MidLifeCrisis

All Fours | Miranda July

https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/24/this-book-is-my-bible-the-w...

Interesting read! A couple of comments here that made me 🤔 - eg ‘the author is older and cooler than me so that makes non-monogamy more legitimate.‘🤷‍♀️

What do you all think?!

CatMS I'm on the fence about reading this book, when I read books that have gotten rave reviews I am less than thrilled. May have to wait till the hype dies down. What is everyone thinking about this book now? 1d

Ruthiella So interesting the way it has struck a chord with so many readers. I think on the whole, the reaction underscores how women are often asked to sublimate their needs in the Western traditional family setup. 1d

squirrelbrain @CatMS - we buddy-read this on Litsy in the summer and it was very polarising - most Littens either loved it or hated it. I‘d give it a go, just don‘t expect it to be fabulous and you won‘t be disappointed - maybe even pleasantly surprised! 1d

See All 14 Comments

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - the woman who said that her husband expected his needs to be put first definitely needed to read this book! 1d

TheBookHippie I still stand by my loathing of this book 🤣🤣🤣😅😬🫠😝 1d

Flaneurette I appreciated this book for the inclusion of menopause and women‘s roles more than I enjoyed it- I don‘t really understand ppl who center their lives w sex- just not my thing. Thought Sandwich was a much better book on similar themes

Sandwich: A Novel

squirrelbrain @Flaneurette - I completely agree about Sandwich and, in fact, thought of it to recommend to @CatMS just before you posted! 1d

Cathythoughts I‘m shying away from this book. Even though I have no idea what it‘s really about. Not drawn to it though. 1d

Tamra I‘m with @Cathythoughts. I am though intrigued by Sandwich. @Flaneurette 24h

sarahbarnes I‘ll admit that I‘m a shameless fan of Miranda July - her writing and her films. She also puts a lot of really interesting artistic content on social media. I loved this book. 23h

BarbaraBB I loved this too and wasn‘t a fan of Sandwich. It didn‘t change my personal ideas on monogamy though, I didn‘t relate to the narrator personally but I loved what July did and caused among people all over the world! 13h

CarolynM I read this article the other day. I guess I can understand that menopause really messes with some women, and I should be grateful I wasn‘t one of them, but I just couldn‘t stand how utterly narcissistic she was. @Maggie4483 described July as a “self indulgent exhibitionist” in her review and I think that description is perfect for the MC of the book. 9h

Hooked_on_books I hated this book so much that I really don‘t want to read about women who blew up their lives because of it. Some lives need to be blown up, so if that was the case for them, that‘s great. If not, I‘d rather not know. 8h

squirrelbrain @CarolynM @Hooked_on_books - I agree with you Carolyn with how narcissistic she was, which is what worries me that women have used this book as an excuse to/ reason to blow up their lives. We don‘t all have her financial (and emotional) capability to not give a shit. Yes, if you need to change something, you need to do it, but not based on this self-obsessed version of real life. 4h

46 likes14 comments

cariashley

All Fours | Miranda July

so-so

Hmm. This was a little too out there for me. While it‘s full of great lines that will actually stick with me, the protagonist was just too over the top on the sex stuff and it felt incomprehensible to me. Not that there isn‘t a certain enjoyment in reading those kinds of characters. The parts about her birth trauma and perimenopause were far more interesting to me than the lust parts. #tob25

47 likes

rachelk

All Fours | Miranda July

pick

My feelings about this one are complicated. The mid-life experience of a woman going a little crazy during perimenopause while dealing with child rearing, career, marriage and fidelity told in such an honest and intimate way was very well done. The narrator made me feel uncomfortable and maybe that is a good thing but as I struggled with that feeling I realized that I really did not care for her…and yet I keep thinking about this novel.

34 likes

Maggie4483

All Fours | Miranda July

so-so

I absolutely hated the first 3/4 of this. Part of the problem was that I looked up July‘s Instagram before I started reading, and could not separate the author, who I found to be a self-indulgent exhibitionist, from her main character. However, it was very well-written (although it dragged in parts), and the stuff about aging resonated with me.

CarolynM “Self indulgent exhibitionist” is a perfect description of the MC of this book. I hated all of it😆 2w

Maggie4483 @CarolynM oh, good. I‘m glad I‘m not the only one who felt that way. 2w

19 likes2 comments

RowReads1

All Fours | Miranda July

I guess I should read this one 😂.

36 likes

notreallyelaine

All Fours | Miranda July

And, of course, in a patriarchy your body is technically not your own until you pass the reproductive age.

4 likes1 stack add

Abailliekaras

All Fours | Miranda July

pick

Provocative and much talked about, I liked the on point writing and sense of humour, but didn‘t love the far-fetched & self-indulgent elements. Then again, I‘m all for more women telling their stories in a world that still seems to be dominated by men. The menopause side doesn‘t interest me that much but is resonating with many. Frank & intelligent, a good book club pick.

mcctrish There was a lot in this book that just made me go 😬 but I still think about it because it is a strong and provocative book 👏🏻👏🏻 1mo

Abailliekaras @mcctrish yes very strong 1mo

27 likes1 stack add2 comments

Ididsoidid

Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer

pick

In order to avoid an awkward wedding invite, Arthur Less finds himself on a international adventure. A fun, light novel with some charming and humorous lines. This book doesn‘t take itself too seriously and I don‘t think we are supposed to, even if the Pulitzer implies something more literary or groundbreaking. 7/10

9 likes

Augustdana

All Fours | Miranda July

Had to sit directly in the sun today after work and read in my favourite park. It didn‘t help, but it also didn‘t hurt.

21 likes

JuniperWilde

All Fours | Miranda July

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I couldn‘t put this down. The writing is crisp, honest, and funny. A book about love and relationships in all their forms. I‘m drawn to portrayals of midlife female MCs experiencing an awakening (and full expression) in their sexual, relational, and personal lives.

15 likes1 stack add

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