Geek Love

Tough one to review, with so much going on. But - make do with a short introduction.

Olympia Binewski is our narrator and protagonist in this novel. She is a bald, hunchback, albino dwarf. Her elder brother Arturo (the Aquaboy) has flippers rather than limbs. Her sisters - Iphigenia and Electra are Siamese twins, sharing hip and legs, and play piano particularly well. Her younger brother Fortunado appears quite normal, but is, in fact telekinetic.

And the reason for this ‘interesting' family? When the Binewski Family Circus took a downwards turn with popularity, owner Al and his wife Lily decided to breed their own stable of human oddities. Making a hobby of medicine, Al prepared a complex cocktail of drugs during each pregnancy, and with these stunning results, he must have been on to something.

This is a far reaching story, an excellent, albeit somewhat horrific novel, which tells of Carnie life in the backwaters of the USA, of a powerful cult, family devotion, sibling jealousy, murderous plotting and a complex family. Probably equal parts horror and comedy, which pushes the boundaries of decency at every opportunity.

Excellent at 4 stars.