by Tammie (Tue Dec 29, 2009)
If the holidays have you thinking your family is messed up,
then pick up a copy of Katherine Dunn's Geek Love to see the true definition of
dysfunctional. This isn't a book for the weak-kneed, easily offended, or those
without a hint of morbidity in their sense of humor.
The Binewskis are your normal everyday couple. Except
for their employment with the circus and their desire to create their own freak
show. As freaks willing to put themselves on display for amusement are
hard to come by, the Binewskis decide to breed their own. With each
pregnancy Mr. Binewski fills his (quite willing) wife with illegal drugs and an
assortment of household chemicals with, to them, splendid results. They manage
to make Arturo, a fish-boy with flippers instead of limbs; Oly, a hunchback
albino; and a set of Siamese twins. Their only misfire is Chick who comes
out normal. Just prior to ‘eliminating' their mistake they find out Chick
is telepathic and therefore freaky enough to stay alive and in the family. There
are failures along the way to making their circus - come on, he's filling her
with chemicals, there's going to be a few problems - and these are kept and
cared for by Mrs. Binewski in a row of glass jars. See, it's a sentimental
tale.
The novel moves through the family's struggle to stay together while the show
moves from town to town. Their arguments and troubles and competitions for
attention are no different to those that any family faces, except this family
sees no problem with incest or hurting each other or starting cults as is the
case for Arturo. His cult gains a fair following of ‘norms' whom he tells
will never achieve enlightenment unless they remove their own limbs to be more
like him, which they do. It's a bizarre and unforgiving look at what
people will do for religion.
The side plot of the book is Oly's relationship with her daughter Miranda, whom
Oly gave up soon after being born in order to keep her from the family - they
would have loved Miranda since she was born with a tail. Oly and Miranda
live in the same apartment house, but Miranda doesn't know Oly is her mother
until a situation in Miranda's life forces Oly's maternal instincts to take
over. The side plot takes over the last portion of the book and does make
for a slightly disappointing ending, but not so bad as to ruin the book.
‘Geek Love' is a bizarre story that people either love or hate. I read it
soon after its release in 1989, knowing nothing about the tale (having only
heard about the tail) and loved its completely unexpected story of family
dynamics. It has maintained a place on my shelf ever since. Other
people, despite being armed with some idea of what they are about to embark on,
are repulsed by the concept (get over yourselves, it's a novel, not memoir) and
never get past the first chapter. But if you're adventurous in your
reading and are looking for something different ‘Geek Love' should be next on
your reading list.
On a side note in no way related to the book, Katherine Dunn, a resident of
Portland, Oregon (yay!) was recently mugged (boo!). Keep in mind that Dunn
is in her mid-sixties. The mugger, a woman in her twenties, kicked Dunn in
the leg and slapped her face. Unfortunately the mugger didn't know that Dunn
has spent years training in boxing. Since the mugger struck first, Dunn
figured fighting back was okay. She gave her mugger a few punches, kept
her cool, and kept her purse. Just one of those tales that make you smile.
