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andiecurlybooks 's review for:
Geek Love
by Katherine Dunn
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!