literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "His Black Tongue" by Mitchell Lüthi
It's another day in 'let's read something we've never heard of' and well, sometimes it goes a bit strange. When I think of the phrase 'Medieval Horror' I'm often quite excited because there are so many things you can do with it. You can definitely get inspiration from the old Italian writers, you can have some old-world church settings, you can even incorporate the plague. Initially, I felt odd about this book because I wasn't familiar with the author, but the subgenre of Medieval Horror definitely put me at ease. But I did find there were perhaps more things I didn't enjoy about this book than things that I did. Unfortunately, it made for a very average reading experience...
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Lady Jane Grey
Welcome back to Why It's Shifty and today we're looking at the weird tale of Lady Jane Grey. Known as the 'Nine Days Queen' Lady Jane Grey was a pawn used by King Edward VI of England when he was dying to stop his half-sister, the then Princess Mary, from succeeding to the throne as she was a Catholic. Upon hearing the news she was going to be queen, the teenaged Lady Jane fainted.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "A Girl Walks Into the Forest" by Madeleine Roux
Well, I can't say I've been too active on social media lately. I'm sort of losing it with Twitter and when it comes to BlueSky, I'm basically barely there. Facebook has been alright and I've most been sticking around there especially uploading things to my story. I don't know why but I'm finding Twitter a bit boring and am seriously considering my future there. It's always better to have many different avenues if you are looking to expand your audience for writing but the place has become such a horrid pit of nothing that it almost seems pointless. Well, that's enough of me ranting, time for the review...
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham
Published in 1908, W. Somerset Maugham's The Magician was inspired by Maugham's fascination with the occult and his encounters with Aleister Crowley, a notorious figure in the world of mysticism and esotericism. Crowley’s eccentric personality and controversial reputation heavily influenced the character of Oliver Haddo, the titular magician in the novel. Maugham reportedly observed Crowley's mannerisms and lifestyle during their interactions in Paris, and these details contributed to Haddo's vividly unsettling character.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Found You" by Sarah Jules
Sarah Jules is a pretty good writer. When I say 'pretty good' I actually mean I'm trying very hard not to become obsessed. She's written great books like You Invited It In (which I reviewed here) and You Need to Leave (which I reviewed here). I've often been reluctant from reading too many books by the same author in such a short time span but honestly, I don't think that Sarah Jules is going to disappoint me soon. With her fast-paced scenes, her brilliant alternating perspectives and her great way with character, I am pretty sure Sarah Jules is going to still go strong with this book.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Freakslaw" by Jane Flett
So I've been reading thrillers lately, I love a good drama in which you know every character is inherently a bad person to some degree. But I've recently gone back to looking at horror, especially folk horror. Now folk horror can also include stuff like the carnival. Carnival horror is probably somewhere along the lines of Geek Love and then, it branches out from there. Many of these sub-genres intertwine and well, if are to only look at the story The Cask of Amontillado we can see clearly how one can influence the other. I was very excited the get stuck into this piece which, at the beginning, definitely gave me a flavour reminding me of American Horror Story Season 4: Freakshow. That is the superior season, I won't be taking questions.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Things We Keep" by Sally Hepworth . Top Story - August 2025.
“When you get to my age,' he says, his face softening, 'you don't waste time with regrets. In the end, you just remember the moments of joy. When all is said and done, those are the things we keep.” - The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Guilty Couple" by C.L Taylor
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: you will never get me out of a crime and thriller reading binge and if I go back to the British Library Crime Classics series then that was entirely my own doing. C.L Taylor's book It's Always the Husband was incredible and I read the whole thing in only a few hours, basically unable to put it down. I had to go straight back to the Kindle store to get this one titled: The Guilty Couple. Honestly I am so excited to get sucked into yet another drama and I would again highly recommend this author to all of you.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
7 Movie Endings That Still Haunt Me
Movies have always been more than just entertainment for me. They’re mirrors of our lives, dreams, and heartbreaks—little time capsules that hold our fears and hopes in the form of characters and stories. And while I’ve forgotten countless plots and dialogues, certain endings have clung to me for years, haunting me in the best—and sometimes the most unsettling—ways.
By Habib king8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Other Side of the Wall" by Andrea Mara
Andrea Mara had a huge hit with 'No One Saw a Thing' and then a huge miss with 'Someone in the Attic'. I'm giving her books another chance by reading 'The Other Side of the Wall' and honestly, it's definitely a lot more enjoyable than I was antipcipating. As I write this introduction, I am perhaps a quarter of a way through the book. At the moment, I have a lot of backstory, the novel is packed full of lengthy and atmospheric descriptions and so, you can only guess that I am definitely of the belief that this is going to be a great book. Let's see what happened then...
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
Book Review: "It's Always the Husband" by C.L Taylor
Online bookclubs are great but, once I found out that people were shitting on this one I checked out. I have wanted to read this since it came out because the title sounds so certain and yet, the book itself reads like a total mystery. Contemporary crime that one would normally find in the paperback bin of the W.H Smith travel shop is nothing to be sneezed at. Whether you're wanting some shifty mysteries in your life or, if you're just in a reading slump - these fast-paced books told from multiple third person limited perspectives that centre around social drama are definitely a go-to.
By Annie Kapur8 months ago in Geeks
