A Review ~ THE FIRST BAD MAN by Miranda July

I “finally” finished reading Miranda July's novel, THE FIRST BAD MAN.  It's only 276 pages, but I've been slogging through it for months, days going by, untouched.

A couple of times I've commented on it on Facebook, not really liking the amount of "weird" sexual drama, and drama is how I'd semi-describe it...besides weird.  I really do love this author, her quirkiness (I love that word, quirky) is beyond imagination..oddity in her character’s, their movements through life, their bizarre interactions with each other, sliding around waiting to be picked up by the reader...thinking you know how that character feels, but your reaction is usually surprise and burnt fingers!  

How do I want to view the nonsense in this story?  How can I?  I maybe should laugh, but I didn't find it that funny...just confusing...I should identify with them, but I don’t.  I should smile, but I can’t. My face is frozen in shock and awe!  

No characters have ever come across as more ignorant and stupid and naive and violent as they do, all lumped up in this story.  I know it got some wonderfully forward thinking reviews,  but this reader deems it a bit too tiresome and long...yes, long.  

I've read her book of short stories, “No One Belongs Here More Than You”, all quirky and wonderful, but not so plodding that you find yourself believing you must be living on another planet, having to speak another language just so you can rationally understand ALL of these characters at once.

There is no one like Miranda July...never was and never will be...I love her mind and her brilliant writing, but I’m finding I just have to take her in smaller doses...