literature

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

Book Review: "The Magician" by W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham is an amazing writer and honestly, I have read quite a few novels and short stories by him including his very famous novel "Of Human Bondage" which was made into a film starring Bette Davis (which was also a brilliant film). "The Magician" though was also a really different novel by W. Somerset Maugham in the sense that it was darker, it had more superstition and it was not necessarily comfortable from time to time. It is about a couple of people who meet a man called Oliver Haddo - who I think is supposed to be based on Aleister Crowley but I'm not sure. The book explores the philosophy of the occult and its beliefs. It also explores aspects of dark magic and superstition. There is a ton of stuff to explore in this novel and again, it is very different to most W. Somerset Maugham novels I have read.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Elephant's Journey" by Jose Saramago
Jose Saramago is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and his prose has often conjured overwhelming emotions within me. This book is no exception. Even though the book is supposed to be a bit witty and a bit odd, I found it also very emotional because it still contains these moments within Jose Saramago's novels that characterise them for the reader: these moments of pure emotion, these philosophical introspective thoughts, this moving storyline that normally involves growth of being.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Spooky and Beautiful: A Book Review of "Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.
By Damini Kane5 years ago in Geeks
3 Great Novels by Richard Yates
Richard Yates. An author known for his treatment of the destruction of the American Dream has written many great novels including one that was adapted into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road. But that is not the only great book he wrote whilst he was in his prime. In fact, it was only one of many. I have read many novels by Richard Yates and I don't think I can say that any of the ones I have read are actually bad. Of course some are better than others, but there are none that I can say I wholeheartedly did not enjoy.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
The Fall Of Sanctuary City
John's father was a well-known man, making his funeral an unsettling occasion. John waited for the graveside service to end. Hundreds of people he had never met were coming up to him, squeezing, shaking, and touching him. John was not comfortable, and his sister Holly knew it. Holly was a great big sister, and John had always looked up to her. She helped him navigate the wild daily life their father had built around them.
By The Nerd Habit5 years ago in Geeks
Rosie’s Little Black Notebook
It was a cold, dreary day. Grey clouds as far as the eye could see in every direction. Hundreds of umbrellas surrounded the casket. During the eulogy, Zoe became overwhelmed by sadness. Her heart ached for the loss of her grandmother, Rosie. Rosie was always there helping her grandchildren, as much as she possibly could.
By Joshua Garcia5 years ago in Geeks
Tales From The Void
Gabriela was sore, tired, and more than a little worried about what lay ahead of her. After almost two hours of walking down flights of stares she comes to a door. She puts her ear up to it to see if she hear anyone rustling around on the other side. After hearing nothing she tries the handle which happens to be unlocked. She draws the blade she had acquired earlier it brilliant glow filled the space. The air is less musty, with a hint of chemical floating around. It’s a small room perhaps fifteen by ten or so. There is an alchemy table with various vials of unused liquids. Some of the beakers have been smashed, some thrown against the wall.
By Nathan Cleve Durham5 years ago in Geeks
Evaluating Rousseau in the light of Kant's definition of the enlightenment
The German philosopher Immanuel Kant defines Enlightenment, as I understand it - as the willingness to publicly use one's reason. He describes this at the beginning of his essay 'An Answer to the Question 'What is Enlightenment?' as 'man's emergence from his self incurred immaturity' where immaturity is thought of as the abstinence from using one's own understanding without guidance. In choosing whether to compare either Rousseau or Marx, to Kant - I chose Rousseau; partly because of being saturated by Marx's works and also, more importantly - because Rousseau preceded both Marx and Kant and was writing in closer proximity to the events of the French Revolution.
By Arsh K.S5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Watching from the Dark" by Gytha Lodge
I like reading twisted thrillers a lot and honestly, this was no exception to that rule. I adored this thriller. The modernity of it, the brilliance of the polished storyline and the back and forth between a long time before the murder to just afterwards. The whole storyline is trying to direct your attention away from what is actually happening and when you think that you have figured it out, it changes the entire story and you go in a different direction. My opinion is to keep an open mind and suspect everyone. I mean you must suspect everyone.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
5 Great Autobiographies
Everyone loves a good story - but some people love a good story about a great person even more. Why? These people either once existed or still exist and it is important to tell their story, learn about their story and feel the feelings they felt at the most difficult or turbulent times in their life.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Little Bones" by N.V Peacock
As you probably know by now, I am a huge fan of crime fiction. It teaches us a lot about the different writings of crime. Some are written in chronological order from start to finish. Some are written in flashbacks and some are written from multiple points of view. But, one thing that they all have in common is not just the fact that there is a crime at the heart of them that people are running out of time to solve, but that there is also some misdirection going on. When you read the book, you normally realise you were wrong about the whole thing and your main question is: Why didn't I see this earlier? It was right there the whole time.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks
5 Great Russian Novels
I love Russian Literature to the point that I just try to read as many Russian Novels as I can physically cram between the novels in my TBR pile. The fact that there are so many different types of Russian novels means that this list was incredibly difficult to make and so I would like to state that there will only be one novel per author or the list would just be Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and possibly Bulgakov.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Geeks