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Miranda July

It Chooses You Paperback – July 31, 2012

by Miranda July (Author)

4.4 276 ratings

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In the summer of 2009 Miranda July was struggling to write her second screenplay, The Future, when she began to obsessively read the PennySaver classified ads. The iconic Los Angeles newsprint booklet served a computerless demographic—a quickly disappearing group, but one rife with stories. Who was the person selling the LARGE LEATHER JACKET, $10 OR BEST OFFER? It seemed important to find out, or, at least it was a great distraction from the screenplay.

Working with photographer Brigitte Sire, July interviewed thirteen PennySaver sellers to create portraits of their surprisingly moving, profoundly specific realities. Among these was Joe, an energetic 82-year-old with his own sweetly perverse body of artwork. By the end of the summer, July had written Joe into the movie as himself and the voice of the moon.

July reveals her hilariously random and blindly faithful creative process as we travel with her all over the city, and eventually to the set of The Future (in theaters in July). Combining narrative, interviews, and photographs, this book tells the story not only of the making of a movie in Los Angeles, but of the city itself.

Print length

208 pages
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English
Publisher

McSweeney's
Publication date

July 31, 2012
Dimensions

5.56 x 0.72 x 8.33 inches
ISBN-10

1938073010
ISBN-13

978-1938073014
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About the Author

Miranda July is the author of No One Belongs Here More Than You, winner of the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, and The Paris Review. July wrote, directed, and starred in the film Me and You and Everyone We Know, which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Her second film, The Future, was released this summer.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McSweeney's; First Trade Paper edition (July 31, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1938073010
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1938073014
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.56 x 0.72 x 8.33 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #614,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #777 in Art of Film & Video
- #1,334 in Pop Culture Art

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4.4 276 ratings

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4.4 out of 5

276 global ratings

5 star		67%
4 star		19%
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Paul Sas

More is More when it's work from Miranda July

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 27, 2011

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As a performance art project, running around LA interviewing people selling their junk does make the social scientist inside me think, "Why didn't I think of that?" It's a pleasure to meet these people, through the gaze of Miranda July, whose prose offers so many charms and insights. The other reviewer remarked on the way this book is a complement to her current film, The Future. I'm not convinced that it's necessary to know the film, although anyone who enjoys the sorts of things that Miranda July confects would not be wise to deny themselves the pleasure of seeing the film AND reading the book. The New Yorker excerpted several of these stories, which can be read as a pretty strong shot of support for seeing the words as capable of standing on their own. I bought this book on pre-order, but it took a while to find time to read it. Ms. July's power, for me, is her capacity to speak so openly about the fragile hopes and awkward moments of quavering inspiration. Snarky poseurs often peg her as "twee", but to me, she's straight up painfully authentic. In this book, she openly discusses her own creative process, in terms of the angst and self-doubt that share mind space with her bounty of ideas. I hadn't realized she recorded CDs until she offhandedly mentioned getting to know a shoe repairman (who was the model for the main character in her first feature film), to whom she gave a copy of 10 Million Hours A Mile.

5 people found this helpful

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Tal Rico

I'd say it's a tour de force but I don't know what that means...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2011

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Before buying this book, I think you have to consider that it is inherently weaker when viewed as a stand-alone work. I think the full weight of the book (and title) is realized when it is taken as a companion piece to the author's recent film "The Future."

That being said, I think this book is definitely worth buying but also, definitely worth reading after seeing the movie. But, in short, this book is an eccentric, and somewhat enviable, exercise in procrastination. Miranda July, in an effort to avoid working on a looming screenplay, pushes herself beyond the normal, typically fruitless and non-constructive StumbleUpon sessions most of us fill our time with. She picks up a copy of the local PennySaver and looks to the classifieds for some sort of cosmic understanding through the mundane or curious items listed and the people who are selling them. A narrative ties all of the interviews together and lends some insight as to what compels the author to continue conducting interviews.
Because it's mostly handled with wit and saddled with the author's neuroses it doesn't come across as pedantic or preachy, she only seems to be looking for some practical enlightenment. Really, though, it's more a story of the journey than anything she may have learned through it. Still, like all of Miranda July's work, it feels poignant and significant and I can never quite say why. I do know that I feel somehow fulfilled whenever I read her books, watch her movies or browse her website.

43 people found this helpful

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Eliza McKay

Hilarious

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 19, 2021

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To be alive at the same time as Miranda and to read her work is unbelievable to me. Grateful for the ways this makes me laugh till I am crying and whole.

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Kindle Customer

You knew what you were getting into

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 2, 2018

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If its precious -Ness makes you roll your eyes a few times, apparently you are not familiar with her work. But it was a fascinating and moving exploration of the vast expanse of humanity, a thoughtful reminder that everyone has as detailed a life as we do. Also a neat look i look i go life and art, and the way they interact

One person found this helpful

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Erin Heydorn

This book is so lovely.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 26, 2013

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I love Miranda July's work so very much, she has such a unique way of thinking and writing. Each individual story is so interesting, and sometimes so sad or pathetic...I just love the way she writes about each person. Sometimes when she gets into more personal stories I got a little annoyed, at times it felt a little too self indulgent and self praising...but I can also appreciate that because self care and self love is so very important. The final story is very moving and sweet, by far my favorite. The collage that covers the book is great, and the limericks on the inside are very amusing, and even touching after you have finished the book. I read this twice in the first month of owning it, really a must have for any Miranda July fan!

2 people found this helpful

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Devora Gray

Too often the author gets run over by their stories and while July is brilliant at marrying the surreal with the mostly believab

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 23, 2016

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I'm just getting into M July and this is an incredibly refreshing commentary. Too often the author gets run over by their stories and while July is brilliant at marrying the surreal with the mostly believable, I loved the poignancy of a leather jacket for $10 or the boy with frogs in his backyard. Real people whose stories often trump anything a creative brain can birth live in this book and that's a rare gift.

