literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
My Life in Books
The first book I remember being in my life is one I was given as a gift before I could even talk, let alone read! It is an encyclopaedia called World Of Wonder Encyclopedia. My dad bought it for me in 1978 when I was only 2 years old—he was always very keen for me to be a good reader and be full of knowledge—I can at least say he got his first wish. This book has been referred to throughout my life for little facts and figures and was always my first point of reference when tackling school homework. Even though it is in a bit of state an quite out of date—there are no references to mobile phones or Xbox—my 13 year old daughter sometimes uses it when she’s doing homework. It’s an item I hope will never be lost or destroyed as it has just always been there for me.
By Michelle Spittle8 years ago in Geeks
Life Story of Books
In Dierk Bentley’s song “I Hold On,” he talks about the moment he had with his father in his truck or the meaning behind his guitar. Like Dierk Bentley, we infuse memories into objects of importance to us. We hold on to pictures, beds, toys, cars, and maybe even tickets or wristbands given to us by dear friends or family. Everything we have has a memory attached to it, giving people a desire to experience more in the world creating new memories to enjoy by themselves or with another person. Books are that unique way for me to express myself and allow me to go on a journey no one else but I can experience. From the moment I picked up my very first book, I’ve been lost in many worlds facing challenges around every corner as I escaped from this reality.
By Camron Purdum8 years ago in Geeks
Why I Never Read Books
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was something I didn’t know I struggled with my whole life until I was a freshman in high school. Once I was diagnosed, it explained why I disliked and had a difficult time reading. Comprehending a story while reading, it was a skill I dreamt of having, yet I never connected it to having a disorder. Finally getting the treatment and medication I needed was the key to achieving this skill.
By Maddie Dauzat8 years ago in Geeks
Living Queer, Reading Queer
I often find myself while nose deep in a novel, that new book smell and the excitement of the endless possibilities just buzzing under my skin, wondering how reading could get any better. However, more often than not I'm disappointed or rather underwhelmed by the romance aspect. Like looking at the front of a children's book titled John Goes to School I feel as if the eggs are already lined up in front of me. While I briefly consider if John will ever finish his destined journey to school, I know the outcome.
By Damin Grey8 years ago in Geeks
Read like a Professor
Family members do not always look alike despite being related. Likewise, though The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien and How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster do not seem similar at first glance, the two are actually extremely related. The selected readings from Foster’s textbook regarding quests, weather, and symbolism are readily applicable to Tim O’Brien’s novel. O’Brien’s work is full of subsidiary quests related to the main character’s prodigious quest, which is to battle in Vietnam. The weather in the The Things They Carried contributes to the altogether state of confusion, gloominess, and primal nature of the novel, as explained by Foster in his textbook. Symbolism is exceptionally present in O’Brien’s novel, and Foster deposits immense importance on the shoulders of symbolic meaning. The Things They Carried is easily read like a professor.
By Ollyvir Reagan8 years ago in Geeks
Top 10 YA Books I Cannot Get Out of My Mind
It is during our teenage years that many people discover the joys of reading. Despite living in an age where the internet is bigger than ever, reading has never gone out of style. During my teenage years I read so many books that I still to this day, cannot forget. If you’re scouting for new reading material, or a good book to give as a gift, take a look at the list below.
By Mette Fisker8 years ago in Geeks
How Far Do Authors Reflect Themselves in Their Protagonists?
When writing fiction, most writers draw upon the clichéd but sage advice to ‘write what you know.’ Some simply explore their native milieu and insert a fictional plot, while others write a roman à clef, skirting the border of fiction and reality. But how far does that statement transcend the setting of the story and diffuse into the characters? It is usually by coincidence that little idiosyncrasies of people the author knows end up becoming part of the characters they write, allowing them to create more vivid depictions of the world around us. It is also common for authors to base characters entirely on someone they know, perhaps as a tribute or merely because they fit into the story being told. However how much of the time do authors reflect themselves in their characters?
By Poppy Goad8 years ago in Geeks
'Little Fires Everywhere' Book Review
This book caught me off guard. It came into my life when I was checking out an adorable bookstore near my college. Throughout each shelf, they would have a couple staff recommendations with little cards on the books saying what that staff member liked about it. I loved the idea, so I went through the store and looked at each staff recommendation in the fiction section (and trust me, there were a lot). I ended up stopping in front of this gem. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
By Caroline Yarborough8 years ago in Geeks
Review: 'Prisoner of the Night and Fog'
Prisoner of the Night and Fog by Anne Blankman A Critical Review by Jasmine Becker Gretchen Muller is the adopted niece of Hitler. She calls him by the cozy name “Uncle Dolf”. This book follows her experiences with Nazi Germany, and the National Socialist Party. She is brainwashed until she meets a Jewish reporter, which leads her to find information about her father which could change everything she ever believed to be true.
By Jasmine Lass8 years ago in Geeks
How Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Was Anything but Unfortunate for Me
Picture It: Toronto, 2002 or 2003 (The early 2000s are all jumbled together). Back in the day, the Lemony Snicket book series, #ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents was one of my absolute favorite things to read. During my elementary school years (roughly Grades 2–5), we had a Book Club where we would spend our lunches with a delightful older woman who rocked some badass old lady glasses named Mrs. Slack. She would bring in some tuna in a container, lather that shit generously on her whole wheat crackers and gobble those tuna crackers down as she read to us the first novel of the series to — I suppose the third or fourth one was where we left off and I went to middle school (Grades 6–8).
By Ghezal Amiri8 years ago in Geeks
Who Will Sit on the Iron Throne?
The fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire has manifested itself into a war between fear and love, where the only option is to win or die. The important theme of clashing demands between love and honour will be utilized in this essay to analyze characters that may rule the “known world.” The “known world” consists of three continents Westoros, Essos, and Sothoryos. For the purpose of this essay, there will be a specific focus on the political conflict in Westeros over who will sit on the Iron Throne. Machiavellian principles will be presented in this essay to analyze potential rulers for the Iron Throne. This essay will be combining topics number one and two, and will apply political strategy to answer the both questions. Political strategy, which is the art and science of utilizing political, psychological and power forces, will be a helpful tool to analyze the tactical movements of different players in the “game of thrones.” This essay will ultimately argue that Sansa will sit on the Iron Throne and become the ruler of Westeros because in the long term it is better for a ruler to be loved rather than feared.
By Isabel Angulo8 years ago in Geeks
