literature

Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.

Book Review: "The Familiars by Stacey Halls
When I was younger and in my school days, one of my favourite books was Philippa Gregory's "The Wise Woman" which is basically the exact same concept as this book and the 'wise woman' even has the same name - Alice. (In "The Wise Woman" it is spelt in the older way, 'Alys'). However, I was still excited to read this particular book in order to see what it borrowed, what it stole and what it changed and the first thing I noticed is that it is told from the point of view of the woman who is going to have the child, which was interesting. Another thing I noticed is that there is far more dialogue than what I am used to but it never felt like the dialogue was put there for no reason - every conversation, every word said had some sort of purpose to push the story forwards.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Zhivago Affair" by Peter Finn and Petra Couvée . Top Story - April 2021.
“The roof over the whole of Russia has been torn off.” The quotation at the beginning of chapter one, just after a powerful prologue, is something of pure beauty as it puts the reader within the time from of Boris Pasternak as a young man growing up in the midst of the Russian Revolution. The writer of great books would go on to bear witness to some of the most challenging times in Russian History including the regimes of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. This book covers his persecution at the hands of the Soviets due to the book that most consider to be the most dangerous book ever written in 20th century Russia - “Dr. Zhivago”.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
One Night at the Pirate's House
The people of Savannah hid whenever they saw those tattered sails approaching the Georgia coast, billowing in the fair winds like storm clouds. But not me, never. I stayed put at the inn, at my station behind the bar. I was only a tavern maid, but I didn't care. I would not hide from the pirates who terrorized this city and stole my only brother.
By Ashley Herzog5 years ago in Geeks
I Started A Reading Journal, And You Should, Too!
Once upon a time, I read a book a week and forgot everything about it soon after. As life has changed, so have my reading habits. I read at a much slower pace these days, with sometimes days between picking up my current read. Though I am reading fewer books during the course of a year, I am reading more deeply than before. Reading is no longer a part of my goals for the week, it's something I pick up, like a conversation (and not a chore). I am also wasting no time on books that I don't want to read. Shelving that book you're not interested in for later is one of the best ways to read more and avoid burnout. I talk a little bit more about that in my Vocal article 21 Tips for Reading More in 2021. For these reasons, I am getting so much more out of my reading and have found myself contemplating the books that I read far more and far longer than the books I've read in the past.
By Holly Rae5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover
I am not normally someone who will read a romance novel and enjoy it. With this coming under that umbrella term as an anti-romance novel, it immediately made me interested in whether I could read it and get really stuck in. However, the only romance novel I have ever enjoyed to the point that I read it a second time was Hannah Rothschild’s “The Impossibility of Love” as it was just beautifully written. With “It Ends With Us” I think there was the potential for it to do brilliantly with the concept it had. But, in a lot of places, it let me down through the almost fantasist language to do with the modern day relationship. I was initially very much on the fence about this book and went back and forth changing my mind how I felt about it. I think I have decided upon half marks now, but this does not mean that you should not read it. I would actually say that you read it for yourself and see whether you agree or disagree with my views. It may be a completely different experience for you.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
The Book is Better than the Movie 1
Ok, so first things first. I am an avid reader and am almost always going to rate the book higher than the movie. That being said, there are exceptions to that rule and there are some movies out there that are just as good as the book. Just to be clear I get that a movie is different than the book and one could see them as separate entities… but in my mind they are linked so, without further ado here is my first- the book is better than the movie rant.
By Katie L. Oswald (BookDragon)5 years ago in Geeks
Most Anticipated Releases!
{ this post will be updated as more information comes out about each book listed. A list of the dates that it has been updated can be found at the bottom }
By Liv Atterson5 years ago in Geeks
The Merchant's Tale of January and May
The Merchant’s Tale is the last of the “marriage group” of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. These deal with different aspects of the theme of authority in marriage and include the Wife of Bath’s argument for the sovereignty of wives and the Clerk’s Tale of what can happen when a husband demands complete obedience from his wife. The Merchant turns the tables again with a story of a young wife deceiving an elderly husband.
By John Welford5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Lamplighters" by Emma Stonex
I love stories set upon the seas. One of my favourite books is Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" and another is Homer's "Odyssey". Even though I do not really live near an ocean and nor do I go out on the sea a lot - my hometown has more canals than Venice (yep, fun fact there!). There's always water around and well, I can honestly say that I have travelled up and down these more than once even if it is mostly just walking by them and appreciating the little boats that go up and down throughout the city. When nautical literature meets the gothic it is something to be appreciated. There are many things that could become cliché, misunderstood or even just plain boring - but Emma Stonex seems to get around all of these and navigate us into a winding story about three men who go missing from a lighthouse when the door is locked from the inside.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
A new adventure.
Whatever goes upon the edge of the horizon, the heart knows that it will eventually find its way. Regardless of the tides gentle caress upon the sandy shores, as it recedes from its grip from the earthen trek. Whether the skies are all the clearer within the realm of the sea, or the maelstrom churns at the oceans raging, announcing her hearts unyielding fury. Despite the scent of salt amidst the swaying breeze, and the warmth of the sun setting upon the realm of the free folk of the west. The horizon was a mysterious lass, a coy mistress to be chasing. Men have chased her all their lives, regardless of their intent. Despite all that goes on under the heavens and all the stumbling blocks placed against the pursuits of men, the heart will eventually find what it seeks. The tides come and go, come and go, come and go, to and fro, rising high unto the beaches, and sinking back in retreat. But no matter how much it struggled, it would never yield in defeat. So it was with what the human heart truly seeks and desires.
By Jordan Zuniga5 years ago in Geeks
Indian Warfare
Is a story about two Indian tribes that has been at war for years. The Kwawpaw tribe is the good tribe. They only fight when they’re attacked. The Ahshitaw tribe are the bad tribe. They will fight if they’re attacked or not. Chief White Eagle is the leader of the Kwawpaw tribe. Chief Serpent is the leader of the Ahshitaw tribe. Chief White Eagle has a medallion around his neck that has Chief Serpent’s ancestor’s soul in it from a previous war. Chief Serpent wants his ancestor spirit freed from the medallion. Chief Serpent tells Chief White Eagle he wants one last duel with him for his land. Chief White Eagle knew what he really wanted. He told Chief Serpent that if the medallion is removed from his neck, mankind will be cursed with animal instincts again. This means if a person gets angry, they will turn into an animal. Chief Serpent knew, but he didn’t care because all he wants is his ancestor’s soul freed from the medallion. They have their sons with them as witnesses. Gray Wolf is Chief White Eagle’s son. Redd Lion is Chief Serpent’s.
By Joe Young5 years ago in Geeks
Siren
The ship’s crew was drunk on pilfered wine as they thunderously danced above deck, the Grecian sun turning lower over a purple and black horizon. Winds were fair and steady; the stars were their only needed guide. What luck to be in the Gods’ favor.
By Kaitlin Oster5 years ago in Geeks