All Fours by Miranda July - should I finish it?

[Anonymous]

I realize this was last year's news, but I got my library copy of All Fours, and Part 1 was... not good. The sex parts were like a teenager trying to imagine being old. The descriptions of the midlife crisis were occasionally insightful but more often just manufactured. The wink-wink not mentioning what the narrator does to be famous and "don't gender my child" stuff is straight-up annoying.

So that was Part 1. Does it get better? Should I bother to finish it?

[Anonymous]

I didn't finish it. It does not get better.

[Anonymous]

Ugh sounds awful. Have been waiting on library list on this one for a few months but sounds like not worth taking a hold spot on my list

[Anonymous]

No, it's the absolute worst. I do not get the people who enjoyed it

[Anonymous]

If you don't mind spoilers you can read more here:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1248246.page

But OP I was in your camp, I gave up near 100 pages in. You described what I disliked about it really well. "The sex parts were like a teenager trying to imagine being old" is exactly it.

I'm convinced the venn diagram covering the women who found this book empowering and deep and who are also fans of Glennon Doyle is complete circle.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed it but it sounds like it may not be your taste. I thought the descriptions of married life and parenting were interesting, and it stuck with me a lot longer than some other books I read. Not a Glennon Doyle fan fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Don’t give up! I had to put it down a couple of times bc the graphic parts were almost too much for me. But I made it to the end and I’m so glad I did. Her journey was really thought provoking- a totally new look at questions like mid life and menopause and motherhood all told through a lens of sexuality that we really never see represented in literature or other forms of art/entertainment. You might not love it, but it won’t be like anything you’ve read before. And if you do make it to the end, I’ll bet you will want to talk about it with someone when you’re done! If you come back to this thread, I’ll meet you here.

[Anonymous]

Quit before you waste more time. I echo all of your comments. I only finished it because it was a bookclub pick.

[Anonymous]

I really loved it. To me it was like a caricature of a midlife crisis, everything extreme including her emotions, outlook on everything, actions. Cannot stand Glennon Doyle who is obnoxious and also a real person, unlike this character!

[Anonymous]

I read it. Based on the things you mentioned not liking, I would probably recommend DNF

I did finish it, but I feel very conflicted about it.

Overall I enjoyed the quality of the writing and the pace. The writing felt a little self indulgent at times but still I read it very quickly.

The story was meh. That's generally okay with me though, I'm not too picky about plot.

The bad part for me was that it made me feel icky in a lingering way. It wasn't just about the sex stuff but yes the sex stuff *really* made me feel icky. It was tawdry and uncomfortable and felt very ... sweaty to me. Not hot/sexy sweaty but like clammy/shame sweaty. Idk if that makes any sense.

That being said I really, really wanted to discuss this book with someone after reading it, so I'm half hoping my book club decides to choose it. But I'd feel bad actively suggesting it to anyone--mostly because of that "ick hangover" I find myself with still, seven months after reading it.

[Anonymous]

I did not finish it. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

I found the book boring and stopped reading. Never reached the end.

If you don't enjoy it, don't bother finishing it. Life is short. If you think you'll like it, then finish it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quit before you waste more time. I echo all of your comments. I only finished it because it was a bookclub pick.

I agree completely.

[Anonymous]

I like the “ick hangover” comment. Once posted that I felt like I was suffocating in that hotel room and needed the book to end. I didn’t like the book. I don’t like Glennon Doyle. I don’t understand PP’s comment on the overlap of the two.

[Anonymous]

I am reading it now for my book club. Just started it but very curious to see what the fuss is about.