literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "The Prussian Officer and Other Stories" by DH Lawrence
DH Lawrence is best known for his wit, his bluntness and his ability with wording things to either shroud the true meaning in mystery or scandalise the literary world. As we all know, he went into a self-imposed exile after the case surrounding some of his books (well, a certain one of his books most of all). But this book of short stories we see here sort of reminds us why DH Lawrence is still, to this day, considered a fantastic writer. His ingenious storylines shine a light on his time and all of its ironies. His social commentary is never without atypical characters and his way with poetic language has never let the reader down.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Maldoror and Poems" by Comte de Lautréamont
Have you ever read something that has made you scrunch your nose up in disgust a little? Something that has made you rather uncomfortable? I'm not talking about the way Stephen King scares the life out of you or how HP Lovecraft creeps you out, I'm not talking about the way Shirley Jackson sends you crazy or Daphne Du Maurier sets you on edge - I'm talking about something that makes you feel like: "huh, that's fairly uncomfortable..." Something that makes you shift in you seat a bit and furrows your brow in confusion and think that you're probably not going to be reading this one to relax. Welcome to Maldoror and Poems - a book that was supposedly penned whilst its author was sitting at a piano in rented accomodation, in an inn somewhere. But those accounts can't be verified...
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Manituana" by Wu Ming
I read “Q” which was by Luther Blissett and the other book that was recommended to me by the same person was this: “Manituana” by Wu Ming. Who knew that Luther Blissett and Wu Ming were the same group of people? I definitely did not. But after a long look at both books, I can definitely draw the similarities between them. They are both not the usual book I would pick up in the shop and they are also not the normal type of thing I’d choose to read.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "A Handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh is one of the author's I adore and so, I've been looking at rereading some of his works. Of course, I could've chosen Brideshead Revisited but instead I'd like to read some of the more out-there works by him. I'm starting with A Handful of Dust and seeing where it goes (and whether it goes anywhere else). Yes, after The Graduate by Charles Webb, it's another book about a weird and torrid affair in which both characters approach their personal lives and truths with trepidation. Evelyn Waugh's writing however, never fails to make you absolutely inhale the atmosphere. So of course, upon a second read - this book is just a slight bit better than the one I reviewed yesterday.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Graduate" by Charles Webb
The sheer amount of times I've skipped over reading this book because of the film is unreal, I tell you. Did I have a good time with the book though? Yes, and no. There were times where I felt the book was going a bit all over the place, as the film does, veering here and there without any real sense of direction. But in the classic words of any bookworm: the book is still better than the film. The character of Benjamin really got to me, and I'll share why in the review - but there were times where it felt like he was speaking some of his words straight out of my own soul. There were also other times where it felt like nobody around could understand exactly what was going on. I have to give marks to this book's great sense of characterisation even though I must knock off marks for a lack of atmosphere.
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Paris Stories" ed. by Shaun Whiteside
I was cleaning out parts of my room recently and I came across a stack of dusty books beneath my bed. They've probably been there for around 3-4 years and so, I decided to pick some of them out. I recall reading these books but honestly, there is no reason why I can't revisit them, especially when they are part of the Everyman series. I was quite surprised the first time I read it because the book definitely took all of the things you think about when you hear 'Paris' and initially it goes 'no, not really'. But I've got used to it and I've been able to analyse the way in which the extract which depicts a massacre fits into the whole history of Paris. Let's take a look...
By Annie Kapur5 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Boleyn Traitor" by Philippa Gregory
Okay so if you didn't know this already, Philippa Gregory is one of my favourite writers in the whole world. When I was a teenager, I was absolutely obsessed with her books and every time I new one comes out, I have already got in on preorder. I've read all of her books to date and this one is no different. Thrilling with intrigue and conversations about kingship and power, Philippa Gregory launches us back into the spotlight, analysing the dynamics of women in a space that uses them as political pawns. Narrated by Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, this book is no different and definitely no lesser than her past novels. Let's take a look at what it is about and how brilliant this book actually is.
By Annie Kapur6 months ago in Geeks
