Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

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Doc Wilson

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2009
2,223
155
on the Bayou
If you like genre defying weird books with horror overtones, you must must must read Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. Extremely well written, it was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Its about a carny family who decide to breed their own freak show by having the mom ingest various toxic substances while pregnant. Initially they are only moderately successful, but later hit the jackpot when their flipper boy is born. He becomes a national sensation, and starts a cult of self amputation as his followers seek to emulate his deformity.

And all that is just the set up, the story itself is compelling, the characters fully fleshed and alive in a very Stephen King way.

Two big thumbs up!
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
If you like genre defying weird books with horror overtones, you must must must read Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. Extremely well written, it was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Its about a carny family who decide to breed their own freak show by having the mom ingest various toxic substances while pregnant. Initially they are only moderately successful, but later hit the jackpot when their flipper boy is born. He becomes a national sensation, and starts a cult of self amputation as his followers seek to emulate his deformity.

And all that is just the set up, the story itself is compelling, the characters fully fleshed and alive in a very Stephen King way.

Two big thumbs up!
I have this in my TBR pile. I need to start doing drugs so I can stay awake and make a dent in my TBR pile.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I read this book years ago and still think about it! It is a marvelous book! It made me feel like I was 10 or 11 years old again, looking at those Eerie and Creepy magazines with my friends. It is a hard book to describe to someone- a very strange tale but a great one at that! Definately recommend it!