Book Club: All Fours by Miranda July

Coined “the first great perimenopause novel” by the New York Times (May 5, 2024), All Fours by Miranda July is a work of fiction about a mother, wife and artist who embarks on a cross-country road trip. After departing for New York, the unnamed narrator drives only about thirty minutes from her hometown where she spends weeks in a roadside motel exploring themes of desire, identity, and the reconciliation of past traumas. Sexual encounters, an intense interior design scenario, and a meeting with a pop diva highlight her sojourn at the motel. While the protagonist is indeed over-forty, I found the book less about perimenopause and more about the importance of a woman finding the space to evolve, change and explore as she enters a new phase of life. All Fours was a National Book Award finalist and kicked off what feels like a recent awareness in the media about women claiming their power, desires and identity in mid-life. July’s writing is exceptional, and her protagonist is beautifully messy as she imperfectly redefines all of her relationships; most importantly, the relationship with herself.

All Fours was a recent selection for my neighborhood book club and was one of our most well-attended, lively meetings in the 20+ year history of our group. Some found the narrator to be narcissistic while others were inspired by her free spirit. Several members identified with her journey and celebrated the portrayal of a midlife woman who occasionally fumbles in the process of vibrant self-discovery. I found the book compelling especially in how it addresses the way we often push through difficult life experiences or traumas when they occur, thinking we “survived” them, only to find these same experiences resurfacing later in life, requiring us to examine what we could not address at an earlier age.

— Provocateur Book Club Member Colleen