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alliekcav's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
loonyboi's review against another edition
3.0
Geek Love is one of my favorites, so I was definitely looking forward to reading this, one of only three novels Katherine Dunn wrote. It's...interesting. Very stream-of-consciousness. Occasionally very well written, frequently confusing. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it.
philibin's review against another edition
3.0
(3.25 Stars)
This book is not for everyone, and probably needs a content warning. It isn't so much a coherent story as it is a collection of thoughts, events, fantasies, and even lies, with a beginning, middle, and end. It all comes together and I liked the book more than I thought I was going to for most of the book.
the book contains racist/sexist/homophobic language, descriptions of sexual assault, and even maybe bestiality. If you like Chuck Palahniuk, you should like this book. The prose is compelling and the pacing is good.
This book is not for everyone, and probably needs a content warning. It isn't so much a coherent story as it is a collection of thoughts, events, fantasies, and even lies, with a beginning, middle, and end. It all comes together and I liked the book more than I thought I was going to for most of the book.
the book contains racist/sexist/homophobic language, descriptions of sexual assault, and even maybe bestiality. If you like Chuck Palahniuk, you should like this book. The prose is compelling and the pacing is good.
vampirehelpdesk's review against another edition
3.0
To quote drag queen Trinity the Tuck, “I don’t know what the fuck she’s saying, but girl, I am living.” Definitely disgusting, with a lot of bodily functions described, and be warned of sexual trauma descriptions and animal abuse. However, despite the avant-garde writing (I admit there are about 5 pages I did not know what was going on), I felt this book was enjoyable to read and I appreciated being uncomfortable. I can see the seedlings of Geek Love in this.
invisiblemonster's review against another edition
5.0
My brain is all jumbled and my connection to the real world is frayed and I’m left positively exhausted and I’m going to need time to recover. Damn this feels invigorating!
emily_stimmel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Excrement, and Sexual violence
loonyboi's review against another edition
3.0
Geek Love is one of my favorites, so I was definitely looking forward to reading this, one of only three novels Katherine Dunn wrote. It's...interesting. Very stream-of-consciousness. Occasionally very well written, frequently confusing. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it.
toadgirlreads's review against another edition
4.0
All the steel is painted at the advice of some penologist with a psychology degree. A cool pink. A deceptive pink, to make us think we are remembering the hot pinks and livid reds of the outside while chilling even those memories, embalming theming's body in the deactivated fluids of the past.
This book is not like anything I've ever read before. If a defined plot is a must for you, you will hate this book. If riding along on a stream of consciousness is just good enough, then there is a lot to love. From a writing standpoint, it's incredible that Dunn was able to set the conventions of writing/structure aside to write this book.
There were chunks in this novel that totally lost me--this narrator is far from reliable and she weaves in and out of her time in prison to her childhood to her 'job' selling magazine subscriptions with no warning or set up. It was also often hard to place who the character was with who was real in the prison and who was in her mind.
The moments of lucidity drew me back in. Once you pick up the pace of Kay's consciousness, it becomes easier to follow, and there were so many quotes and lines worth underlining. Dunn plays around a lot with perspective and perception, and the hot shame that can stem just from being woman.
After reading and being a big fan of Geek Love, this novel doesn't feel as polished or put together, but I 110% do not regret reading it.
This book is not like anything I've ever read before. If a defined plot is a must for you, you will hate this book. If riding along on a stream of consciousness is just good enough, then there is a lot to love. From a writing standpoint, it's incredible that Dunn was able to set the conventions of writing/structure aside to write this book.
There were chunks in this novel that totally lost me--this narrator is far from reliable and she weaves in and out of her time in prison to her childhood to her 'job' selling magazine subscriptions with no warning or set up. It was also often hard to place who the character was with who was real in the prison and who was in her mind.
The moments of lucidity drew me back in. Once you pick up the pace of Kay's consciousness, it becomes easier to follow, and there were so many quotes and lines worth underlining. Dunn plays around a lot with perspective and perception, and the hot shame that can stem just from being woman.
After reading and being a big fan of Geek Love, this novel doesn't feel as polished or put together, but I 110% do not regret reading it.
paperknotbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Was this written for the sake of being vulgar? There’s something entertaining in Dunn’s writing that keeps me invested in the story, even when there isn’t much of one. It’s “stream of conscience writing,” sure-sure, though I keep getting lost. I was sold on the premise that she was escaping from a cult, but there isn’t much mention of that. We do get a lot of bodily fluid imagery… and some bestiality.
clem's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25