Review of the Day: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

Geek Love is the story of the Biniewski family who, “experimenting with illicit and prescription drugs, insecticides, and eventually radioisotopes” have a family of human oddities including Arturo or Aqua Boy, Siamese twin sisters Electra and Iphigenia, daughter, story narrator Oly, an albino hunchback, and Chick, a boy with the power of telekinesis. Al and Crystal, the Biniewski parents, transform the family into a literal traveling circus.

The plot of the book is about the many tales and adventures the family has while traveling across America. And, trust me, many strange and unusual things happen. But people probably do not read Dunn’s book for plot. A central theme of the book is an attempt to answer the question of what the difference is between normal people and freaks. Toward the end of the book Oly offers this explanation.

“That was the time when I realized that the peculiar look on people’s faces when they saw me was not envy or hatred, but could be translated into one simple question: “What the hell happened to you?” They needed to know so they could prevent it from happening to them.

My answer was simple, too. “My father and mother designed me this way. They achieved greater originality in some of their other projects.” 

For a while I told people this. I was proud of it. It was the truth. Only a few folks ever actually asked—little children, drunks, or people so old that they exempted themselves from the taboos of courtesy by pretending senile irresponsibility. I got interested. I’d throw the answer even when the question wasn’t voiced but was only lightly etched in the flesh around the eyes. I’d smile calmly and announce it to the kid at the gas pump, or the garbage collector, or a lady with a shopping bag at a street light” (p. 321).

If you consider yourself adventurous in what you choose to read, then I think you might enjoy Geek Love.

kindle and libro fm audiobook. 349 pgs. 21 September 2025. Galloway NJ USA