Geek Love: A Novel by Katherine Dunn Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Geek Love: A Novel
Book Review: Do Yourself a Favore and Let This Book Haunt You
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was wonderful. Like other reviewers, I couldn't book this book down. I found myself reading a little at a time so that I wouldn't finish it too soon.
This book calls into question of "normality" The characters in this book are not people you would find yourself liking in a normal situation, but Dunn's writing make them lovable in a empathic way. I am so proud that this book was written by a woman who dared to break into that male dominated world of transgressional fiction. She does this with ease and a gentle touch only a woman can have. She has no problem pushing the envelop in this book. Just when you think things are going along smoothly, Dunn punches again and harder.
If you are a fan of transgressional fiction, do yourself a favore and read this book - slowly - and enjoy every word.
Book Review: Doormats for Characters
Summary: 2 Stars
The premise of this book was really original and I thought a story so interesting would be hard to screw up. Boy, was I wrong. The only reason this book gets two stars from me is for the originality of the setting and parts of the plot. My main problems with this book were that the reader can see the events coming from a mile away. There really were no twists or surprises or suspense. This made the book a dull read. My even bigger complaint is that all of the characters were either really terrible creatures that the author may have intended to create empathy for but failed (like Arturo) or characters who are such doormats and throw their hands in the air helpless (like the main character) that I found myself hating them. The only character with any personality at all who I cared about was Elly and when she disappears from the story there was no one to root for. I also thought all the characters acted in really unrealistic ways, especially Oly. She continues to be a doormat to her brother (and more) despite some really horrible things that he does to her siblings. None of the characters felt real or acted in ways that I believed they would have. I also got annoyed because some of the events and scenes didn't flow and instead felt forced, like Dunn was trying too hard to shock me.Book Review: Dropped the ball
Summary: 3 Stars
It's obvious why this is one of those books to talk about. It's literature for people who've recently outgrown their Bukowski phase but still need a little grit. It's generally interesting, and sometimes quite fun. Though it tends to lose its threads when trying to be literary. Still, I enjoyed it right up until the very end. But it's the ending itself that nearly ruined the book for me. It fails because the narrator could not actually describe the final events and I was left thinking, "Wow, Katherine Dunn got herself into trouble here and didn't know how to get out, so she faked it." This might be too picky, but it truly did yank me out of the world she'd created. I felt tricked and manipulated.
So... fun book... seriously flawed ending that kills all the build-up.
Everyone's recommending this if you like Palahniuk. But this is several steps down and will be a disappointment once you've gotten yourself to Palahniuk's standards. Go with George Saunders or early Barry Hannah (before he became an alcoholic prick). Even better, just keep rereading JESUS' SON.
Book Review: Dull
Summary: 2 Stars
Dunn has a fascinating premise here, but she drops the ball. Don't bother with this. The idea of challenging the conventional idea of normal is a good one, but Dunn fails to develop any of the characters here and so in the end, you really don't care.Book Review: Engrossing and Grotesque. Not a forgettable book.
Summary: 4 Stars
Years after reading this book, Geek Love remains in my mind. How freakish is her tale of freaks. The work is a remarkably dreamt world--interesting, bizarre, and gut-turning at every turn. A dozen years later I still remember the book. It's not a comfortable read, but it is engrossing and grotesque. Whatever happened to Ms. Dunn? A writer of her talents will hopefully return her pen to page.