Book Buzz:-->"Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn (1989)

"I wonder who started all this.
Was God in love and gave a kiss
To someone who later betrayed.
And God less love sent us away?"
Lou Reed
NO SPOILERS:
Just as some movies are lassoed with the "cult-status" tag...many books have also achieved the same word-of-mouth buzz that keep people recommending it over and over again.

Of course, when coupled with this "cult-following" label...one finds it often necessary to add a certain ...caveat...to the newbie...regardless of how good the movie...and in this case...book may be.

"Geek Love" is the creation of Katherine Dunn...and it is not for the weak of heart. Or stomach.

Having left you with this warning..."Geek Love" is a 368 page novel that will definitely tip over your proverbial apple cart. And will literally force you to reevaluate your own ideas of what normalcy truly means.

The story is told in flashback fashion...from childhood to adulthood...through the eyes of Olympia Binewski...a hunchback, albino dwarf...who is depressed to find she is just a little too "normal" for her family's traveling Carnival Sideshow of Freaks.

All the "freaks" in this sideshow extravaganza...are the by-product of their parents experimenting with different poisons and drugs while pregnant in hopes of giving birth to another 'freak" for their show...thus keeping the family business alive.

There are many gross scenes throughout...but there are several tender and sweet moments, as well.

Add to the mix...violence...sibling rivalries...incest...self-mutilation...and a weird religious club...and you have one bizarre dysfunctional family.

Believe it or not...author Katherine Dunn...to her credit...turns all this into a somehow touching story. Not fuzzy by any means...but sorta warm.
Good stuff!


MoSkeet

Lou Reed:-->"Who Am I" (The Raven) (2003) *(Must Own)*
Lou Reed--An American Legend!

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