Geek Love
Registered by Hexa on 10/16/2003
13 journalers for this copy...
This is one of my favourite books ever, which I'd like to send out as a bookray (PM me, including location and shipping preferences, if you'd like to join). It tells the story of a family of circus freaks, outrageous and shocking and all the usual reviews garnered by a story of true outsiders. One of the jacket blurbs reads 'if Flannery O'Connor had consumed vast quantities of LSD, she may have written like this' - what more recommendation do you need?
Update 3/12/03
Here is the final order for this bookray:
Olliebear (Yorks,UK)
tanis (Surrey, UK) (new addition, hope nobody minds)
weeblet (VA, USA)
Roadrunner (TX, USA)
jendudley (TX, USA)
caligula03 (CA, USA)
MaLu (Brazil)
chelseagirl (Hants., UK)
Winterson (Brighton, UK)
hey-miki (London, UK)
Lucycat (Yorks, UK)
Stubee (Manchester, UK
arugh48187 (Minnesota, USA)
Usual rules apply - try not to keep the book for too long, and when you've done PM the next person on the list for their address and send it on it's way. It will be starting it's journey this week. Happy reading!
Update 3/12/03
Here is the final order for this bookray:
Olliebear (Yorks,UK)
tanis (Surrey, UK) (new addition, hope nobody minds)
weeblet (VA, USA)
Roadrunner (TX, USA)
jendudley (TX, USA)
caligula03 (CA, USA)
MaLu (Brazil)
chelseagirl (Hants., UK)
Winterson (Brighton, UK)
hey-miki (London, UK)
Lucycat (Yorks, UK)
Stubee (Manchester, UK
arugh48187 (Minnesota, USA)
Usual rules apply - try not to keep the book for too long, and when you've done PM the next person on the list for their address and send it on it's way. It will be starting it's journey this week. Happy reading!
Journal Entry 2 by Olliebear from Hull, East Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 22, 2003
Got this today in the post...thanks Lisa!
How exciting being the only Brit to be in this ray...I am really looking forward to reading this one as something fascinates me about those with more unusual physical attributes than me! We shall certainly see if the book lives up to the notes on the cover! Will PM next person on the list once I have read this...I am currently reading NY trilogy so shouldn't be too long...
How exciting being the only Brit to be in this ray...I am really looking forward to reading this one as something fascinates me about those with more unusual physical attributes than me! We shall certainly see if the book lives up to the notes on the cover! Will PM next person on the list once I have read this...I am currently reading NY trilogy so shouldn't be too long...
Oh I love this book so much...I actually found I was reading it slower than normal (sorry to others oin the list!) just so it wouldn't end. Sad ending but such a clever book...I couldn't tell you exactly why but this has definately gone into my top 5 books!
Will get this off to tanis as soon as I can afford postage.
Will get this off to tanis as soon as I can afford postage.
Journal Entry 4 by GinPoodle from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 22, 2003
I received this in the post from Olliebear (thank you!) today, I have read this book before, years ago and I am really looking forward to reading it again. I'll be as quick as I can.
Journal Entry 5 by GinPoodle from Waterlooville, Hampshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 4, 2004
oh I remembered this book as being good, but I was wrong. Its fantastic. I loved reading this again. I am definitely going to look out for more of her books and I think I may buy my own copy of Geek Love to keep in my personal collection. Its partly mystery, part thriller with a huge dollop of freakshow. All the characters are well though out, even the lesser characters will fascinate you. Very highly recommended.
Will be on its way to Weeblet very soon.
Will be on its way to Weeblet very soon.
i cannot *wait* to read this! however- when it rains it pours, it seems. i have 2 rays/rings ahead of the book i'm in the middle of 'fluke' (one's a skimmer, the other is roughly 100 pages), but i am confident i can get this moving in 2 weeks or so. hope that's OK.BTW- tanis, your stationary and pen are pretty. i'm thinking i need to move beyond the ol' sharpie and printer paper :) thanks for the note :)
PS- have you all seen this?:
http://snipurl.com/3tu7
what a gem! i laughed...i cried...
there's nothing i can really say that hasn't been said, but i loved this book!!
will move on when i get an address.
thanks LisaJane :)
there's nothing i can really say that hasn't been said, but i loved this book!!
will move on when i get an address.
thanks LisaJane :)
This book just arrived. I'm in the middle of a bookring book right now with another one waiting. I'll get to this asap and then send it on.
FINALLY finished this last night. The book held my interest but I would not rate it a great book. Maybe it was just the bizaare subject matter. I just could not connect with any of the characters. Arty was just horrible and so was the doctor. The twins were a bit more human and I did like Chick. I mostly wanted to slap Oly for being such a slave to Arty. And the typos in the middle to the end of the book drove me crazy. Ah well . . . This is off to Jendudley today via Medial Mail. Thanks Lisa Jane for sharing!
Got this one in the mail today. Judging from mixed reviews I have read around the net, it should at least be an interesting read. Thanks!
The book has arrived. I am packing it for Wednesday's move. I will read it as soon as I can.
