National Book Award Finalist • Here is the unforgettable story of the Binewskis, a circus-geek family whose matriarch and patriarch have bred their own exhibit of human oddities—with the help of amphetamines, arsenic, and radioisotopes. One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years Their offspring include Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset. As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.
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About the author
Katherine Dunn
Author
Katherine Karen Dunn was an American novelist, journalist, voice artist, radio personality, book reviewer, and poet from Portland, Oregon. She is best known for her novel Geek Love (1989). She was also a prolific writer on boxing.
Geek Love
by Katherine Dunn
Books Like Geek Love
If you're looking for books similar to Geek Love, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Beloved
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A powerful novel exploring the psychological trauma of slavery through a supernatural lens. The story centers on a family haunted by their past and the monstrous impacts of generational pain. Like 'Geek Love', it presents a complex, unconventional family dynamic with elements of magical realism. The narrative challenges readers' perceptions of humanity and survival.
The Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka
A surreal novella about a man who transforms into a giant insect, exploring alienation and family dynamics. The story examines how society and family react to radical physical difference. It shares 'Geek Love's' themes of bodily transformation and social marginalization. The narrative is a profound meditation on human nature and acceptance.
Middlesex
Jeffrey Eugenides
A multi-generational story about a hermaphrodite exploring identity and family history. The novel delves into genetic inheritance, transformation, and societal expectations. Like 'Geek Love', it presents a unique perspective on human variation and familial complexity. The narrative is both deeply personal and broadly philosophical about human difference.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ken Kesey
A novel set in a mental institution that challenges societal definitions of normality. The story follows patients who resist institutional control and celebrate individual difference. Like 'Geek Love', it presents a provocative examination of marginalization and human dignity. The narrative is both tragic and triumphant.
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski
A postmodern novel that explores unconventional family dynamics and psychological horror. The book challenges traditional narrative structure with its experimental typography and layered storytelling. It delves into themes of perception, obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination. Like 'Geek Love', it presents a deeply unsettling exploration of human nature and familial relationships.
The Tin Drum
Günter Grass
A magical realist novel about a boy who stops growing as a form of protest. The story explores individual resistance and societal madness. Like 'Geek Love', it presents a surreal examination of human difference. The narrative is both political and deeply personal.
The Vegetarian
Han Kang
A surreal and disturbing novel about a woman who decides to become vegetarian after experiencing haunting dreams. The book explores themes of bodily autonomy, societal expectations, and psychological transformation. It shares 'Geek Love's' unflinching examination of human strangeness and familial tension. The narrative is dark, provocative, and challenges conventional notions of normalcy.
The Invisible Monster
Chuck Palahniuk
A transgressive novel exploring physical transformation and societal expectations. The story follows characters who challenge conventional beauty standards. It shares 'Geek Love's' dark, provocative approach to human variation. The narrative is visceral, shocking, and deeply philosophical.
The Passion
Jeanette Winterson
A magical realist novel about extraordinary individuals living outside social norms. The story explores themes of identity, transformation, and unconventional love. Like 'Geek Love', it celebrates human complexity and resistance to categorization. The narrative is poetic and profoundly imaginative.
Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
A novel set in a traveling circus that explores unconventional relationships and survival. The story follows characters living on the margins of society during the Great Depression. Like 'Geek Love', it provides an intimate look at circus life and human resilience. The narrative celebrates the strange and marginalized.
The Hearing Trumpet
Leonora Carrington
A surreal novel about an elderly woman's extraordinary adventures. The story challenges expectations about aging and social conformity. It shares 'Geek Love's' celebration of the bizarre and marginalized. The narrative is playful, subversive, and deeply imaginative.
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
A magical realist novel about a mysterious traveling circus with extraordinary performers. The story explores themes of performance, transformation, and hidden abilities. It shares 'Geek Love's' fascination with spectacle and human potential. The narrative blends fantasy with deep psychological exploration.
The Crying of Lot 49
Thomas Pynchon
A postmodern novel exploring conspiracy, perception, and social marginalization. The story follows a protagonist uncovering bizarre hidden systems. It shares 'Geek Love's' interest in societal undercurrents and strange human behaviors. The narrative is complex and intellectually challenging.
The Silver Chair
C.S. Lewis
A fantasy novel featuring characters who are physically and mentally different from societal norms. The protagonists undertake a challenging quest that tests their unique abilities and perceptions. While more family-friendly, it shares 'Geek Love's' theme of outsiders navigating a world that doesn't understand them. The narrative celebrates individual differences and inner strength.
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