literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Book Review: "Henry VIII: King and Court" by Alison Weir (Pt. 2)
There's already a lot we know about the young prince Henry and we even have a flavour of how he grew up and was basically raised to be the most entitled brat in England. Be that as it may, he had a lot of knowledge and was actually incredibly clever when it came to scholarly studies, languages and as it happens, masonry and interior design as well. Alison Weir tells us all about the way the King decorated places like Hampton Court to show off his wealth, draping the walls with fine woven textiles and making decorative glass to depict his noble lineage. This was all part of the theatre of royalty, the propaganda that Henry VIII was so good at during the time, it almost made people forget that he had two of his wives killed and one was not even 20 years' old at the time.
By Annie Kapurabout 16 hours ago in Geeks
Terra Amata by J.M.G. Le Clézio
In 1967, J.M.G. Le Clézio published his novel Terra Amata as one of his earlier works. An experimental novel, it is part of this larger phase where the author was working with more surrealist fiction styles, often embracing fragmentations and existentialism as a philosophy of his work. Like a lot of his work though, it explores what it means to be human and how this works in relation to the natural world. It blurs those lines between the real and the cosmic, the existential and the absurdist and the way in which we understand ourselves is shrouded in the 'bigger picture'.
By Annie Kapura day ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Henry VIII: King and Court" by Alison Weir (Pt.1)
Popular culture has perpetuated some mythologies regarding Henry VIII, Alison Weir makes it clear that she'll address these issues but probably not entertain them. One of the myths is that Henry VIII didn't wash and thus smelt bad, in fact Weir puts to us that the King was obsessed with his hygeine. He also almost never dined in the main hall with others, which challenges many notions and amateur YouTube videos that claim the King was definitely not a great dinner guest in the main dining hall. We learn that on many instances, he preferred to dine with his wife, or by himself - a King that was more introspective than we have been led to believe does not necessarily mean he was not a complete and utter sociopath.
By Annie Kapura day ago in Geeks
Project Hail Mary (2026) - A Cinematic Experience
We’ll travel where no man or rock has ever gone. Project Hail Mary flew into theaters in 2026. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, the story centers on Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship. He was sent on a mission by the government to stop a mysterious substance from killing Earth’s sun, but makes an unexpected friendship.
By Marielle Sabbag2 days ago in Geeks
Project Hail Mary Movie Review
Andy Weir’s sci-fi novels have proven very popular over the last decade; with The Martian arriving in theatres in 2015 it was only a matter of time until another tale received the big screen treatment. Project Hail Mary is another great effort that falls under the same light-hearted banner.
By Robert Cain2 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Hannibal" by Philip Freeman
This is quite fascinating. I have studied people like Napoleon and of course, there's that famous painting of him 'Crossing the Alps' by Jacques-Louis David, one of my favourite painters. If you look at where he has carved his name, it is directly above that of Hannibal. Now, I've heard of Hannibal and the Elephants before mainly because I wasn't an ignorant child but I had never actually studied him in any detail. The extent of what I knew seemed to stop at 'he fought the Roman army' and he was actually a formidable foe to them, able to hold his own. But after reading this book by Philip Freeman, I have to say I know a lot more now and it is all very interesting to me.
By Annie Kapur3 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Ancient Rome" by Thomas R. Martin
I have not got a single clue what drew me to this book, I have to say that the vast majority of the time, I'm not overly interested in Ancient Rome. But I think that because this book was a good length and was also free, I can honestly say that I became more interested as I went on. The book was fairly interesting, I learned about how the Ancient Roman family was structured and how it depended on class. I learned about how women (for the middle class and upwards at least) actually had some power and agency. No, it wasn't a lot but it was a hell of a lot more than you would think when you think about a society that was deeply patriarchal. Roman children of rich households would be taught rhetoric: men for a political life and women in order to make and carry great conversation. Much of this, of course, was influenced by the Greek lifestyle that came before it but there's so much more to learn here. Let's take a look at some other really interesting things I found out in this book...
By Annie Kapur4 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Queen Victoria" by Lucy Worsley (Pt. 6)
As we make our way towards the end of Victoria's reign, there are a number of stories about other people. We've had the story of Bertie and Alix, the story of Beatrice and Henry, we've also had stories about Albert, Benjamin Disraeli, Victoria's mother and father and more. Chapter 22 though is about a young Indian muslim named Abdul Karim who became Queen Victoria's closest friend. She needed to be helped more about the place and that is what he was for. After holding a colonial exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall, Abdul didn't return to India but stayed behind in England to help out. He climbed to become one of the most respected gentlemen (at least by the queen) in England. All of the other gentlemen around the queen were obviously disliking of him as were Victoria's children. However, he seems to have been completely devoted to her comfort and safety.
By Annie Kapur5 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Queen Victoria" by Lucy Worsley (Pt. 5)
We have covered up to the death of Prince Albert, but now the heir apparent is in poor health with the start of this new section. He's a married man now but Lucy Worsley makes it clear that the sight of his relatives was so horrible to him that they would sit behind a screen when they came to visit. She had not only not finished grieving for her husband, but the grief was getting considerably worse as Victoria began to "waste away". She was not nearly the woman she once was and was very clearly in a deep sense of mourning. Everything seemed unfinished, and now her son was ill as well and pretty much at death's door. Let's put it this way: this chapter begins ten years after Albert has died. That's right, she's been like this for ten years - slowly wasting away and not really living at all. She was truly lost.
By Annie Kapur6 days ago in Geeks
Addicted To Words
I often share memes , stories and pictures with friends and get responses, and zones I want to reshare but find I have lost the original piece which disappoints me as I feel I should be able to remember what was said or where that picture was
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 7 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Queen Victoria" by Lucy Worsley (Pt. 4)
It is clear we are getting deep-dives into several important days in the royal calendar as opposed to a blanket biography of a monarch. Lucy Worsley paints an impressive picture of the royal household at different times, leading us into different rooms and showcasing the different dynamics that came with what happened in them. For instance, in Chapter 13, we are flashed forwards almost a decade from the birth of Princess Vicky, the Princess Royal and we are now at her tenth Christmas.
By Annie Kapur7 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Queen Victoria" by Lucy Worsley (Pt. 3)
We are starting to discover more angles of Queen Victoria and so, we move into her reign in which she is definitely starting to show off her privilege in Buckingham Palace. The palace, built for King George IV by John Nash, is described as a horrid and dark place which has to have constant candlelight. Lucy Worsley looks at people briefly who referred to the palace as a prison because of the way it looked from the inside. Though it was aptly decorated by the previous kings, it was dark and gloomy, often hindering the Queen's ability to see as she walked the endless hallways.
By Annie Kapur8 days ago in Geeks
