Me so nosey about your new role 👀congrats on making literature into a job I love that for you!! I’m so hesitant to read All Fours because I’m not there in my life yet and I almost don’t want to see behind the curtain yet! So to speak, ya know?
Yes, that makes so much sense. It's not what I would call overly realistic in terms of plot points or characterization, but it was recognizable on an emotional level. Not sure that would have been the case for me in my 30s-- I cringe to imagine knowing then what I know now. Haha.
Circling back to All Fours: just finished it and I found myself conflicted and couldn’t figure out why other than I must just not get it (this is my go-to reaction when a book is held in awe by so many and hits different for me). I had so much difficulty not comparing to Vladimir constantly and finding it wanting as an initial gut reaction. I think it boiled down to relating to (and potentially just liking) Vladimir’s nameless main character more (pretty sure she is a Driver) and being more in sync with the structure - a true beginning-middle-end vs in All Fours where I kept thinking “there’s the story exit ramp … but ok, I guess we’ll just keep going?”. And I also felt at odds with really digging the MC’s (and also the author’s) complete unabashedness and story telling style, while not really enjoying the story itself. BUT while it didn’t scream best of the year to me, I also see the spectacularity of a book that tackles the maternal/feminine/aging human experience in total rawness and honesty. I happened to sandwich this, too, between reading and watching Three Women. It felt like a few weeks’ crash course on the importance of normalizing/accepting female desire in all its different forms. I think it all comes down to Jordi, for me, as a takeaway - we all need that friend, and to be that friend to others.
I thought of Vladimir and Three Women a lot while reading All Fours. Both gave me a similar feeling of watching a wreck (never tempted to do this in life) and not wanting to turn away. I really found All Fours spectacular in that way, and I am at the same time surprised it got the recognition it did because it was so polarizing. It is definitely one of the books I felt the most this year, and most needed to talk about with others. Thanks for commenting Cori!
Oh, congrats, and I can’t wait to hear more about your new adventure!
Soon! Thanks!
Me so nosey about your new role 👀congrats on making literature into a job I love that for you!! I’m so hesitant to read All Fours because I’m not there in my life yet and I almost don’t want to see behind the curtain yet! So to speak, ya know?
Yes, that makes so much sense. It's not what I would call overly realistic in terms of plot points or characterization, but it was recognizable on an emotional level. Not sure that would have been the case for me in my 30s-- I cringe to imagine knowing then what I know now. Haha.
Circling back to All Fours: just finished it and I found myself conflicted and couldn’t figure out why other than I must just not get it (this is my go-to reaction when a book is held in awe by so many and hits different for me). I had so much difficulty not comparing to Vladimir constantly and finding it wanting as an initial gut reaction. I think it boiled down to relating to (and potentially just liking) Vladimir’s nameless main character more (pretty sure she is a Driver) and being more in sync with the structure - a true beginning-middle-end vs in All Fours where I kept thinking “there’s the story exit ramp … but ok, I guess we’ll just keep going?”. And I also felt at odds with really digging the MC’s (and also the author’s) complete unabashedness and story telling style, while not really enjoying the story itself. BUT while it didn’t scream best of the year to me, I also see the spectacularity of a book that tackles the maternal/feminine/aging human experience in total rawness and honesty. I happened to sandwich this, too, between reading and watching Three Women. It felt like a few weeks’ crash course on the importance of normalizing/accepting female desire in all its different forms. I think it all comes down to Jordi, for me, as a takeaway - we all need that friend, and to be that friend to others.
I thought of Vladimir and Three Women a lot while reading All Fours. Both gave me a similar feeling of watching a wreck (never tempted to do this in life) and not wanting to turn away. I really found All Fours spectacular in that way, and I am at the same time surprised it got the recognition it did because it was so polarizing. It is definitely one of the books I felt the most this year, and most needed to talk about with others. Thanks for commenting Cori!
”In the meantime, picture me giddy. I’ll get to promote literature like it’s my job.” What a great thing to see — many congratulations!! 🎈🎉
Thank you, @Linnesby (Maria)!