A review by ciwanski
No One Belongs Here More Than You, by Miranda July

challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don’t really read short stories but I picked this one up for some reason. Maybe a recommendation? I can’t remember. It’s a pretty quick read, the stories move at a nice pace. I personally had to space out this book because some of the stories, especially the first half, made me feel so desolate and exhausted. 

I want to do more research on July to see what has inspired her to write these stories. I wonder why many of them have themes of pedophilia. 

I think my favorite stories were This Person, Something That Needs Nothing and How To Tell Stories To Children. 

I think July’s writing encapsulates the complex simplicities of being human and interacting with lives we didn’t ask for and the people in them. The whole book felt like a never-ending transitional period and made me yearn for change in my own life. Some stories were also a little disturbing and yucky and made me feel things that I don’t normally feel. An interesting book to read to feel things beyond joy and sadness.

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