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Shannon (The Book Club Mom)'s Reviews > All Fours
All Fours
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Unpopular opinion alert�
Ugh. All Fours by Miranda July is a book that I should have DNFed, but kept going because of my own stupidity and curiosity. This book made me feel icky. Like, super duper uncomfortable and nauseous. It’s extremely sexual, graphic, raunchy, and disturbing. There really should be a content warning on the cover, or at least in the synopsis! For the most part, I’d consider myself pretty open-minded and not particularly prudish, but the descriptions in this novel were WAY too much for me.
I requested this novel because the protagonist was in her mid-forties, and I thought that I’d be able to relate to her. Unfortunately, this was not the case at all. I truly could NOT stand the main character. This book tested me. I tried SO hard not to be judgmental towards this woman, but found it impossible. She put herself in the most unbelievably awkward situations, and made some absolutely foolish decisions. She’s going through some kind of mid-life sexual crisis or weird sexual awakening, and I wanted no part of it. The gag-worthy moments were endless, and I almost lost my lunch.
Sure, there was some great insight on aging, menopause, motherhood, and marriage, but the cringey scenes just ruined the entire reading experience for me. The author narrates the audiobook herself, which I appreciated. She has a wonderful speaking voice and is pretty funny, so I’ll give it some points for that at least. Overall, this one was a major disappointment for me. My hopes were very high, but sadly, I was left shuddering, and desperately trying to shake off the heebie-jeebies. There’s no doubt that this will be a “love it or hate it� type book. There’s a TON of raving five star reviews out there. I obviously fell in the latter. Eww, ick, gross. Not for me. All Fours is out on May 14th, and I give it 2/5 stars. Do NOT recommend.
Ugh. All Fours by Miranda July is a book that I should have DNFed, but kept going because of my own stupidity and curiosity. This book made me feel icky. Like, super duper uncomfortable and nauseous. It’s extremely sexual, graphic, raunchy, and disturbing. There really should be a content warning on the cover, or at least in the synopsis! For the most part, I’d consider myself pretty open-minded and not particularly prudish, but the descriptions in this novel were WAY too much for me.
I requested this novel because the protagonist was in her mid-forties, and I thought that I’d be able to relate to her. Unfortunately, this was not the case at all. I truly could NOT stand the main character. This book tested me. I tried SO hard not to be judgmental towards this woman, but found it impossible. She put herself in the most unbelievably awkward situations, and made some absolutely foolish decisions. She’s going through some kind of mid-life sexual crisis or weird sexual awakening, and I wanted no part of it. The gag-worthy moments were endless, and I almost lost my lunch.
Sure, there was some great insight on aging, menopause, motherhood, and marriage, but the cringey scenes just ruined the entire reading experience for me. The author narrates the audiobook herself, which I appreciated. She has a wonderful speaking voice and is pretty funny, so I’ll give it some points for that at least. Overall, this one was a major disappointment for me. My hopes were very high, but sadly, I was left shuddering, and desperately trying to shake off the heebie-jeebies. There’s no doubt that this will be a “love it or hate it� type book. There’s a TON of raving five star reviews out there. I obviously fell in the latter. Eww, ick, gross. Not for me. All Fours is out on May 14th, and I give it 2/5 stars. Do NOT recommend.
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Reading Progress
February 12, 2024
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 12, 2024
– Shelved
April 4, 2024
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Started Reading
April 5, 2024
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 181 (181 new)
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Dana
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rated it 1 star
May 18, 2024 02:44PM
I felt the exact same way after reading the memoir, "Fifty Dates After Fifty." Reviews were great, but I had that same "ick" response. I was less generous than you, in that I gave that one just one star, since zero was not an option.
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Absolutely agree. The actual writing was so great but the extremely graphic sexual scenes gave me the Ick. The tampon thing? Ughh. And what parent takes baths with their seven-year-old, huh?
I totally agree with your assessment except I did not like listening to the author’s voice. I just heard the tampon incident and I think that I will stop reading.
I totally agree with all of this.
I am struggling to get through it for the exact same reasons. I came here looking for others that felt the same way. Should I finish chapter 11 or is the book worth it in the end?
Worst book I’ve ever read. Train wreck.
Yesss. I appreciate the flashes of brilliance but there’s not a single person I can recommend this to.
