Miranda July: All Fours (2024, Canongate Books)
English language
Published 2024 by Canongate Books.
I devoured this, partly because I loved it and partly because I couldn't stop thinking about it. it kind of fucked me up for a bit, honestly. I want more books about periomenopause, and also women writing about aging and desireability, choosing a life
Content warning mild spoilers about theme, not plot; curse words
Until now, I have stayed away from Miranda July's work because of her public persona. I didn't think her art would be for me, produced by this twee, quirky LA artiste.
But boy has All Fours proved me wrong. Maybe it's because I am a woman in a similar stage of life as Miranda's protagonist, who lived through or is about to live through some of the things she describes.
Without providing too many spoilers, this is a book about Gen X and Millenial women who are starting to deal with the implications of perimenopause on their bodies, and in turn, their identities as sexual beings.
To put it bluntly, we don't look old (thanks to sunscreens and a regular pilates practice) younger people still find us fuckable, but our hormones are waiting to betray our libido at every turn.
