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A review by katlynadair
It Chooses You by Miranda July
3.0
Interesting concept, poor execution. The more I think about it the less I like it.
I usually like Miranda July and her work, but this book is the embodiment of a lot of the criticism she receives. She exhibits very little self-awareness and empathy in regards to the people she interviews. And rather than using these interviews as opportunities to delve into the inner lives of these strangers, they become spring boards off of which she casts judgment and repeatedly complains about how hard it is to write and finance her movie. There are many moments where the book feels like an exercise in poverty tourism.
This book would have been much more successful and insightful if July had spent more time on the people she was "so brave" to seek out via the PennySaver and less time whining and explaining why her movie, "The Future," was probably going to suck (spoiler alert: it did).
I usually like Miranda July and her work, but this book is the embodiment of a lot of the criticism she receives. She exhibits very little self-awareness and empathy in regards to the people she interviews. And rather than using these interviews as opportunities to delve into the inner lives of these strangers, they become spring boards off of which she casts judgment and repeatedly complains about how hard it is to write and finance her movie. There are many moments where the book feels like an exercise in poverty tourism.
This book would have been much more successful and insightful if July had spent more time on the people she was "so brave" to seek out via the PennySaver and less time whining and explaining why her movie, "The Future," was probably going to suck (spoiler alert: it did).