The First Bad Man: A Novel Paperback – September 8, 2015

this is certainly a strange book. i say that as praise, i do! it won't be a book for everyone but i think it's lovely and wonderful. it takes you places you didn't know you should go.i read a review written by someone who made up a bunch of words in trying to describe its oddity and i think that is highly appropriate. at the same time, this felt relatable to me. (what does that say about me? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )i started to forget about the quirkiness of the characters sometimes because they felt so real, so human. maybe that's what's weird about the book is that it's very real? the protagonist, cheryl, has a vivid imagination and is out of touch and since it's sunk very deeply in her perspective it takes a lot of twists and odd turns. most of the novel takes place inside cheryl's head, her thoughts as her companions.i love to imagine the places an author went while writing their novels and this book seems like it could have been written in a bathroom, in an empty tub, then a hot bath, on the toilet, sitting on the bathroom floor mat just because. perhaps miranda july merely went inside to write it.whatever the case, i recommend it. the first bad man feels special and hard to follow now that i'm finished. what does one read after they read this?

Cheryl Glickman is a baby-obsessed later-middle-aged woman and I absolutely loved her. Cheryl, in her forties, experiences internal lifetimes of love with Philip, a co-worker and board member at her workplace which aims to reduce domestic violence and teach women how to defend themselves. Cheryl harbors a fierce love of two things: babies (not any baby, but certain babies that seem to embody the soul of one in particular) and Phillip. But Phillip, in his sixties, harbors a fierce love not for Cheryl but for a teenage girl named Kirsten. This news shatters Cheryl, but she comes to believe Phillip is only texting her graphic tales of his endeavors as a sort of game - that, perhaps, Kirsten is imaginary.Phillip aside, Cheryl meets Clee through an unexpected and unwelcome turn of events. Her bosses' daughter Clee is a beautiful blonde girl that has seemingly has no respect for herself or anyone or anything. Her pepsi-guzzling, cheeto-crunching personality is only accentuated by her sexual flings and violent, threatening behavior. But Cheryl, after summoning the courage to stand up to Clee, begins to thirst for the violence and they begin to regularly act out self-defense scenarios to both of their satisfaction. And then love happens.When Cheryl finds out Clee is pregnant, she gets involved and loves the idea of sharing a baby. And where Clee was once a revolting character, I found myself cheering her on at times and wishing the both of them every happiness. But life isn't always so simple. And for this cast of characters it can be quite complex. Read the book and experience the birth of love and courage. Find out what happens to Cheryl and Phillip. But most of all, envelop yourself with the intricacies of the human spirit and mind.This was the first book I experienced by Miranda July. Miranda writes with a unique voice and an important voice for youth and adults alike. If you're looking for something different, but something intimate and raw look no further. The First Bad Man will keep you turning pages, wishing fiercely, celebrating, sympathizing, laughing and fighting tears as you unwrap this tale of losing, gaining and loving.And if you get the audiobook, good for you. Hearing it read by Miranda July herself makes the experience that much more enjoyable and engaging.

I love Miranda July. However it was initially very difficult to get through this book. The first half of the book is mostly off-putting. This was the second time I tried to read it and almost gave up a second time. There were a couple of enjoyable and funny chapters in the first half of the book but mostly I had to force myself through the sludge of yuck.I gave it one last effort before giving up and managed to finally finish the first half of the book. It was a relief to get to the second half of the book which seemed to be making sense of why we had to suffer the first half. The rest of the story was uniquely introspective as Miranda July does so well. Finally I would give the book a three and a half star rating if I could add a half star.