peterongcook's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not that familiar with Miranda July, but I’ve heard her name. This book has no image on the cover, just the title. I did not read a summary of the book before I read it, not even the back cover. I had no idea what to expect.
The story follows a single woman, Cheryl, and some people that come in and out of her life. It’s a stream of conscience first person story, kind of like Catcher in the Rye, I guess? But obviously an entirely different internal dialog and focus, I mean, digression.
This book explores weird fixations, how we can wildly interpret generally innocuous happenings, and insecurity in middle age. When you read the book, you might think that Cheryl is kind of weird, but I think that she is a very normal person. Her internal dialog makes things weird. Sometimes that internal dialog comes out, and then she does seem weird, but no weirder than anybody else in the book. I’d be curious to see all of their internal dialogs.
The book has a very good section on the weird things you think about when you are caring for a newborn, with its need for 24 hour attention, and how that messes you up. I just identified with that part, so I started to think that there are lots of parts of this book that other readers will identify with, but I think is just weirdness.
The story follows a single woman, Cheryl, and some people that come in and out of her life. It’s a stream of conscience first person story, kind of like Catcher in the Rye, I guess? But obviously an entirely different internal dialog and focus, I mean, digression.
This book explores weird fixations, how we can wildly interpret generally innocuous happenings, and insecurity in middle age. When you read the book, you might think that Cheryl is kind of weird, but I think that she is a very normal person. Her internal dialog makes things weird. Sometimes that internal dialog comes out, and then she does seem weird, but no weirder than anybody else in the book. I’d be curious to see all of their internal dialogs.
The book has a very good section on the weird things you think about when you are caring for a newborn, with its need for 24 hour attention, and how that messes you up. I just identified with that part, so I started to think that there are lots of parts of this book that other readers will identify with, but I think is just weirdness.
6loons's review against another edition
3.0
This book was honestly really funny and truthful and hard hitting at times but had an annoying tendency to be off the rails quirkyyyyyyy for no reason
joeylm's review against another edition
4.0
This is a weird one, but I quite liked it. If you're as much of a sucker for a peculiar character hopelessly lost in their own head as I am, and you're cool with that character and the events surrounding them sometimes causing you discomfort, give it a try and you might also find yourself surprisingly moved.
jasmin__'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
tmfletcher's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
alisarae's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book was extremely well-written, but the story itself wasn't for me.
arachnophobia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Loved this book. The entire time I couldn't stop thinking how odd the main character was but there was something completely familiar about it too. Excellent writing. Made me feel so much. So happy she rejected Phillip in the end. Ending was cute.
lrncon121's review against another edition
hopeful
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
dvdpcp's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. Then I wanted to read/see other stuff but I also don’t. Learning stuff about her takes away from what the book was to me. I loved this book