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vacantbones's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I'm not too sure what I should say about this one because it seems like all that could be said has already been done. And I can absolutely see why - such a dark, twisted novel, full of loathsome and cruel characters, loaded with taboo subjects like incest, mutilation, deliberately birthing children with disabilities for the sake of running a freak show. . . There's a lot to unpack here.
I thought that Geek Love was beautifully written, and while I understand that many of the critiques surrounding this book have to do with the horror lurking in the minds of people like Arty or his minions, I was refreshed by the complexity of each character. At times I loathed our narrator, Olympia, but I was also able to empathize with the nature of her life and how it impacted her. I was pleased with the gradual undoing of the whole operation, told in a magnificent recap of events. But I also had a few problems with the book.
I'm guilty of having shifted my rating scale so that anything under a 4 is "meh," but I want to re-calibrate this scale for Geek Love. I am giving this 3 stars and saying that I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I didn't care for the present-day portions of the book - I liked that we had a window into the current lives of the characters, but I also thought that the way it was written slowed down my interest in the book. I strongly believe that we could've gotten a very similar, trimmed read if the author had only included 1 or 2 chapters from the present. I also wish that the pacing of the book had been a bit more escalated. The major events in the book had such wonderful impact (thinking specifically of the pain and tragedy that stems from the beginning of the Bag Man's story until the end), but at times I felt like they didn't match the more languid pace of the writing before it. This isn't to say that the book is boring , by any means, because it certainly isn't.
I feel like, love it or hate it, this book is so iconic and would say that everyone should give it a chance. You'll walk away with something, even if it is fury that you picked this one off the shelves.
I thought that Geek Love was beautifully written, and while I understand that many of the critiques surrounding this book have to do with the horror lurking in the minds of people like Arty or his minions, I was refreshed by the complexity of each character. At times I loathed our narrator, Olympia, but I was also able to empathize with the nature of her life and how it impacted her. I was pleased with the gradual undoing of the whole operation, told in a magnificent recap of events. But I also had a few problems with the book.
I'm guilty of having shifted my rating scale so that anything under a 4 is "meh," but I want to re-calibrate this scale for Geek Love. I am giving this 3 stars and saying that I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I didn't care for the present-day portions of the book - I liked that we had a window into the current lives of the characters, but I also thought that the way it was written slowed down my interest in the book. I strongly believe that we could've gotten a very similar, trimmed read if the author had only included 1 or 2 chapters from the present. I also wish that the pacing of the book had been a bit more escalated. The major events in the book had such wonderful impact (thinking specifically of the pain and tragedy that stems from the beginning of the Bag Man's story until the end), but at times I felt like they didn't match the more languid pace of the writing before it. This isn't to say that the book is boring , by any means, because it certainly isn't.
I feel like, love it or hate it, this book is so iconic and would say that everyone should give it a chance. You'll walk away with something, even if it is fury that you picked this one off the shelves.
konniecanread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a weird, weird book. I'm reading it for the weirdness. So it's a shame that the prose drags and prevents the weirdness from coming quick enough.
lncastle's review against another edition
4.0
"Geek Love" is peculiar, grotesque and charming. I can imagine this novel really striking a chord with a lot of people depending on where they are with their personal growth and sense of identity.
I found this book extremely engaging in the first half - it drew me in with the mystery of Oly and her daughter and I was thoroughly attentive. I began to get a bit confused and lacked interest in the last third or so of the novel as there were a lot of names thrown around that I couldn't contextualise and it just got a bit bland. I wanted more answers, I wanted an explanation for Arty's behaviour and for the motivations behind his cult to be investigated more deeply.
This is more like a 3.5 for me - I did really like that the concept was vibrantly original but felt it could have been executed more deftly.
I found this book extremely engaging in the first half - it drew me in with the mystery of Oly and her daughter and I was thoroughly attentive. I began to get a bit confused and lacked interest in the last third or so of the novel as there were a lot of names thrown around that I couldn't contextualise and it just got a bit bland. I wanted more answers, I wanted an explanation for Arty's behaviour and for the motivations behind his cult to be investigated more deeply.
This is more like a 3.5 for me - I did really like that the concept was vibrantly original but felt it could have been executed more deftly.
issajamison's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
csaucedo2010's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had seen reviews of this book as being dark and twisted and knew the premise of the story, but it is was so much more than what I expected. It is a slowwww burn, but I think worth it overall. Understand that Oly's perspective is so much more than just coming "freak" that grew up in a traveling circus. The trauma that began before even being born from her demented parents that only wanted their children so that they could make more money. You exist in the context in which you live, could not be more true than with this book.
jomicoop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Murder
lavendera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
brancrisp's review against another edition
I didn’t like the characters or the narrative voice.