Geek Love: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
National Book Award Finalist • Here is the unforgettable story of the Binewskis, a circus-geek family whose matriarch and patriarch have bred their own exhibit of human oddities—with the help of amphetamines, arsenic, and radioisotopes.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
Their offspring include Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset.
As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
Their offspring include Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset.
As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.
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Community Reviews
Absurd, grim, sometimes funny dissection of a charismatic cult leader, his followers, and the circumstances that create them. You watch Arty’s rise and fall as a new wave spiritual leader and the destruction of his colony of questionably-consenting voluntary amputees primarily through the eyes of Oly, his sister and primary caretaker who worships him despite the atrocities he commits, and their various other family members who he either abuses, ignores, or rewards for obedience. His domination over the entire carnival and beyond is made more interesting by his total reliance on others (mostly Oly) to attend to all of his physical needs.
Meanwhile, very many years later, Oly as an adult woman worriedly stalks her daughter and watches over her mother. Saying anything else about that part of the story would get into major spoiler territory, but you will definitely want to read this ending.
Honestly would’ve given it 3 but that 4th star is there for two reasons:
1. The emotional impact of the storytelling in this book is wonderful. It takes a bit to get into how the author wrote but once you do you have to appreciate her cleverness. She was able to put you completely into a scene while withholding so much, drip-feeding you bits of information to keep you glued to the page, always trying to piece together what’s happening and feeling that same understanding and horror descend again, over and over. This repetitiveness did get a little boring and I had to push myself to get through that long middle part, but I never fully lost interest in these characters and their twisted world. Book 3 woke me back up; the stakes slowly ramp up over 3-4 to a great crescendo that just sweeps you away. It’s really worth getting to that point.
2. The author’s note at the end is a must-read. It reveals how much of the book spawned from her real-life experiences. Dunn was the kind of author who wrote like she lived a vibrant life and had a deep understanding of how people work, and that alone made me appreciate this book much more.
Meanwhile, very many years later, Oly as an adult woman worriedly stalks her daughter and watches over her mother. Saying anything else about that part of the story would get into major spoiler territory, but you will definitely want to read this ending.
Honestly would’ve given it 3 but that 4th star is there for two reasons:
1. The emotional impact of the storytelling in this book is wonderful. It takes a bit to get into how the author wrote but once you do you have to appreciate her cleverness. She was able to put you completely into a scene while withholding so much, drip-feeding you bits of information to keep you glued to the page, always trying to piece together what’s happening and feeling that same understanding and horror descend again, over and over. This repetitiveness did get a little boring and I had to push myself to get through that long middle part, but I never fully lost interest in these characters and their twisted world. Book 3 woke me back up; the stakes slowly ramp up over 3-4 to a great crescendo that just sweeps you away. It’s really worth getting to that point.
2. The author’s note at the end is a must-read. It reveals how much of the book spawned from her real-life experiences. Dunn was the kind of author who wrote like she lived a vibrant life and had a deep understanding of how people work, and that alone made me appreciate this book much more.
I started reading this book when my mom's book club attempted it (and broke up as a result). Of course, since I was only 14 or so, my mother didn't feel the book was appropriate and made me stop reading it.
But the book haunted me! Several years later I was having dreams about the characters and really wanted to finish it, but couldn't remember the title. I searched library computers for "circus freaks" attempting to find it, asked librarians, and tried search engines - which at the time were rather new. Finally one day I was describing the book to my aunt who said "Oh, it's Geek Love, I have it upstairs."
I was finally able to finish the book that haunted me for so long. And I really enjoyed it. The topic is strange to say the least, but the characters were interesting and compelling. I enjoyed the writing. And, as a geneticist, I found the whole concept fascinating.
It is one of the weirdest but also the most memorable books I've read.
But the book haunted me! Several years later I was having dreams about the characters and really wanted to finish it, but couldn't remember the title. I searched library computers for "circus freaks" attempting to find it, asked librarians, and tried search engines - which at the time were rather new. Finally one day I was describing the book to my aunt who said "Oh, it's Geek Love, I have it upstairs."
I was finally able to finish the book that haunted me for so long. And I really enjoyed it. The topic is strange to say the least, but the characters were interesting and compelling. I enjoyed the writing. And, as a geneticist, I found the whole concept fascinating.
It is one of the weirdest but also the most memorable books I've read.
I heard so many great things about this book and wanted to love it. However, I could not get past page 55. I felt no connection with the main character or any other characters for that matter. Next!
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