I'm trying to read the book but I'm just not connecting with any of the characters. Regardless of where I am in the book I'm mailing it on 2 October.
Released 19 yrs ago (10/2/2004 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailing to chelseagirl on Saturday as MaLu asked to be skipped.
Mailing to chelseagirl on Saturday as MaLu asked to be skipped.
Journal Entry 14 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 14, 2004
I've been looking forward to reading this for ages but at the same time I'd kind of forgotten I was signed up for it, so it was a lovely surprise to find it here this morning. Thanks, Caligula03!
Well, what a mixed bunch of reviews .... will tell you what I think of it when I'm done. I've got a book on the go and another very short one before this, so should be on to it by the end of next week at the latest.
Well, what a mixed bunch of reviews .... will tell you what I think of it when I'm done. I've got a book on the go and another very short one before this, so should be on to it by the end of next week at the latest.
Journal Entry 15 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 5, 2004
This has to be the sickest, most bizarre book I've ever read - and I loved it!! The developing story had me clutching my stomach at times - especially the whole Atruran movement, - yet I couldn't tear myself away from it. Arty is the most despicable character I've yet to encounter in a novel but I found myself warming to Oly, Chick and the twins very quickly, and was quite moved by the story at times. And I'll be plagued forever by the mystery of Norval, what WAS he up to? A fascinating yet revolting tale, one that will stick in my memory for a while to come.
However, like Roadrunner my enjoyment was slightly marred by the hufge number of typos in the second half - did someone forget to proofread it?
Many thanks for sharing this!
I'll be posting it on to Winterson as soon as I have an address.
However, like Roadrunner my enjoyment was slightly marred by the hufge number of typos in the second half - did someone forget to proofread it?
Many thanks for sharing this!
I'll be posting it on to Winterson as soon as I have an address.
Journal Entry 16 by Winterson from Peacehaven , East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, November 8, 2004
Just received this in the post, thanks Chelseagirl! My first book ring book! (And I like the postcard).
Have had a quick look at it and it looks great - but random! Kind of like Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus crossed with a Stephen King! I'm looking forward to this one...
I've bumped it to the top of mount tbr and will journal again when I finish it.
Have had a quick look at it and it looks great - but random! Kind of like Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus crossed with a Stephen King! I'm looking forward to this one...
I've bumped it to the top of mount tbr and will journal again when I finish it.
Journal Entry 17 by Winterson from Peacehaven , East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, November 15, 2004
Before reading this book I thought it looked like a cross between Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter and a Stephen King. I finished this book on Saturday and it was actually more like Nights at the Circus crossed with Will Self's How the Dead Live. Which is a huge compliment.
I loved this book. In a gotta keep reading even though I know it's all gonna go wrong kind of way. Arturism! Blimey!
The whole book is very intelligent - it traces just how far people will go to follow their obsession, whether that be in another person like poor Olly, or in themselves like Arty. Lots of things to pick apart and reason over in this one - would make a great book group read! I loved it!
On it's way to Hey-Miki today.
I loved this book. In a gotta keep reading even though I know it's all gonna go wrong kind of way. Arturism! Blimey!
The whole book is very intelligent - it traces just how far people will go to follow their obsession, whether that be in another person like poor Olly, or in themselves like Arty. Lots of things to pick apart and reason over in this one - would make a great book group read! I loved it!
On it's way to Hey-Miki today.
Journal Entry 18 by hey-miki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 17, 2004
This book landed in my letterbox yesterday - thanks Winterson.
It looks very bizarre indeed. I couldn't work out why I signed up to it! But the rave reviews above have got me intrigued again, so we shall see...
It looks very bizarre indeed. I couldn't work out why I signed up to it! But the rave reviews above have got me intrigued again, so we shall see...
Journal Entry 19 by hey-miki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, December 25, 2004
Sometimes you need a book that'll take you away from your humdrum life to somewhere a little different. This is the book. (Unless your humdrum life involves being part of a travelling circus, that is...)
"Marvellous", "inventive" and "stomach-churning" are three words that spring to mind when summing up this book. The no-holds-barred style quickly grows on you until tales of dismemberment and maggot-farming pass without a blip. The "geek" in the carnival makes a show of biting heads off live chickens. Yes, live chickens. And that's all you need to know to enjoy this book (don't read the blurb cos it ruins most of the surprises IMO).
The characters are brilliant. The ethos of the Binewski family - that physical abnormality is the most prized gift and "norms" are simply scum - is refreshing to read about. Well, I'm sold. I feel positively drab. Now to go hack off a finger or two.
"Marvellous", "inventive" and "stomach-churning" are three words that spring to mind when summing up this book. The no-holds-barred style quickly grows on you until tales of dismemberment and maggot-farming pass without a blip. The "geek" in the carnival makes a show of biting heads off live chickens. Yes, live chickens. And that's all you need to know to enjoy this book (don't read the blurb cos it ruins most of the surprises IMO).