Finally gave up 3/4 through. too many books on my list to spend any more time on one I REALLY was not enjoying.
Agree! And I really can’t comprehend the rave reviews from esteemed authors on the book jacket.
Same here. This book reminded me of documentaries about drug users (first they try weed, then pill, then heroin, and then you see the ulcers up to their bones but still hope there will be a turning point and a road to rehabilitation, but no, the protagonist just dies). Same with this book: an unsympathetic character sequentially destroys her family and her life, and you read and read in expectation that it will change for the better, but it does not!
I felt the same way
Thank you for articulating Shannon! Agree. Have some admiration for the way this was crafted as a novel and for some witty passages—but kept thinking I hope this is fiction not memoir. Kept reading to see what would happen—but kept getting worse. Heebie-jeebies perfect word Shannon!
I feel like this review says more about you than the book.
My thoughts and feelings exactly, thank you for articulating them perfectly!
It's supposed to mess you up. That's the whole point.
Yup! That’s how I felt exactly. Not one character I cared about especially the main character who was just a narcissist idiot. Mad at myself for finishing it.
Perfectly written. I felt the same way
I felt the same way. I was embarrassed for the main character. I thought Davey’s dancing was meant to be a joke!!
Feeling the same, but trying to finish it.
Thank you. I'm 40 pages in and while I very rarely do not finish a book I Started, I'm going to put this one down
I agree, though I was only able to give it one star. I found the main character to be a self indulgent, privileged, ungrateful whiner with little redeeming qualities. I kept thinking about putting the book down but expected there to be something that would bring her back to her senses. And the ending was just stupid. This was the first of July’s books that I’ve read and will undoubtedly be the last.
Ver ver icky, I agree. I wanted to crawl out of my skin at times
Ok it’s not just me ! I’m at 20% and can’t make myself keep going. I’m just not into it and I’m of similar age. Can’t relate. I’d spend the 20k on a much more fun time lol
I wish I had not finished this book! Ugh�
Well said. I stopped after chapter five.
I agree�. Just terrible!
Same here! I did finish it but kept hoping it would just end as I didn’t care about any of the characters! Totally cringey and completely un-relatable. Who even has this much time to fantasize, not actually do any work, and just mope around???? I could not relate at ALL to this character, so childish, immature, and overall embarrassing. I found her voice annoying as well.
Im gonna slog through but it just gets more ridiculous & stupid as the pages turn
I wish I'd stopped reading it after the bathroom scene. Ick.
The comment i was searching for.
I do feel like the title itself is basically a content warning
I totally agree with your assessment of this book! It has totally given me the ick factor. I struggled to read to Chapter 6 and will now move on to another book on my TBR list. There are much better options out there for me.
omg same i just DNF’d at 36% it was making me like angry i just thought she was a bad person but didn’t feel like the antihero idk but totally agree w you!
This book is beyond icky!! If a zero star rating was possible, it would be too high! It'll probably be made into a movie with rave reviews.
100% agree on your review. I stopped twice and read books in between and on third attempt it’s DNF.
Had no idea what the title was referring to, prob would not have picked it up if I did.
This is exactly how I felt
Totally agree. Wish I could go back to the review that made me want to read it in the first place and see how it lied to me. I am widely read and open-minded, but I feel like I need a shower.
Same! I got to chapter six and gave it up. I tried so hard to like her and be open-minded but she just grated on me.
I am right there with you!! I somehow just finished it and it felt like punishment. Not sure why but I felt like I had to slog through it!!
I felt exactly the same.
To Amy who DNFed at chapter 6�.you’re lucky you didn’t make it to chapter 11 lol yikes
I agree. No morals or scruples.
Madison wrote: "To Amy who DNFed at chapter 6�.you’re lucky you didn’t make it to chapter 11 lol yikes"I am currently in chapter 11 and am finally at the point where I do not think I can finish this. The author's voice for the audiobook is the only thing that has kept me going. But even that isn't enough to save this.
Madison wrote: "To Amy who DNFed at chapter 6�.you’re lucky you didn’t make it to chapter 11 lol yikes"I DNF'd on chapter 10. What happens on Chapter 11? I am guessing bankruptcy but I am sure that's wrong. LOL
