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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Oh boy, this was a doozy. First I learned that Geek does not mean what I think it means. How many horrifying events and hateful characters could be jammed within a single story? Right off the bat we have thalidomide-like designer babies, which made me think twice about continuing, and it just keeps getting weirder. It helped to have the alternating past-present timelines to keep me grounded in knowing that our heroine (is she though?) survives her messed up childhood, with enough mystery around the disturbing contents of the time in between to keep me reading.
I thought this was a unique story - it is about a carnival family from the perspective of one of its members, a woman who is a humpback albino dwarf. It wasn't a quick read but I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it.
I revisited this via audiobook, for decades considered one of my favorites. It no longer holds the power it once did, but I can see what was so attractive to a younger version of me.
As Joan Didion said, “I think we are well-advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not.”
As Joan Didion said, “I think we are well-advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not.”
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m going through some stuff that made me not enjoy reading this book, but it was very well written, and the story was compelling. I’d recommend it, but I’d also suggest checking content warnings before you start.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder
I'm not quite sure what I just read, but I could not look away. Not for the squeamish, and more than a little shocking, but hypnotic for sure.