Just finished wrapping up Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, and holy hell. Let me say this straight up: I love this book. The prose are unmatched, the he story feels compulsive, brutal, and impossible to look away from. The whole thing is a spectacle in the best, worst, most brilliant way. But damn. I’m a horror junkie. I live for dark fiction. I’ve seen it all, or so I thought.
This book? It got to me. Like, actually got to me. Usually, I can keep that little gap between me and the story. You know, the “oof, wild stuff!” while staying chill in my soul. Not here. The first chunk of the book was intense, sure, but I was handling it. I even thought, Hmm, maybe the hype oversold the dread. What a clown I was.
Then the last 80 pages hit. Suddenly I’m sitting there, physically grimacing. There’s a chapter that really got to me, and in a way I never anticipated. No gore. No big violence. Just this slow, quiet corruption of a side character. Watching it unfold really just put a pit in my stomach.
Dunn doesn’t need shock tactics. She just… knows. The Binewskis will stick to your ribs. Not in a cute way. In a “I need to shower but also stare at the wall for an hour” way. It’s not about what’s gross or creepy. It’s about what’s human, and how fragile that word really is.
10/10. No notes. Just emotional damage.
by TheLazyLounger
6 Comments
Damn okay sign me up!
Can’t recommend this title enough and absolutely love seeing it getting love. I felt like I was part of the clan while the madness unfolded.
Upfront, I haven’t read Geek Love, but I did read her other novel, Toad, and I was also shocked by how brilliant her prose is. It was also *very* difficult for me to read. Not in a “I don’t like this sort of way” but moreso that it generated visceral, negative emotions towards the characters.
Apparently it was at a point where she was struggling emotionally and was meant to embody her own sort of self loathing.
I haven’t picked up Geek Love because I’m afraid of having the same experience (I at the very least need some time and separation before digging into another book like that) but if you liked Geek Love it sounds like Toad may also be right up your alley.
Just commenting so I remember to add it. Thanks for the rec!
I have Toad on my shelf, and I’ve been thinking about rereading Geek Love (it’s been 15? years). This might be my sign.
Definitely a very unique, twisted, fairytale-ish dark fantasy novel.