3 'thrilling' novels about women breaking free in midlife

When Miranda July's novel All Fours was released last May, it generated enormous buzz for bringing to light the fears, desires and longings of a middle-aged woman — touching on themes of motherhood, marriage, sexuality and perimenopause. 

Canadian journalist Alicia Cox Thomson says it has sparked a positive trend in the literary world, bringing about discussions that tackle a topic and perspective once considered taboo — and she brought two books to the table that also feature women in middle age. 

"Some women might not be comfortable talking about it, some men might not want to hear it. I feel like with this full force, these books are about a real important point in a woman's life," said Thomson.

"Hopefully it'll normalize it, and then we'll start to see more — where the focus isn't 'This character is going through this,' it's just a book about a person who happens to be that age who might be experiencing that, but that's not the main point." 

On The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing, Thomson spoke about three literary novels that depict women in their midlife. 

All Fours by Miranda July

All Fours follows an unnamed artist in her mid-forties as she grapples with the breakdown of her marriage and the physical and emotional toils of perimenopause. She escapes on a road trip — leaving behind her husband and son, and gets involved in extramarital affairs. 

Miranda July is a writer, filmmaker and artist based in Los Angeles. Her previous works include the novel The First Bad Man and short story collection No One Belongs Here More Than You which won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. July's work has also been featured in The Paris Review, Harper's and The New Yorker,

Alicia Cox Thomson says: "I'm a writer, and I do find that when you become a mother, your priorities shift, rightfully so. Did I work as much on my craft when I was in the trenches with young children? 'No.' Have I tried to return to it now that they're older? 'Yes.' I do understand that struggle between your passion for your art, or your creative life, or your journey and your passion for your children."

The Change by Kirsten Miller

In The Change, three different women navigate the changes and challenges of mid-life. While they're each battling their own issues — marriage breakdowns, career shifts, empty nests and loss of loved ones, they're brought together through one woman's ability to hear from the dead, which leads them to solve a string of murders. 

Kristen Miller is an author who was born and raised in North Carolina, but now lives in Brooklyn, New York City. Her previous works include Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books which was a GMA Book Club pick and the YA series featuring Kiki Strike. 

Alicia Cox Thomson says: "It's like a juicy thriller that you just want to turn the pages. It's a thoughtful work about women and power and coming into your own. It is a powerful discussion of what happens to powerful, wealthy men who are finally pushed back against." 

The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer

The Mother Act depicts the tumultuous relationship between Sadie Jones, a famous actress and feminist, and her estranged daughter, Jude. Despite Sadie's fame from a one-woman show about motherhood, Jude has spent her life seeking validation from her mother.  Two decades later, when they meet at Sadie's play premiere, they explore whether it's possible to balance motherhood with career. 

Heidi Reimer is a writer based in northern Ontario. Her work has been featured in Chatelaine, The New Quarterly, Literary Mama and the anthologies The M Word: Conversations about Motherhood and Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers. Her debut novel is The Mother Act. 

Alicia Cox Thomson says: "This book is a real gut punch of thoughts about motherhood and sacrifice. Sadie, as an artist, abandons her daughter for the sake of her art. The heart of the controversy of her work is that, 'Should women who become mothers have to give up part of themselves because you became a mother, you can't just go and be an artist and travel the world.'" 

Alicia Cox Thomson's comments have been edited for length and clarity.