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The First Bad Man

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The First Bad Man

By: Miranda July
Narrated by: Miranda July
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About this listen

A Guardian literary highlight for 2015
A Huffington Post 'One to Watch' in 2015
An Amazon Rising Star 2015

"Astounding" (Lena Dunham, creator of Girls and author of Not That Kind of Girl)

"The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back" (A. M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May We Be Forgiven)

The first novel by the filmmaker, artist and bestselling author Miranda July confirms her as a spectacularly original, iconic, and important voice today, and a writer for all time. The First Bad Man is dazzling and unforgettable.

©2015 Miranda July (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Fiction Funny Heartfelt Mind-bending Scary Witty Comedy

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Critic reviews

"Astounding" (Lena Dunham, creator of Girls and author of Not That Kind of Girl)
"The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back" (A. M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May We Be Forgiven)
"The novel exploded my expectations and became unlike anything I've ever read...hilarious...A wry, smart companion on any day. It's warm, it has a heartbeat and a pulse. This is a book that is painfully alive." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Astounding...she will make you laugh, cringe and recognise yourself in a woman you never planned to be...Never has a novel spoken so deeply to my sexuality, my spirituality, my secret self. I know I am not alone." (Lena Dunham)
"I am in awe of Miranda July...The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back." (A.M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May Be Forgiven)
All stars
Most relevant  
I loved this book!

Full of odd, funny imagery.
Interesting characters just this side of acceptably bizarre.
So dirty at times I had to switch to headphones even inside the house!
The narration was fantastic.
Book hangover for days & desire to read everything July has ever written...

Beautifully strange, strangely beautiful

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Bizarre, brilliant, deeply funny while also being kind of heart-breaking. Author reads and she is perfect. Very dry, unusual comic manner.

So funny - brilliantly read

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absolutely relentlessly inventive and incisive story that Miranda July's reading takes to the next level by revealing and allowing the humour to show through.

an amazing story so much better to hear

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It's been such a long time since a book has truly surprised me and this is one of those. Not through plot but the story itself. The protagonist is complex and weird and lovable in a way I just didn't expect. I also love the imperfect nature of the characters. The story is free from cliche and covers modern love and family and womanhood. I love July's performance too. If you haven't already, you should read All Fours after this.

Absolute brilliant story telling

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A unique literary voice, a story like no other. Funny, disturbing, intriguing and touching. A very human story. July rocks.

Funny and disturbing

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The strangest book I have ever ‘read’ but it was compelling. A bit graphic in places which made for an uncomfortable listen but it became clear that this was an important part of the development of the story.

Well read by the author. I’m not sure if anyone else could have given it the justice it deserved.

*Spoiler alert*
It had the ending I was hoping for. Made me teary, just as the imagined scene had earlier in the book.

Loved it

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This is an incredible read/listen. To hear Miranda July performing the book herself is great, with all her iconic expressions and inflections.

The story itself edges just up to bizarre but still manages to feel grounded. The way the plot weaves and pulls together is masterful and I had a tear in my eye by the end. Maybe even did a little air punch for Cheryl!

I can't recommend it enough. It's up there, definitely one of my top ten.

A phenomenal book

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It has moments of weirdness, but in the end it is touching and very human. I enjoyed it.

What it is to be alive

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I loved this book, and everything else I've heard or read from Miranda July. Her characters are strange, troubled, deeply flawed, and endearing, and she reveals their inner worlds in very relatable way

Wonderfully weird and intimate

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What made the experience of listening to The First Bad Man the most enjoyable?

It is always special when a writer reads their own work, but July's use of tone and verbal inflection is so important in her writing that it was exciting to hear what kind of voice *she* imagined for each character, how this whisper would sound or that shout.

What other book might you compare The First Bad Man to, and why?

This is difficult as July has such a unique style, but perhaps Camus' 'The Stranger' or Calvino's 'If on a winter's night'? Narratively and structurally 'The First Bad Man' is completely different to both books, but they come the closest to the slightly disturbing, hallucinatory, disconnected, dream-like feeling that July conveys so well.

Which character – as performed by Miranda July – was your favourite?

Probably Cheryl herself - July performs her with enormous empathy and kindness.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There we moments when I almost wanted to stop listening - some of the sexual imagery is very graphic and the violence can be unnerving...but - without revealing what happens - the end of the book made me punch the air with delight. I want to listen to the whole thing all over again.

Anything but kooky

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