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seest12's review
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
bonnie_reader's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Our protagonist is a married mother of a 10-year old, perimenopausal and dissatisfied.
She embarks upon a road trip which ends up to be so much more life-changing than we imagine.
This novel brings up so many questions, unvoiced and voiced expectations, and options for her way (the reader's way?) forward. Excellent read.
She embarks upon a road trip which ends up to be so much more life-changing than we imagine.
This novel brings up so many questions, unvoiced and voiced expectations, and options for her way (the reader's way?) forward. Excellent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
audiofoxy's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death
breanneporter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is unhinged in my favorite kind of way. It puts you inside the mind of a semi-famous 45-year-old woman as she embarks on a cross country road trip with the aim to “transform herself” and ends up making mostly batshit decisions as she confronts her impending menopause. I truly had no idea at any point where this would go next.
I know this one isn’t for everyone and I was certainly unsure about it at first but boy did it end up hooking me. Miranda July narrates the audiobook herself and is excellent, what a great voice and she really embodied the role, made her feel real. I could not have found the protagonist less relatable personally but she was still such a well formed and believable character and it was so fun to be inside her (horny, slightly deranged) mind for a while. I also loved the protagonist’s relationship with her best friend (though it felt very one-sided for sure) and with her child as well, and I also loved how so many of the characters are queer.
Overall I’m not sure if I can recommend this one because I feel like it’s probably quite divisive (not for those who don’t like unlikeable narrators), but I’m so glad I read it. And now I’m looking forward to reading The First Bad Man next (which I tried but wasn’t quite ready to read a few years ago). Thank you Miranda July for your intense and bizarre brilliance!!
I know this one isn’t for everyone and I was certainly unsure about it at first but boy did it end up hooking me. Miranda July narrates the audiobook herself and is excellent, what a great voice and she really embodied the role, made her feel real. I could not have found the protagonist less relatable personally but she was still such a well formed and believable character and it was so fun to be inside her (horny, slightly deranged) mind for a while. I also loved the protagonist’s relationship with her best friend (though it felt very one-sided for sure) and with her child as well, and I also loved how so many of the characters are queer.
Overall I’m not sure if I can recommend this one because I feel like it’s probably quite divisive (not for those who don’t like unlikeable narrators), but I’m so glad I read it. And now I’m looking forward to reading The First Bad Man next (which I tried but wasn’t quite ready to read a few years ago). Thank you Miranda July for your intense and bizarre brilliance!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Medical trauma
darcygabe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is easily my favorite book of the year, and easily Top 10 of all-time.
This story is decadent and unhinged and intense and whole and luxurious and makes you want to squeeze every little part of life.
The narrator is self-centered and eccentric and unhinged, and you love to hate her while accepting that you also have an unhinged side that really relates to these intense, borderline personality disorder esque quirks.
I for one was shocked and impressed by the tampon scene. I will never forget it… but I didn’t hate it. July creates these tense, deeply intimate moments that are designed to be unbelievably. Why not live in a world of ultimate freedom and liberation and exploring every aspect it means to be human?
The narrator is a journeying soul, insecure and ungrounded. She hurts plenty of people along the way, and I found her fascinating. Her mid life crisis was like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from.
Overall I would highly recommend this book, but know it’s weird and is not for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical trauma, Grief, Suicide, Blood, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abandonment
erickaonpaper's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the story of an unnamed character looking for someone to match her freak. loved every moment!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
mhh831666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Child death, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Violence
katrinky's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.0
I enjoyed this more than "the first bad man," for many reasons. I know more kinky people now, I know many peri- and post-menopausal people now, I have seen Miranda July in person now, it's a book about marriage and nonmonogamy and parenting and art and I've done all of those things now. it landed for me. I wish I knew more about design so I could picture the motel room better. I also can't believe FMH exists as a thing that can happen, holy shit. anyway, this book is unnerving and fun to read and a legit valuable source of information about menopause!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Dementia, Suicide, Incest, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Death of parent
kevinjwangler's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
lvleggett's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Never have I ever encountered a book that is so direct and well-informed about perimenopaus. I felt as the narrator felt as she unearthed this new information about what was happening -- or about to happen -- to her body. I was shocked, bereft, angered, and giddy with it all. But that's not all that this book is. It is about coming to terms with a major life change. It is about accepting who you are and what you want - and then having the guts to go for it. The narrator is self-absorbed, distracted by desire at times but also full of life and love. I reveled in her awkward romances and deep friendships. I laughed at her observations. I willed her through this confounding phase of life. This is a provocative, funny, chaotic book about midlife. It doesn't represent all middle-aged women, but the fact that it represents any is something interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Suicide, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Dementia and Death
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