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Community Reviews
Miranda July’s “All Fours” was not an engaging read for me. Perhaps it was never meant to be, and perhaps I may not fit the target demographic. While I enjoy July’s writing and pacing, it was the plot, characters, and tone of it all that did not work for me. “All Fours” is an existential observation of middle-aged life, sexuality, identity, and creation. My problem with it is that those core drivers felt like a series of self-fabricated struggles of an upper-middle-class life.
Our nameless main character navigates a life interrupted and rebirth that could be compelling because that general experience is many ways true to all of us. However, in her searching for meaning and purpose, her actions appear forced when there so much already in front of her. At least from my perspective, which again is skewed. For those interested in the gritty details of unconventional modern relationships, you will get plenty of that.
Ultimately, there are themes in the book I did learn from. Specifically, that sometimes it takes blowing everything up to break through in relationships. I also appreciate the perspective of this part of a woman’s journey through life. I just cannot accept this deeply unsympathetic main character. Not just her desires and struggles but her absolutely messy and entitled decision-making. The book offers a unique voice that challenges ideas of entitlement while also parading them in celebratory fashion.
As a woman who made an intentional and complete life change at 45 (one that I had never previously anticipated), I definitely related to the main characters’ thoughts and even some actions, but the very alternative lifestyle she spoke about as if it were everyday made even me feel like a dried up prude. The sexual exploits, the bizarre un-feeling relationship with her husband seemed over the top at times. All in all, I’d recommend for women my age who truly believe turning 50 is the same thing as jumping off a cliff into oblivion.
Kept putting it down thinking it didn’t call to me only to find myself running back every time. I wouldn’t want to have a glass of wine with Miss Fantasy but I do relate to her. Feeling lost and confused in the middle of your life span is familiar and I like how she finally owned it. I like how she came into her own once again. I like how she creates herself a womb. I like that she felt free. I like that this book made me feel for my own self and the intimacy of being human.
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