Miranda July's 'All Fours' Sparks Cultural Revolution Among Midlife Women, Challenges Societal Norms
June 14, 2025
Many readers have reported feeling empowered to confront their own life choices, with one woman stating she felt 'permission to be undone' after reading the novel.
Now 51, July has a diverse background as a performance artist and filmmaker, gaining prominence with her 2005 film 'Me and You and Everyone We Know', which won the Cannes Film Festival's best first feature award.
Miranda July's novel 'All Fours', released in May 2024, has ignited a cultural movement among midlife women, drawing parallels to the excitement surrounding the final Twilight book.
The book has been a commercial success, remaining on the Indie Bestseller list for nearly a year and earning accolades, including being a finalist for the National Book Awards.
The New York Times has labeled 'All Fours' as 'the first great perimenopause novel', a classification that July disputes, asserting that it has sparked a more radical conversation about women's truths.
The book has prompted discussions about women's roles and expectations, with many readers feeling liberated to make significant life changes after engaging with July's work.
Exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the complexities of female desire, 'All Fours' challenges societal norms surrounding marriage and motherhood.
July's writing style blurs the lines between fiction and autobiography, with her personal experiences, including her separation from her husband, resonating closely with the narrative.
The story follows a 45-year-old woman on a road trip from Los Angeles to New York, whose journey is complicated by a passionate affair with a younger man named Davey.
July's Substack has become a platform for readers to share their transformative experiences, highlighting the diverse ways women have responded to the book's themes.
Despite her success, July reflects on the vulnerability of being a female author in a politically charged climate, contemplating the implications for women's rights and freedoms.
Readers have had strong reactions to 'All Fours', with some expressing anger over its graphic content and the emotional turmoil of the protagonist, reflecting deeper societal expectations of women.
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