Stephen Alford
As you should already know by now (it's been an awfully long time), I am reading one book about every single king and queen of England after Edward teh Confessor. So far, I have read a book about each of the following monarchs: Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror, William II (William Rufus), Henry I, Stephen, Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII and now, as we move on, I come to the boy king, Edward VI.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The New York Stories" by John O'Hara
John O'Hara is a writer I have been interested in for a while, mostly for his depictions of Golden Age New York, but also because of the very intense cynicism in his characters. The characters are cynics yes, but they are also in an era which will come to be known as one of the most incredible cultural eras of the American 20th century - it sure as hell doesn't feel that way though. John O'Hara is for the New York 'Golden Age' what F. Scott Fitzgerald is for the Jazz Age. He holds up a piece of reflective glass stained with their own dirt and then sends it crashing down over their heads. I adore it.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Nothing and Everything" by Val N. Tine
I'm not normally a big fan of reading philosophical works unless they are about my personal favourite theory - nihilism. Nihilism is really the only philosophical theory that makes perfect sense to me because it doesn't try to disillusion you with buzzwords and fallacies, false justifications and is pretty against accepting something as the truth because lots of people believe its true. Nihilism encourages the person to think for themselves, but to also not accept morality at face value, to question exactly why these unwritten rules are in place and to subvert against them in the process. However, the darkness of nihilism is also attractive. The fact that it really doesn't matter whether we live or die seems like a terrible way to live your life but the author here of Nothing and Everything tries to make it attractive.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Henry VIII: A Quest for Fame" by John Guy
As you already know, or should know, by now - I'm reading one book about every single king and queen of England since Edward the Confessor. So far, I have read books about: Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror, William II (William Rufus), Henry I, Stephen, Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and now we are moving on to one of the most controversial kings in English History, a man who was said to be just absolutely evil - the infamous Henry VIII in this book by John Guy aptly subtitled A Quest for Fame. I think John Guy is one of the most knowledgable people on the crown of England, especially during the Tudor era and in my teen years, I had really enjoyed My Heart is My Own - a book he wrote about Mary, Queen of Scots.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Memento Mori" by Muriel Spark
I have not really read a lot of Muriel Spark, I've read the regular and popular ones: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Driver's Seat, The Ballad of Peckham Rye and obviously the Complete Short Stories of Muriel Spark. But when it comes to her lesser known work, I really feel like I've been missing out. Farcical situations with cyclical structures that include satirical representations of the anxieties of modern living. Both funny and dark, Muriel Spark's writing has often entertained me quite a bit when I've been down. So, now we review her book Memento Mori with great anticipation. It's actually really good for its simplistic storyline.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Henry VII: Treason and Trust" by Sean Cunningham
As we know, I am reading one book about each and every king and queen of England from Edward the Confessor all the way up to our own monarch today. So far, I have read a book about: Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror, William II (William Rufus), Henry I, Stephen, Matilda, Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III and now, as we move on we get to the man who is usually known as the one who brought the two houses of Lancaster and York together: Henry VII. During these Wars of the Roses monarchs, I don't think anyone can really resist in authorship referencing Shakespeare's Richard III in their introduction - even Sean Cunningham. I appreciate that - it is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays ever.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Life Ceremony" by Sayaka Murata
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Japanese fiction is basically some of the greatest fiction in the world at the moment. Authors like Yoko Ogawa have really brought out the shine in the strange whilst also borrowing writing style from the Golden Age of modern Japanese literature (authors such as: Yukio Mishima and Junichiro Tanazaki come to mind). Japanese literature is not only on the rise, it is also on the change as well. Moving away from the once twisted humanist storylines, it makes its way into the modern day with Sayaka Murata's Earthlings, and Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police. I have found that Sayaka Murata's newest text, a book of short stories called Life Ceremony, follows this brand new tradition that I sure hope to see more of.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Berlin Stories" by Robert Walser
Everyone knows what I like when it comes to literature: great atmosphere, heavy descriptions and simplistic stories where I can get lost in the rythym, tone and philosophies of the narrative. I like to be able to feel the story first and read about it second mainly because I enjoy the way the story is able to make me feel outside myself. There aren't many books that do that successfully nowadays and many of the books which contain that level of description and emotion are a lot older than many people like to read. Robert Wasler's Berlin Stories is one of the books that really intensifies the experience of the atmosphere. I liked this one a lot.
By Annie Kapur4 years ago in Geeks
