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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

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
Funny bits aren't very funny. The characters are unbelievable. The mid-book lurch to middle-aged bildungsroman left me cold. I am making it sound worse than it is.

Mediocre

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loved it. hilarious and shocking and heart breaking in equal measures. will vertainly listen again

awesome

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Maybe not for everyone, but I was sucked in from the beginning. complex and interesting characters bizarre yet relatable, I so wanted to hug the main character and take away her loneliness.

beautifully read by the author helped form and sustain the bond between character, writer and reader.

loved it. x

A different life

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I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The narration was perfect, the inner dialogue of the characters that Miranda concocted are mindbendingly funny and a brilliant commentary on the Human psyche.

Funny, disturbing and most excellent

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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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