Geek Love

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
Publication Date: January 1st, 1989
348 pgs. (Paperback)

"There are those whose own vulgar normality is so apparent and stultifying that they strive to escape it. They affect flamboyant behavior and claim originality according to the fashionable eccentricities of their time."

Aloysius "Al" Binewski and his wife, "Crystal" Lil, are the beginning stars of this book. From the beginning they are the genius behind everything that follows, even if they do not become entirely known from the start. With the desire to create life and transform it into oddity, these two experiment with drugs, poisons, radioisotopes and other dangerous chemicals to breed their own human abnormalities. From these experiments we receive our narrator, Olympia (Oly) Binewski.

Oly is a bald, albino with dwarfism who is the fourth (technically) child of Al and Crystal Lil. Amongst her strange siblings are Arturo (Arty), who was born without arms or legs and, instead, has flippers; Electra (Elly) and Iphigenia (Iphy), the Siamese Twins who are separated except for their waist down and are incredibly gifted with music; Fortunato (Chick) who looks normal, but has telekinetic powers. Other failed "experiments" are displayed in jars of formaldehyde at the beginning of the maze of mirrors, which are regularly cleaned by Crystal Lil and her brood of abnormalities.

Aside from being one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever seen, the Binewskis are full of drama, romance and crazy. Oly is living in a rundown apartment run by her blind and nearly deaf mother, whilst spying on her daughter, Miranda. It is Miranda that sparks all the drama and intrigue when she is approached by Mary Lick. Mary Lick helps young women realize their potential. And that is all I'm going to say about that. Oly, trying to save her daughter from herself, reminisces about being an abnormality whilst gaining the confidence of Ms. Lick so as to stop her plans for Miranda.

Main Characters: Oly, Arty, Chick, Elly, Iphy, Miranda and Mary Lick.

This book is mostly bizarre. It stems from wanting something perfect in its imperfections. It is the clarity and vulgarity one finds in the utterly bizarre. Other than that, it is family relations and sibling rivalries, with a heavy dash of dysfunction and the love of power over other human beings. If I was to list one main topic for this book it would be the love of power. Crystal Lil and Al want the power to shape life as they see fit. Arturo wants the power to control everyone around him. Oly wants the power to control Miranda. Power is a central plot point, though it is subtle in most areas.

A few things I found interesting about this particular book:

- The lengths Al and Crystal Lil are willing to go to create their offspring.

- The Cult.

- The changes in viewpoints. Oly is the primary narrator, but sometimes it feels like transitioning between first person and third person narrator.

That is as much as I can really say without giving away the entire story. There are some very disturbing topics in the book. However, it also shows the intense love a mother has for her child, the danger of a sibling rivalry unchecked, how we are all capable of abnormality. The book is beautiful in that it shows humans for what they are. In particular, our thirst for power and our desire for complete control.

Problematic topics abound in this book as well. I've noticed that disturbing literature usually has a heavy dose of problematic themes. These themes include rape, incest, ableism, murder, cultism and abuse. It is difficult pointing out the flaws, because I really did enjoy the book, however, I also feel like it's important to talk about these issues. The way we discuss differently abled people in literature is as "freaks." And while the characters of this story definitely embrace the term, it is definitely something to keep in mind that this is ableism whilst reading.

To be honest, the reason I first read this book was because I went searching for disturbing books. I enjoy a challenge and took on some books from a top 10 list of most disturbing books. This was one of the books and it proved quite correct. It is in fact one of the most disturbing books I've read, second only to Exquisite Corpse.

I would rate this book a 9 for being brilliantly written and beautifully disturbing.

This book is rated X and comes with a Trigger Warning for sexual content, disturbing topics and adult language.

This book is inappropriate for anyone under 18, Christians, people who are easily disturbed, people who have a weak stomach and/or people who are normal.

If you are not normal, not easily offended by disturbing material or just love reading for reading's sake you should read this book.