Belonging

I'd stumbled upon Me, You, And Everyone We Know on Netflix. I really like it. Then in Time Out a few months later, I saw a familiar name but couldn't place it. I read a review of No One Belongs Here More Than You and I was like, I think I'd enjoy that. Then it hit me--the movie was written by and stars the author of the book, Miranda July. That name sticks with me because for some reason, I think Miranda should be the name of a month, too.

Creepy at times, wistful in a non-sappy way at others, her book is a collection of true life simple snippets of situations that should be complex. There's a lot of dark humor, but not sarcasm, underlying each story. It's kinda like, that's the way it is so deal with it. Not mean, though. Simple. Very simple. The writing isn't simple. In fact, some parts had me going, I wish I'd written that.

Lots of lesbian references. Lots of penis and breast. Lots of changing of narrator. Thankfully, each narrator is unique and it takes a while to get out of the habit of assuming each story is told by a young white woman who looks like the author herself. She gives range. It's rare and wonderful.

It's not for everyone, though. Contrary to the collection title, some people don't belong in those pages. So reader beware--have an open mind or keep the book closed.