Geek Love

By: Katherine Dunn

Narrated by: Christina Moore

No one wants to be a victim, but most find the event too hypnotic to ignore. In order to save their traveling carnival from bankruptcy, the Binewskis are creating their own brood of sideshow freaks. Under Al's careful direction, the pregnant Lil ingests radioisotopes, insecticides, and arsenic to make her babies "special". As the oldest daughter, albino dwarf Olympia, puts listeners in the ring-side seat, her family's incredible drama erupts and spills over into the "normal" world.

Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, this brilliantly daring novel is shocking and delightful. Christina Moore's vibrant narration conspires with Katherine Dunn's evocative, energetic prose to shock us at seeing something of ourselves in these exotic characters.

©1998 Katherine Dunn (P)1999 Recorded Books

Love it!

i thought this book was brilliant, terrible, awfully, at times painfully brilliant. Ms. Moore has a lovely voice and tells the story beautifully.

not bad, but not great

The author paints a very graphic picture of a family of circus freaks, describing their unique life through the eyes of the middle daughter. The culture and assumed normalcy of the family is fascinating.

However the pace of the story was sometimes difficult and I wish the time line wasn't so jerky. I also felt like some of the language was excessive, using extravagant cuss words or harsh graphic detail just to keep the reader (listener) uncomfortable.

MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN

This story is about what it means to be normal, what it means to be a freak, and what it means to be both at the same time. Harsh, violent, and grossly funny at times, Geek Love gives us that rare look at the people we don't often see in society or choose not to because of the effect they have on our sensibilities. If you have ever wanted to look at these physically deformed people a little closer but were afraid to, you might want to listen to this story. It doesn't take long at all to feel Ms. Dunn's spotlight quickly turn on us, on our inner abnormalities, the things inside we take great pains to hide from others.

Christina Moore's performance is nothing less than virtuosic, as she enhances the humanity of all the characters in the story, even the most deplorable ones. Her narrative talents kept me riveted to Ms. Dunn's text even when I felt like I couldn't listen further. She was that good. Between the stellar text and the golden narrative, there is so much heart and soul, flesh and blood to listen to, Geek Love transcends its humanity. What more can we ask of art?

What a surprise

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an oddly touching story about love and family. The characters are unique and beautifully flawed and although there are times the story is shocking and grand, it never stops feeling intimate.

Fantastically Freaky

Read this book once in college and thought it would make a good listen. Excellent performance.