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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I read Geek Love because it's one of Karen Russell's favorite novels (http://www.wired.com/2014/03/geek-love/) She read it when she was 15. If I had read Geek Love when I was fifteen, especially if I were fifteen in the early nineties (instead of late nineties) I might have enjoyed it a lot more.
The story centers around the Binewskis, a family of "freaks" (conjoined twins, boy with flippers, hunchback albino, telekinetic) who runs a traveling carnival. It reminds me of an R-rated Sam & Max Hit the Road. For a book so full of weirdness and magic and blunt honesty (all things I really would have appreciated at fifteen) it didn't hold my interest much at all. And I'm not sure why. But the sheer imagination behind the book compelled me to read the whole thing, if only so I could move on to something else.
Something about the language deterred me, and made the book feel a lot longer than it was, and sometimes I had to go back and re-read paragraphs just to figure out what was going on. Also, the ending fell flat for me.
The story centers around the Binewskis, a family of "freaks" (conjoined twins, boy with flippers, hunchback albino, telekinetic) who runs a traveling carnival. It reminds me of an R-rated Sam & Max Hit the Road. For a book so full of weirdness and magic and blunt honesty (all things I really would have appreciated at fifteen) it didn't hold my interest much at all. And I'm not sure why. But the sheer imagination behind the book compelled me to read the whole thing, if only so I could move on to something else.
Something about the language deterred me, and made the book feel a lot longer than it was, and sometimes I had to go back and re-read paragraphs just to figure out what was going on. Also, the ending fell flat for me.
So not my cup of tea, for too many reasons to mention. I just don't have words for this one.
A very strange novel, probably the weirdest I’ve ever read. Some parts enjoyable but mostly nonsensical and pointless. I gave it a pass mark because the writing itself was quite good, I just wasn’t compelled by the plot or ending to this story.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Surprisingly bored by this one. The writing isn't overtly bad, but I'm not not drawn in by anything. L
On paper, this should be right up my alley. I feel like it's labeled as horror, but it's not really horror. My expectations might have been the killer for me here.
I kind of expected more shock and extremes. It's very one note.
Some authors don't waste a word. This is bogged down with too many to try and sound more intelligent, but the creeps get lost among the word sea.
There's nothing emotional resonating with me. I feel disconnected from the story. I think it's partly the way it's being told to me, I find it a bit underwhelming. Maybe it's the narration or the characters. Maybe I hate books about the circus.
It's very similar to an old person telling you a story about someone you don't know, and telling you overly detailed descriptions about each person and then saying something shocking, but moving on to mundane parts in more detail.
Lacked tension or any depth to the characters other than descriptions of their deformity. Literally a chore to finish this, I would rather wash my walls (my least favorite chore. I couldn't even listen to this doing chores. I had to play stardew valley so I could have some fun.
I could write an entire book about the things I would rather do than read this book again, so clearly I do not recommend and will be unhauling it.
About 20 chapters in things finally got a little interesting, but that's way too late (75% in?!?!)
good lord. i very rarely say this but as much as i enjoyed this book i never want to read it again
I have to confess, my star rating on this one wavered between a 3 and a 4. This book had so much potential and build up, and I always felt on the edge of my seat. But somehow it fell just a touch short of my anticipation, and I'm not sure why.
First of all, the characters and premise are insanely great. Holy cow, did I love the depth and complexity of our main ensemble. I would pay to see this made into a good movie with good actors. The depths to which all of them sink is haunting.
But following the build up of the first half, the second half began to stall. Artie, with his cynicism and narcissism, had all the makings for a modern day Caligula. But then he somehow seemed to unravel into the realm of unbelievable and too "bad guy", a little too evil to still be lovable or desirable. It became a little far-fetched to still understand why anyone would want to have his children, or listen to his orders. And after the Bag Man, you really start hating everyone. The control, the manipulation, the violation of everyone's trust... I felt a detachment, an anger against all of the characters, and I never really got back the love.
The big climax felt unexpected. Chick's resentment and rage did not feel organic as much as obligatory. And our own narrator's close-mindedness, by the end, made me despise her. I get that Oly has, in the end, become the very embodiment of prejudice and fear that Artie was, but it is so aggravating that she would sabotage her own daughter's chances for feeling normal or happy...grrrrr. There's a difference between liking a book and acknowledging the irritation you feel towards its characters.
First of all, the characters and premise are insanely great. Holy cow, did I love the depth and complexity of our main ensemble. I would pay to see this made into a good movie with good actors. The depths to which all of them sink is haunting.
But following the build up of the first half, the second half began to stall. Artie, with his cynicism and narcissism, had all the makings for a modern day Caligula. But then he somehow seemed to unravel into the realm of unbelievable and too "bad guy", a little too evil to still be lovable or desirable. It became a little far-fetched to still understand why anyone would want to have his children, or listen to his orders. And after the Bag Man, you really start hating everyone. The control, the manipulation, the violation of everyone's trust... I felt a detachment, an anger against all of the characters, and I never really got back the love.
The big climax felt unexpected. Chick's resentment and rage did not feel organic as much as obligatory. And our own narrator's close-mindedness, by the end, made me despise her. I get that Oly has, in the end, become the very embodiment of prejudice and fear that Artie was, but it is so aggravating that she would sabotage her own daughter's chances for feeling normal or happy...grrrrr. There's a difference between liking a book and acknowledging the irritation you feel towards its characters.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Aligning with popular belief, I believe this to be Katherine Dunn’s magnum opus. This story came out in the late 80’s at the core of the transgressive movement in cinema and literature. This book is disgusting (in the best way possible). It’s visceral. It’s got black humor. It’s devastating and biting. The book follows the Binewski family which is full of a cast of diverse characters (My favorites being Chick, Crystal Lil, and Vern, who is not apart of the family). It has many twists and turns and spans time effectively making it easy to blow through page after page. I finished this book in 2 days and I felt a swarm of emotions. This book deals with isolation, identity, and individualism. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 5/5. I have a list on letterboxd that is filled with movie recommendations that are reminiscent of the scenes and themes of the book. https://boxd.it/BLAqW
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood
Found at the Humane Society Thrift Store. I'm about to see if it's worth reading a third time ...