Zoya's Reviews > All Fours

** spoiler alert ** The book is an acquired taste—definitely not for those who dislike raunchy, wretched writing. But honestly, if this novel represents the entirety of Miranda July's definition of feminism, count me out. The protagonist was irreparably self-involved, to the point of gaslighting her husband when she was finally caught. Personal accountability could not have mattered less to her, even if it hit her in the face. If this is supposed to be the pinnacle of a white premenopausal woman’s sexual, personal, or whatever kind of awakening, I shudder to think what those who loved this book are like. Personally, I do not know a single non-white woman who has liked All Fours, just by the way.

That said, Miranda July can certainly write, and the novel might be well-suited for a TV or film adaptation (which is understandable given the range of work she has done over the years). Yes, reading this novel was an ordeal, but I also underlined the hell out of it. There are genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, and I do believe the protagonist—however terrible—was sincere in her terribleness. I was not rooting for her, but at least I found her believable.