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bluejules65 's review for:
Geek Love
by Katherine Dunn
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mild spoilers contained herein:
Truly one of my all-time favorite books. Possibly THE all-time favorite. I read it at least once a year and have lost count of my total reads. It's not one of those where I "find something new every time." It's one where I feel I'm slipping completely into another world that I know, fear, and adore; at once comforting and fascinatingly uncomfortable.
Olympia's voice is singular and mesmerizing, whether she's detailing the bizarre, almost unfathomable appeal of Arty, the shame of her lustful, vengeful feelings, or her pride in (and fear of) her own daughter. She doesn't shy away from detailing the despicable things she's done, is doing, or plans to do. She's honest. She's amazing. She's human.
The story is, on the surface, about "freaks." But at the heart of it, it's just about a family. Granted, it's a hyper-dysfunctional one, but still, just a family, complete with love, hate, loyalty, rivalry, and plenty of darkness, loss, pain, and hilarity.
This book dives into the human experience, from familial relations to the dark side of the human psyche to the greater societal mores, with special focus on the longing for acceptance and admiration, the need for guidance and meaning, and the morass of beauty standards that attempt to define us all.
It's not for everyone (but what ever is?), but I find it remarkable, every time I read it. Aside from the completely original story and characters, the writing itself is evocative and beautiful and brutal.
I always find myself falling in love with Oly. She's strong yet vulnerable, intelligent but bone-headedly human and stupid, full of love and protective instincts, capable of violence and deceit.
The story is twisted: once you think you've got a handle on what's going on; once you think you have an idea of what's to come, a violent u-turn takes your feet from you and you're pulled along in a completely different, darker, more fascinating direction.
Geek Love is a modern masterpiece, and I recommend it to (almost) every-damn-one.
Truly one of my all-time favorite books. Possibly THE all-time favorite. I read it at least once a year and have lost count of my total reads. It's not one of those where I "find something new every time." It's one where I feel I'm slipping completely into another world that I know, fear, and adore; at once comforting and fascinatingly uncomfortable.
Olympia's voice is singular and mesmerizing, whether she's detailing the bizarre, almost unfathomable appeal of Arty, the shame of her lustful, vengeful feelings, or her pride in (and fear of) her own daughter. She doesn't shy away from detailing the despicable things she's done, is doing, or plans to do. She's honest. She's amazing. She's human.
The story is, on the surface, about "freaks." But at the heart of it, it's just about a family. Granted, it's a hyper-dysfunctional one, but still, just a family, complete with love, hate, loyalty, rivalry, and plenty of darkness, loss, pain, and hilarity.
This book dives into the human experience, from familial relations to the dark side of the human psyche to the greater societal mores, with special focus on the longing for acceptance and admiration, the need for guidance and meaning, and the morass of beauty standards that attempt to define us all.
It's not for everyone (but what ever is?), but I find it remarkable, every time I read it. Aside from the completely original story and characters, the writing itself is evocative and beautiful and brutal.
I always find myself falling in love with Oly. She's strong yet vulnerable, intelligent but bone-headedly human and stupid, full of love and protective instincts, capable of violence and deceit.
The story is twisted: once you think you've got a handle on what's going on; once you think you have an idea of what's to come, a violent u-turn takes your feet from you and you're pulled along in a completely different, darker, more fascinating direction.
Geek Love is a modern masterpiece, and I recommend it to (almost) every-damn-one.