A review by ambersnowpants
It Chooses You by Miranda July

4.0

I heard a podcast recently in which Miranda July introduced the concept for this book and read some excerpts. I was blown away by the power contained within each of these voyeuristic glimpses into peoples lives. Here's the deal: July was stuck and feeling very distracted while trying to finish up her screenplay. Everything in her creative realm pointed towards screwing around on the internet, staring at the wall, stirring her coffee absentmindedly; anything except finishing the screenplay. She picked up the Pennysaver one morning and scanned the "For Sale" section- the offering of: "leather jacket $10" prompted more than her desire to don a leather jacket but rather inspired her to learn more about these folks offering their wares in a weekly circular. She called each of these people up whether they were selling a Carebear collection, a set of photo albums, a hairdryer, etc... and offered $50 for their time and opportunity to have their hopes and dreams heard as well as their personal space photographed. The pictures and dialogue of this book are so stark and amazing. I remember when I listened to the podcast, there was one story in particular that made my heart squeeze in my chest. This young man keeps an ever changing collage of pictures on his wall. The pictures whether from magazines, internet, or newspaper have a running theme young girls, pretty women, babies, police cars, and jail cells. I know it sounds so creepy but there is a tender story beneath. This fella has envelopes stuffed with these picture collections, each labeled with care. He dreams, he says, of a better life. He dreams of a life that has a beautiful wife, children,and a career as a policeman. He puts these collages on his wall so he can hold his dream a little closer. Nothing creepy or sexual about it. He just pastes to his wall his vision of an ideal life. There is a picture of him sitting on his bed with the collage behind him. He looks so serene, so open, without shame or reservation in sharing his dreams. Anyhow, I think just about anyone would love this book. I love the way that July wanders in and out of these people's lives and homes, eventually finding the path to finishing her screenplay. Rather than chastising herself for her procrastination, she falls head first into it and gains power and knowledge from her journey, eventually allowing free passage to her creative goals.