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Jessica
Jan 03, 2012 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: quirky, oregon
This one's something of a local legend, so it seems imperative to my Portland education to read it. Unfortunately, it falls into that camp of "I can see why other people like it, but it's not for me." The embrace of grotesquery is similar to A Confederacy of Dunces (another miss for me), but I like Dunn's take somewhat better in that she's not trying to play for humor in the same way that Toole is. That said, I feel like Oly especially is somewhat absent - so much of what happens is driven by he ...more
Julie
May 12, 2017 rated it really liked it
Wow! Definitely a memorable book and like NOTHING I've ever read. The writing was exceptional as she managed to make unbelievable characters believable and the unforgivable, in some cases, forgivable. I will be thinking about this one for a long time. ...more
Chantal
Oct 12, 2012 marked it as to-read
Karen Russell said this book was a source of inspiration.
Anna
Jan 25, 2013 rated it did not like it
Shelves: wtf
Should have been titled "freak love" , as the carnie owner father and mother use psychotropic drugs and various teratogens during pregnancy to create their own sideshow inhabitants. I only finished it to find out who impregnated Oly and how Arturo died - still not worth the time. I know life is horrible and gross, and people suck, but I would rather read something less depressing. I am in hospice currently, I see enough bag people in real life ...more
Fee
Sep 02, 2008 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: favourites
Micha
Mar 14, 2009 rated it liked it
Angela
Nov 19, 2009 rated it it was amazing
SandyC
Apr 29, 2010 marked it as to-read
Tracyene
May 26, 2010 marked it as to-read
Lisa
Jul 03, 2010 marked it as to-read
Sam
Aug 29, 2012 marked it as to-read
Kim DeCina
Feb 01, 2013 marked it as to-read
Curlysue
Mar 06, 2013 marked it as to-read
Meghan
Jan 03, 2014 marked it as to-read
Tammy AZ
Apr 03, 2014 marked it as to-read
Courtney
Jul 11, 2014 rated it really liked it
Colleen
Aug 07, 2014 rated it really liked it
Mansir
Sep 10, 2014 rated it really liked it
Devin
Oct 20, 2014 rated it really liked it
Kent Winward
Feb 24, 2015 marked it as to-read
T.ScottReviews
Nov 29, 2015 marked it as 8gave-away  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: passed-on
Barondestructo
Feb 10, 2020 rated it liked it