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jonwesleyhuff 's review for:
The First Bad Man
by Miranda July
I'm a fan of Miranda July's work, and I listened to this as an audiobook. I think both things work in favor of my complete enjoyment of this book. That's not to say I thought it was perfect. But I don't remember the last time I laughed out loud as much as I did while listening to this book. I'm sure some of it is July's delivery. But I think if you know her "voice" it'll translate well to the page.
What surprised me was how much I came to care about Cheryl and Clee. Cheryl is a frustrating protagonist at times due to her lack of taking action in her own life, but I think it's easy to understand where her character is coming from. I think that's the thing I liked best about this book. I liked that even when Sheryl's thoughts or perceptions of the world are at their strangest, there's this strong feeling of them being (sometimes painfully) relatable, too.
it's July's willingness to go into uncomfortable places that repulsed and intrigued me. There is a section of the book where Sheryl starts engaging in these fantasies that use some really repulsive language. It's intentionally that way. And though it wasn't my favorite part of the book, I admired what July did with it.
The book, ultimately, feels like a slow descent into reality. Cheryl's life is disrupted in ways that are both terrible and ultimately useful. Even though Cheryl could be frustratingly still in her own life, the fact is she never feels like a victim and she's not stupid. She does take action when it matters. She steps up, and I enjoyed the moments when you saw the steel and determination in her.
I will say, though, by the end the book lost me a little bit. It's really only at the very end, though. The most interesting core relationship is essentially resolved, and with that the rest of the book feels devoted mainly to tying up some loose threads that actually didn't feel all that loose to me. But I loved the VERY very ending, and overall this was such a pleasurable book-reading experience in so many ways.
What surprised me was how much I came to care about Cheryl and Clee. Cheryl is a frustrating protagonist at times due to her lack of taking action in her own life, but I think it's easy to understand where her character is coming from. I think that's the thing I liked best about this book. I liked that even when Sheryl's thoughts or perceptions of the world are at their strangest, there's this strong feeling of them being (sometimes painfully) relatable, too.
it's July's willingness to go into uncomfortable places that repulsed and intrigued me. There is a section of the book where Sheryl starts engaging in these fantasies that use some really repulsive language. It's intentionally that way. And though it wasn't my favorite part of the book, I admired what July did with it.
The book, ultimately, feels like a slow descent into reality. Cheryl's life is disrupted in ways that are both terrible and ultimately useful. Even though Cheryl could be frustratingly still in her own life, the fact is she never feels like a victim and she's not stupid. She does take action when it matters. She steps up, and I enjoyed the moments when you saw the steel and determination in her.
I will say, though, by the end the book lost me a little bit. It's really only at the very end, though. The most interesting core relationship is essentially resolved, and with that the rest of the book feels devoted mainly to tying up some loose threads that actually didn't feel all that loose to me. But I loved the VERY very ending, and overall this was such a pleasurable book-reading experience in so many ways.