The characters are brilliant. The ethos of the Binewski family - that physical abnormality is the most prized gift and "norms" are simply scum - is refreshing to read about. Well, I'm sold. I feel positively drab. Now to go hack off a finger or two.
Journal Entry 20 by hey-miki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 4, 2005
I'm off to the post office now to send this to Lucycat
Arrived safely with this morning's post...thanks Miki! I can't wait to get cracking on this (I've heard *such* mixed opinions on it over the last six months), so I'll drop Stubee a line now and hopefully it should be on the move again very soon. :O)
Update 11/1/05
Fabulous...an absolute car-crash of a book that I just couldn't put down! I don't know what I can say that hasn't been said before, so I'll keep it brief - loved it, loved it, loved it!
Update 18/1/05
Well, I finished this within two days, and have been trying to contact Stubee since but to no avail. All's well that ends well, though, as I did receive a reply from arugh48187 today, so the book will be headed out to her in the next day or so.
And just when I was starting to think I might be able to squirrel this away into my PC for a while too. Damn... ;O)
Update 20/1/05
Just received an email from Stubee, and as due to my appalling organisational skills I still haven't posted it off to the States, this will be headed to him shortly instead - hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Update 11/1/05
Fabulous...an absolute car-crash of a book that I just couldn't put down! I don't know what I can say that hasn't been said before, so I'll keep it brief - loved it, loved it, loved it!
Update 18/1/05
Well, I finished this within two days, and have been trying to contact Stubee since but to no avail. All's well that ends well, though, as I did receive a reply from arugh48187 today, so the book will be headed out to her in the next day or so.
And just when I was starting to think I might be able to squirrel this away into my PC for a while too. Damn... ;O)
Update 20/1/05
Just received an email from Stubee, and as due to my appalling organisational skills I still haven't posted it off to the States, this will be headed to him shortly instead - hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Journal Entry 22 by stubee from Bury, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Friday, February 11, 2005
Thanks lucycat for sending me this even if my e-mail was a little late. Sorry arugh48187, but lucycat has passed on your details so I'll mail it once I'm done, it's next on my read list so I shouldn't be too long with it.
I found Geek Love very difficult to read to begin with and that’s why it’s taken me awhile to get through it (sorry)! At one point I did think of giving up all together and just pass it on but something inside me and I’m not sure what argued me to continue and find out what happened to this bizarre family. It’s a strange enthralling read that once you get used to the characters is a very worthwhile and enjoyable story.
I’ll be sending this to arugh48187 in the States this week.
I’ll be sending this to arugh48187 in the States this week.
This one appeared in my mailbox this morning. After reading the back of the book (to refresh my memory on what its about) it seems to be a rather weird book. I'll give it a shot, though since I did sign up for it. I have two bookring books in front of this one, but I should get to it shortly. You can keep track of its status via my bookshelf.
Ugh! I can't say that I enjoyed this book. As a matter of fact, I didn't like it at all. But I finished it, only because by the time I had convinced myself it wasn't really worth it, I was over halfway finished and had too much time invested to give up. Oh well. You win some and you lose some.
Of all the characters, I think I liked the twins the best and Arty the least. Arty was just creepy. I can't imagine being a groupee and wanting to wait outside his trailer for hours just so we could...well you know. From his physical description all I can think of is just "ICK!" Arty thought way too much of himself and it doesn't surprise me at all that he formed a cult of Arty wannabes. It takes all kinds, I guess.
I felt a little sorry for Oly; being roped into the whole servant/adoration thing and found the impregnation scene kind of humorous. Chick playing with Arty's mold was kind of funny too. But the best scene was when they were plotting to get rid of Chick because he was too normal and he showed them different. Hee!
I am at the end of the ray, so unless somebody tells me different I will mark it as available and see where fate takes it. Thanks for sharing and sorry for taking so long to finish it.
Of all the characters, I think I liked the twins the best and Arty the least. Arty was just creepy. I can't imagine being a groupee and wanting to wait outside his trailer for hours just so we could...well you know. From his physical description all I can think of is just "ICK!" Arty thought way too much of himself and it doesn't surprise me at all that he formed a cult of Arty wannabes. It takes all kinds, I guess.
I felt a little sorry for Oly; being roped into the whole servant/adoration thing and found the impregnation scene kind of humorous. Chick playing with Arty's mold was kind of funny too. But the best scene was when they were plotting to get rid of Chick because he was too normal and he showed them different. Hee!
I am at the end of the ray, so unless somebody tells me different I will mark it as available and see where fate takes it. Thanks for sharing and sorry for taking so long to finish it.
Journal Entry 26 by arugh48187 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/22/2005 UTC) at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sending back to Olliebear, who wants to re-read it, in trade for Tipping the Velvet. Happy re-reading!
Sending back to Olliebear, who wants to re-read it, in trade for Tipping the Velvet. Happy re-reading!
I have managed to re-snaffle this one for a re-read as it had come to the end of it's journey. I would love to keep it forever, but that is not the bookcrossing way so I will ensure it travels some more after me!
Thanks!
Thanks!
