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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
It was a good book that held my interest. The editing missed a few points but not without getting the point across.
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What is outwardly an odd little story about a travelling carnival family is underneath a grotesque illustration of sibling rivalry, power and jealousy. Katherine Dunn’s imaginative writing is out of this world, and I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by her so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Incest, Rape, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual violence, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thematically and character-wise, this is one of the strangest, hardest books I've ever read and there's something oddly repellent to me about the first...10-15% of the book? But then it really takes off in this extremely horrifying way and carries you along.
The story of the Binewski’s, true carnival freaks. This book made me uncomfortable, not because of the kid’s physical deformities but their personalities. These are not good people and they are not likable, but at least they are interesting. It is beautifully written, but oddly long-winded or too brief at different times. Overall an entertainingly weird read.
While reading this book, I found myself continuously groping for adjectives to describe this VERY surreal novel (surreal, being one of the many adjectives that I came up with).
This novel has to be one of the most, if not the most, weird reads that I have ever come across. At times grotesque, repulsive, and bizarre, this book balances it's unrelentingly raw nature with a poignant and deeply moving look at the complicated relationships and loves of an American family. The Binewski's may be living in a carny fever dream, but their complexities and their emotions are based in the everyday trivialities, jealousies, kindnesses, and banalities of life. Which I think is the kicker or the point of this story. While the family revels in their uniqueness and philosophizes on their "freakish" virtues, they are really just "norms" in freaks clothing. They all want what everybody else wants: happiness, connectivity, family, love, friendship, understanding, pride, acceptance, etc. And when these ordinary desires don't fall into place, when the people around them fall short of their expectations, they fall apart, losing their humanity, their family, and wondering where all their idealized dreams went.
A fascinating read, that is not for the faint of heart or the easily squeamish, Geek Love does a wonderful job balancing on the tight rope between shocking narrative and intense family saga. And, not to mention the fact that it is very very well written!
This novel has to be one of the most, if not the most, weird reads that I have ever come across. At times grotesque, repulsive, and bizarre, this book balances it's unrelentingly raw nature with a poignant and deeply moving look at the complicated relationships and loves of an American family. The Binewski's may be living in a carny fever dream, but their complexities and their emotions are based in the everyday trivialities, jealousies, kindnesses, and banalities of life. Which I think is the kicker or the point of this story. While the family revels in their uniqueness and philosophizes on their "freakish" virtues, they are really just "norms" in freaks clothing. They all want what everybody else wants: happiness, connectivity, family, love, friendship, understanding, pride, acceptance, etc. And when these ordinary desires don't fall into place, when the people around them fall short of their expectations, they fall apart, losing their humanity, their family, and wondering where all their idealized dreams went.
A fascinating read, that is not for the faint of heart or the easily squeamish, Geek Love does a wonderful job balancing on the tight rope between shocking narrative and intense family saga. And, not to mention the fact that it is very very well written!
I was so sure that I would absolutely love Geek Love by Katherine Dunn but unfortunately that ended up not being true.
I think the biggest detriment was that I had heard over and over about how crazy and wild and shocking the ending is. and sure, if you're someone who doesn't read many crazy and wild and shocking books then Geek Love will most likely be those things for you. but I kept waiting for some big thing to happen that would really floor me and it just never came.
in this book we follow the Binewskis, a travelling circus family full of freaks (their words, not mine). the parents have done things during pregnancy to ensure that their children would be "special", any normal children would have been seen as a failure. the story is narrated by one of these children and we follow the family as they grow their circus.
I do enjoy Dunn's writing, I previously have read her book Toad and liked it a lot. normally narratives that get quite absurd are right up my alley but in this case it didn't fully work for me. maybe it didn't push things far enough? maybe it pushed too far with some of the side characters' stories that the rest fell flat? I'm not really sure, but I felt the book peaked at some point during the middle and never picked back up again.
because of how much I enjoy Dunn's writing I will most likely continue to read her work.
I think the biggest detriment was that I had heard over and over about how crazy and wild and shocking the ending is. and sure, if you're someone who doesn't read many crazy and wild and shocking books then Geek Love will most likely be those things for you. but I kept waiting for some big thing to happen that would really floor me and it just never came.
in this book we follow the Binewskis, a travelling circus family full of freaks (their words, not mine). the parents have done things during pregnancy to ensure that their children would be "special", any normal children would have been seen as a failure. the story is narrated by one of these children and we follow the family as they grow their circus.
I do enjoy Dunn's writing, I previously have read her book Toad and liked it a lot. normally narratives that get quite absurd are right up my alley but in this case it didn't fully work for me. maybe it didn't push things far enough? maybe it pushed too far with some of the side characters' stories that the rest fell flat? I'm not really sure, but I felt the book peaked at some point during the middle and never picked back up again.
because of how much I enjoy Dunn's writing I will most likely continue to read her work.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a bizarre read that was! My boyfriends mum leant me a copy, can't wait to have the most awkward conversation with her about it lol. Definitely a book I won't forget in a hurry! Interesting, disturbing and completely unique!