literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "Keats" by Lucasta Miller
I have read many a novel based on a human being which is not exactly a biography in the usual sense. It is not told in chronological order from the day born to the day died, but instead is told as a sort of song or assortment - going through the stories associated with the widest achievements of the individuals and it is the achievements themselves that are sorted according to time. Once, I read a book structured in this way about Ludwig Van Beethoven and each chapter was a different great piece he wrote and yes, “Ode to Joy” was included in it. But now, I move on to a man of whom we celebrate the 200th anniversary since his passing young - John Keats. This book “Keats” by Lucas Miller has been able to capture the very essence and soul of the late poet through the linking of his words to his life, from the image of his relationship with Ms. Brawne in “Bright Star” all the way back to the image of his mother in “La Belle Dame Sans Merci”. I think that this book has really left no stone unturned when it comes to writing about how Keats achieved his greatness, how Keats wrote and how it ultimately came naturally to him - like breathing. I adored John Keats’ poetry whilst I was in school and then uncovering him again in university was great too. I was ultimately shocked at one of the most intricate details of Keats’ existence in this book. It was the fact that he may not have been as meek and mild as we would have liked to have seen him, but instead he was damaged and hurt - he was abandoned and upset at the very thought of his mother leaving him and then dying.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Ex Libris: 100 Books to Read and Reread" by Michiko Kakutani
When I was a lot younger than I am now, possibly around ten years’ ago, I worked my way through something called “The 1001 Books You Should Read Before You Die” - and I am not going to lie when I say that alongside my reading for school and my reading for entertainment, it took me about three years or so. I was just entering university when I finished the entire list but I am pretty glad that I did not skip out on one. Unfortunately enough for me though, they keep updating the book and add new stuff to it every time. I love those books that give you reading lists of these absolute classic novels blended in with one or two, or maybe more, that you probably have not heard of before. I can honestly say that this was true for this book we have here - it is called “Ex Libris: 100 Books to Read and Re-read” and my gosh have I got some books out of this that have gone straight into my Amazon shopping basket! But let us be realistic here, the types of books within this book are not your usual classics. Yes, there is a “1984” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” alongside Homer’s Epics interspersed throughout. But, there are books in here that I have never even encountered which I found absolutely fascinating. It was like walking into a library where there were familiar faces you could sit down and reread and yet, you knew you would leave with something special you had never even seen before. I know that is a weird metaphor but have you read my other reviews? Come on, I am filled with metaphors that make no sense.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
4 Popular Books With Typos and Grammar Errors
Typos, grammar errors, homonym errors, usage errors, and many other technical problems, have plagued writers for decades. Readers and bookworms have their opinions on them - some not being bothered, while others just straight up don't even finish the book. Indeed, there is a consensus that one typo is okay but consistent errors can pull a reader out of the story (and may result in bad ratings). I think of them as similar to glitches in video games. Every video game has glitches; there's no such thing as an ultra-polished game.
By Carl Hannigan5 years ago in Geeks
"Animal Farm" by George Orwell
George Orwell (real name Eric Blair, 1903-50) never joined any political party but regarded himself as a man of the left. He fought on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War that began in 1936, during which he was nearly killed, but became disillusioned with the political infighting of the various factions that were arrayed against the Fascists. In particular he noted how the Stalinists regarded everyone else as an enemy. This experience led to his writing of Animal Farm as a satirical portrayal of the corruption of Communist ideals by Stalin and his cronies in the Soviet Union.
By John Welford5 years ago in Geeks
20 Binge-Worthy Young Adult Fantasy Novels
Fantasy has become one of the most popular genres in the literary world, especially in young adult fiction that captivates adults as well as teens. However, everyone has heard of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the likes of Divergent by Veronica Roth, but there are so many more gripping fantasy novels that don't just focus on a teenage girl in a dystopian world. Not that there's anything wrong with that trope, but I get the feeling that you may be after something a bit different; something unique that takes you away from this harsh world we live in. So, without further ado, here are 20 of the best young adult fantasy novels that you may have missed, but are definitely worth a read!
By Stand Corrected Editing5 years ago in Geeks
5 Great Books I Read in May '21
This has been a strange month because I have not only been on and off sick, but I have also regained access to therapy and I have read some pretty interesting stuff. If you don't know about me, my name is Annie and I love to read. I feel like reading should be an activity enjoyed by anyone and it doesn't matter wheter you read a comic book or a beach read, a rom-com or a thriller, a classic or even some ancient philosophy if you feel like. I believe that reading should always be enjoyed first and studied second or third.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
"A Small Family Business": a play by Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn (born 12th April 1939) has been a mainstay of British comedy drama for many years, with more than 80 plays to his name, nearly all of which have premiered in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, where Ayckbourn was the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre (formerly the Library Theatre) from 1972 to 2008. “A Small Family Business” was one of only four plays not to have been premiered there, having been produced during a short sabbatical that Ayckbourn took at the National Theatre in London. It was first staged on 21st May 1987.
By John Welford5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Everything Like Before" by Kjell Askildsen
In the world of post-modernist literature there are two things that could happen: the first thing is that the language and atmosphere, the chronology and the way in which the characters fit into the setting are all perfect harmony with each other and therefore, when the strange dryness of the post-modernist language technique comes along - everything is going so very well that nothing could go wrong. The second thing that could happen is that nothing really seems to add up, everything is too dry and dreary and everything seems to have a strange repetitious feeling about it. Unfortunately, this is what happened here to this book of what was seeming to be modern/post-modern intriguing short stories of what the author believes to be real-life situations of relationships. Instead, the way in which the author believes women actually speak in real life seems to be both confusing and laughable at the same time. Several red flags in the relationship would have made the blind get up and walk away - and I am not only talking about the women. In the namesake story, a drunken woman beats up her husband/lover and yet, she is completely forgiven because of her ‘beauty’ and the fact that she just is. It makes zero sense and has no grounding in reality.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
A conversation with Philip Pullman
In 2008 the well-known writer Philip Pullman was given an honorary Professorship in the Department of English at Bangor University, North Wales. As a graduate of that department (in 1974) I was invited to attend a reunion at which Philip Pullman gave an inaugural talk.
By John Welford5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Medusa Frequency" by Russell Hoban
I read a lot of stuff about Greece and Rome, I love to read not only the myths translated but also the way in which they have been reinterpreted for modern use into stories and tales of the modernist era. Tales of Ovid, Troy and more, the books of monsters and myths have always fascinated me and the way in which they manage to give us some of the most memorable stories of all time keep me interested. We have heroes like Achilles and Patroclus and then, the Gods such as: Zeus, Hera and Athena, Aphrodite and Poseidon. But then, there is an even darker side to all of this and that is the stories of monsters. From Medusa, to the Kraken, from Greece to Switzerland and all the way through to the paintings of Vermeer and the legends of Hermes and Orpheus - this book has everything including the narrator who is incoherently obsessed with these things. There have been several interpretations of the book including the fact that many people have concluded that Medusa is the only faithful woman in the universe and so the narrator must worship her and her alone. Let us dive deeper into the fact that this book is one of the best things I have read of its genre for a long time.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
