A review by zoolmcg
It Chooses You by Miranda July
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I've never disliked a single thing written by July. There's a special type of observance in all of her work, be it film or novel, that puts us in her place. It's like she lives in her own world, and through the art that she creates, she invites us in to experience it as a snapshot. If this was written and proclaimed as fiction, I'd believe that, but that fact that this isn't makes it all the better.
When I first picked this up and got about thirty pages in, I could sense just how profound of an impact this was to make on me. Through the act of speaking to all of these strangers, July shows us just how beautiful the world is, and all the people in it. Minute details about someone's life being put down in this context, where they reveal the intricacies of their daily rituals or the grand overarching plot of their life, was fascinating to read. There are ranges of emotions in these people's stories, ones that drew me to tears, and others that creeped me out. But above all of it, their one thing in common is in their lack of technology.
It's interesting that this book and her film The Future were devised at this specific point in time - at the first turn of a decade, right after a new millennium. The sections about the PennySaver becoming redundant in the future, and that fact that there will be a time where everyone owns a computer, really struck me. It made me feel nostalgic for a time that I was barely cogent in. The book and all of July's reflections offer a perfect slice of time for what it was like to be at that place and time in the world. I've never been to L.A., and I might never go, but this piece of art made me feel like I was there, with everyone, and loving it.
The fact that this book has photos is also a boon to it's brilliance. The manuscript of these interviews is a breeze to read through, and at times so intensely interesting that it can't be put down. Then to cut between them with photos of environments and items described puts you there, physically. Some of my favourites were of Andrew's garden, Beverley's cats, Pam's house, Ron's ankle monitor, Dina's hairdryer and couch, and of course, Joe's cards. It's a beautiful visual for how unique we all are, how each of us has something that, while sellable in the PennySaver, is important to us. Without these photos, the experience of reading would be incomplete. Sire is just as vital to this piece of art as July.
Anyone who admires July must read this instantly. She can never create anything dull or half-hearted: only the best pieces with the most beautiful stories behind them.
When I first picked this up and got about thirty pages in, I could sense just how profound of an impact this was to make on me. Through the act of speaking to all of these strangers, July shows us just how beautiful the world is, and all the people in it. Minute details about someone's life being put down in this context, where they reveal the intricacies of their daily rituals or the grand overarching plot of their life, was fascinating to read. There are ranges of emotions in these people's stories, ones that drew me to tears, and others that creeped me out. But above all of it, their one thing in common is in their lack of technology.
It's interesting that this book and her film The Future were devised at this specific point in time - at the first turn of a decade, right after a new millennium. The sections about the PennySaver becoming redundant in the future, and that fact that there will be a time where everyone owns a computer, really struck me. It made me feel nostalgic for a time that I was barely cogent in. The book and all of July's reflections offer a perfect slice of time for what it was like to be at that place and time in the world. I've never been to L.A., and I might never go, but this piece of art made me feel like I was there, with everyone, and loving it.
The fact that this book has photos is also a boon to it's brilliance. The manuscript of these interviews is a breeze to read through, and at times so intensely interesting that it can't be put down. Then to cut between them with photos of environments and items described puts you there, physically. Some of my favourites were of Andrew's garden, Beverley's cats, Pam's house, Ron's ankle monitor, Dina's hairdryer and couch, and of course, Joe's cards. It's a beautiful visual for how unique we all are, how each of us has something that, while sellable in the PennySaver, is important to us. Without these photos, the experience of reading would be incomplete. Sire is just as vital to this piece of art as July.
Anyone who admires July must read this instantly. She can never create anything dull or half-hearted: only the best pieces with the most beautiful stories behind them.