Good to hear a different perspective from you, Larissa. I’m still working my way through, but enjoying her mind - like dressing vintage as a 40-year-old :) Haven’t formed an opinion yet about all the sex adjacent content :)
I'm so curious to read this one! I read another of July's books many years ago and remember it being delightfully strange. I've seen so many hot and cold takes on this one.
I read All Fours at the start of the week and I was completely disappointed. This seems to happen a lot with American authored books which are really heralded. Other books by American authors who aren’t heralded a lot are better. I did not find this book provocative, shocking or surprising. And I say that as a practicing Irish Catholic. I found it had unrealized promise. It was a 6 out of 10 if anything. I was really disappointed as I waiting to be dazzled and it felt like a damp squib!
I’ve heard others with similar feelings about this book! I think I connected with the character because of her anxiety about everything, and I just found her funny, so I enjoyed it. But I totally see where you’re coming from! It’s definitely not for everybody.
I've read a few pages and it is funny and I do like it, so I'll keep reading, but I find the use of" they/them" when referring to her son, is awkward and jarring thus interrupting the otherwise smooth narrative. It ruins the flow. But this one discordant note does not want to make me stop reading
just finished All Fours. Different than I usually read but in a cool and really interesting way. Loved the room she redecorated, what that meant to her, and how that became her anchor as everything else devolved. Great recommendation. I’m on to same as it ever was…. And a book on the NBA G League!
You’ve made me curious to read this one and maybe do my own post about it - thank you! For me it’s rarely about how shocking the content is (I think I’d be hard to shock) but how artistically and cleverly and vibe-ily it’s been pulled off, and I guess I can’t judge that for this title until I read it for myself.
Good to hear a different perspective from you, Larissa. I’m still working my way through, but enjoying her mind - like dressing vintage as a 40-year-old :) Haven’t formed an opinion yet about all the sex adjacent content :)
Yes I loved that vintage part. She’s kooky in a fun way, but I can see how it probably would annoy people too.
The book I have so eagerly been awaiting! Love this essay on it
Thanks! Read it! And obv share your thoughts!
I'm so curious to read this one! I read another of July's books many years ago and remember it being delightfully strange. I've seen so many hot and cold takes on this one.
I read All Fours at the start of the week and I was completely disappointed. This seems to happen a lot with American authored books which are really heralded. Other books by American authors who aren’t heralded a lot are better. I did not find this book provocative, shocking or surprising. And I say that as a practicing Irish Catholic. I found it had unrealized promise. It was a 6 out of 10 if anything. I was really disappointed as I waiting to be dazzled and it felt like a damp squib!
I’ve heard others with similar feelings about this book! I think I connected with the character because of her anxiety about everything, and I just found her funny, so I enjoyed it. But I totally see where you’re coming from! It’s definitely not for everybody.
Yes! It’s pretty polarizing. I’m on the hot side though 🤪
I've read a few pages and it is funny and I do like it, so I'll keep reading, but I find the use of" they/them" when referring to her son, is awkward and jarring thus interrupting the otherwise smooth narrative. It ruins the flow. But this one discordant note does not want to make me stop reading
just finished All Fours. Different than I usually read but in a cool and really interesting way. Loved the room she redecorated, what that meant to her, and how that became her anchor as everything else devolved. Great recommendation. I’m on to same as it ever was…. And a book on the NBA G League!
You’ve made me curious to read this one and maybe do my own post about it - thank you! For me it’s rarely about how shocking the content is (I think I’d be hard to shock) but how artistically and cleverly and vibe-ily it’s been pulled off, and I guess I can’t judge that for this title until I read it for myself.