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- Book Title: Geek Love
- Author: Katherine Dunn
- Year Published: March 1, 1989
- Goodreads Rating: 3.95/5
- Availability: Buy the PDF from Google Play Books.
After you have purchased Geek Love, follow these instructions to download it from Google Play Books in PDF format:
- Click on the "Books" tab at the top of your screen.
- Click on the "Your Library" link beneath that.
- Find your book and click the icon with three dots beneath the cover image.
- Select "Export" and then "Export as PDF".
How to Read Geek Love in PDF Format
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Our Review of Geek Love
Katherine Dunn's "Geek Love" is not your typical novel—it’s a daring, grotesque, and brilliant exploration of family, identity, and the lengths people will go to for survival and acceptance. The story centers around Al and Lil Binewski, a couple who own a struggling carnival. In a desperate attempt to revive their business, they take drastic measures: Lil willingly subjects herself to various substances during pregnancy, intentionally creating children with physical deformities who become the star attractions of their carnival.
The result is a family of unforgettable and bizarre characters, each with unique abilities and appearances. There’s Arty, the eldest son who has flippers instead of limbs and becomes the egotistical leader of the family; Elly and Iphy, the beautiful, manipulative Siamese twins; Oly, the hunchbacked albino dwarf who narrates the story; and Chick, the youngest with terrifying telekinetic powers. The Binewski children are raised not just as performers, but as vital components of the family business—a bloodline of carnival freaks.
The narrative is both unsettling and fascinating, presenting characters that blur the line between monstrous and deeply human. The Binewski family’s dynamics are as warped as the individuals themselves, and yet Dunn succeeds in making readers sympathize with their struggles, fears, and ambitions. What’s most striking about "Geek Love" is its ability to force readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about human nature, including the dark, often destructive, need for love and approval.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is how it pushes the boundaries of the grotesque while also remaining deeply emotional. Readers will find themselves horrified by some of the characters’ actions and decisions, but Dunn masterfully balances this horror with moments of humor and heartbreak. The carnival setting serves as a metaphor for the larger spectacle of life, where outward appearances mask the deeper, often more disturbing, truths inside.
"Geek Love" is worth reading because it offers a unique and unforgettable experience. It forces readers to confront their own perceptions of freakishness and humanity, showing that the line between the two is thinner than we often think. Though deeply unsettling, it is also profoundly moving, leaving an indelible mark on anyone brave enough to take it on.
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