One person found this helpful

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Displeased

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 14, 2012

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In this short book Miranda July continues to exhibit a curious sense of wonder and exploration of the possibilities within our everyday world. Her works, (both movies and books) seem to constantly reveal that the ordinary around us is anything but ordinary when we just take a look and engage with the unique nature of what seems like "nothing interesting can happen here". Through her efforts we witness the personality of someone that is a nice mix of naivety and intelligence who is continually guided by a positive outlook. This book is another fine example of what I like about her work.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 26, 2018

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Great voice, fantastic concept...July captured a moment soon to disappear...the PennySaver shoppers...July weaves her random interviews with the artist’s journey of creating a script...

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lulu labonne

brilliant!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 23, 2020

Verified Purchase

Miranda July has perfect pitch when it comes to writing about people and all their weird, wonderful and downright creative ways of existence. I have bought this book several times as a gift - its uplifting, inspiring and fascinating

ankevandervalk

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

excellent

Nemelin

Vielfältige Einblicke in Mirandas wundersame Welt

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on October 29, 2012

Verified Purchase

Miranda July, die zwei Filme gemacht und u. a. ein Buch mit Kurzgeschichten veröffentlicht hat („Zehn Wahrheiten“, Diogenes), verarbeitet in diesem Buch die Idee, mit Hilfe einer Flohmarkt-Zeitschrift Leute kennenzulernen, die die unterschiedlichsten Dinge verkaufen. Sie fährt zu den Inserenten, interviewt sie und ein sie begleitender Fotograf macht Fotos von den Menschen und ihrem Umfeld. Eingewebt in diese Begegnungen sind Szenen aus Miranda Julys übriger Arbeit und mehr oder weniger alle Gedanken und Betrachtungen, die ihrem lebhaften Gemüt so einfallen. Es mag nach einer Weile etwas irritieren, daß Miranda July ein offenbar sehr egozentrisches Weltbild hat, stets kommt sie an erster Stelle in ihren Ausführungen, aber meine Güte, die Frau treibt auch allerhand um! Mit einem wachen Geist und viel Phantasie beweist sie in den Gesprächen mit zunächst wildfremden Menschen viel Gespür; die Leute öffnen sich ihr meist bereitwillig. Somit werden sie sehr lebendig, Miranda – der Paradiesvogel, der letztlich also nicht wegen der Kaulquappen, Stofftiersammlung oder alten Reisetasche zu ihnen gekommen ist – tritt hinter ihnen zurück, man erfährt die interessanten Lebensgeschichten und viel Hintergründiges aus dem Leben der willkürlich kontaktierten Menschen. So ein Buch kann nur Miranda July machen; sehr lesenswert und bunt, schaut man es sich immer wieder gern an. Die Bilder auf dem Cover stammen von einem älteren Mann, den Miranda kennengelernt hat und der sie für seine Frau gesammelt hat, und die Aufkleber mit Titel bzw. Inhaltsangabe auf Front und Rücken lassen sich entfernen. Drollig!

One person found this helpful

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Growing Up Little

Could NOT stop reading it!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

I just finished reading this book and wanted to write about it, while the feelings are still fresh. I sat and read the entire book in one afternoon. I could not stop reading it.
I stumbled upon this book and had ordered it from Amazon. It was one of those... if you like this... you'll love this type of marketing tactics that Amazon does. But - I took the bait and bought the book after having read the synopsis.... which sounds intriguing and "right up my alley" (as my mother would say).
The author, Miranda July, had started reading the PennySaver, which is a classified ad type flyer, that allows people to post their items for free, as long as the item was being sold for less than $100. As the author notes in her book, sort of like Craigslist (or Kijii) for those that haven't entered into the world of the internet yet. So Miranda starts looking and reading the PennySaver cover to cover and becomes curious about who the people are behind the ads in the PennySaver. She wanted to know who the person was that was selling the "Large leather Jacket, $10?" and what that person was all about.
So Miranda called up people from the PennySaver and asked to meet with them and offered to pay them $50 to allow her to interview them. Most turned her down but some more adventurous souls or perhaps those desperate enough to earn the $50, accepted her proposal.
Miranda brought with her to each interview, two friends, Brigitte Sire who was the photographer and Alfred her assistant, who was there to "protect them from rape". Brigitte the photographer, captured the other half of the story... in pictures. Candid type pictures of the person being interviewed, as well as their living environment, their calendars, and sometimes taking photos of the interviewees photographs, photo albums or scrapbooks.
The people she meets are fascinating. The author isn't afraid to ask questions... but does so in a way that is gentle, compassionate and understanding toward each individual's different set of circumstances. I feel like her personality, lent a great deal of weight towards each of these interviewees trusting her, opening up to her and revealing their inner selves. I found that with certain interviewees - I was left wanting more. I wanted to know even more about the people behind the items being sold in the PennySaver, just like the author did... view yet unseen.
There is a lot more to the book, than just the interviews and photographs. The author also asks the reader questions about how the internet is providing an alternate world, so to speak, in which people do not discover others who are different from them, in the same way anymore. She notes the affect that the internet has had on our generations new view of what 'reality' is... what our 'world' now has become for us. One we created.
The book, felt like a journey and at the end of it, I found my eyes watering at the beauty of people. The beauty of our differences, the beauty of our life's path but also the beauty of the end of life's path and how both meaningful and meaningless it all can be.
Highly, highly recommend this book!

One person found this helpful

HBall

This book is delightful. A must read for anyone procrastinating on a creative project

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

I love everything Miranda July touches. This book is just lovely and funny and inspiring. I can't wait to see the film that she was procrastinating!

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