In 'All Fours,' Miranda July tackles love, sex and reinvention in middle age
May 28, 2024
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Writer and filmmaker Miranda July explores love, sex, and reinvention in middle age through her novel 'All Fours'. She discusses the interviews she conducted with women going through perimenopause and menopause, and how her protagonist's desire for something new was fueled by a whisper network with her friends.
Miranda July's novel 'All Fours' challenges societal norms around love and reinvention in middle age through a transformative road trip experience.
The book explores the complexities of perimenopause, shedding light on the need to understand both medical facts and personal narratives in navigating this phase.
Deep dives
Exploring Gender Roles and Change in Middle Age
The podcast episode delves into Miranda July's book 'All 4s' and its exploration of the main character's transformative road trip experience. The protagonist, a 45-year-old woman, embarks on a journey from LA to New York but stops short and stays in a motel, leading to a shift in how she fits back into her life. Themes of sex, desire, aging, and domesticity are examined, highlighting the protagonist's introspection on societal expectations and personal growth in middle age.
Embracing Transition and Loss in Perimenopause
Miranda July's book delves into the complexities of perimenopause and its impact on women's lives. The podcast discusses how this transitional phase prompts a reevaluation of love stories and hormonal changes, emphasizing the need for understanding both medical facts and personal narratives. Through conversations with middle-aged women and experts, the podcast showcases the richness and challenges of navigating perimenopause, revealing a transformative journey of embracing desire, loss, and empowerment in middle age.
Writer and filmmaker Miranda July says the popular imagination sort of drops off once a woman gets married and has kids. Her new novel All Fours turns that on its head – it's a story about an artist in her 40s who departs from her husband and child on a road trip that takes her to some very unexpected places. In today's episode, July speaks to NPR's Brittany Luse about the interviews she conducted with women going through perimenopause and menopause for this book, and the whisper network with her friends that fueled her protagonist's deep desire for something new.
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