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Book Review of Geek Love

Geek Love
Geek Love
Author: Katherine Dunn
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
Leigh avatar reviewed on + 378 more book reviews


This is probably the most disturbing book I've ever read. As a parent, I was alternately appalled, horrified, disgusted, and mesmerized with the main character's parents. How could they? How could they??

The dense story unfolds to reveal a slow train wreck of a family and because Oly, the narrator, alludes to a tragedy early on, you know one will occur. Despite hating every character in this book, save one - all for different reasons - I still gasped to read what happened.

The contemporary time line involving Oly wasn't going to turn out well. You know that full well going into it. After all, it's Oly and she's been screwed up in the head by her family since she was born. You won't be disappointed.

What I didn't understand was how easily everyone bent to the will of Arty. Didn't they realize they could get out?? What he did to the twins made me angry and *almost* made me sympathize with them.

I think the creator(s) of the movie "Quid Pro Quo" probably psyched themselves up before writing by reading this book. Every single character seemed to be missing at least one very important part, despite many of them having extras. Not a one could truly be considered human, with the one exception of Chick. I cared about that kid. I didn't understand him, but he made me very sad.