I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - Review

A review of "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman.
"As far back as I can recall, I have been in the bunker."
A young woman is kept in a cage underground with thirty-nine other females, guarded by armed men who never speak; her crimes unremembered... if indeed there were crimes.
The youngest of forty-a child with no name and no past-she survives for some purpose long forgotten in a world ravaged and wasted. In this reality where intimacy is forbidden-in the unrelenting sameness of the artificial days and nights-she knows nothing of books and time, of needs and feelings.
Then everything changes... and nothing changes.
A young woman who has never known men-a child who knows of no history before the bars and restraints-must now reinvent herself, piece by piece, in a place she has never been... and in the face of the most challenging and terrifying of unknowns: freedom.

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

I just finished this and it’s up there as a top read this year. I feel like the way Harpman wrote this is just genius leaving all the questions. We all have to use our imagination.

[@jaimee-kate]

Just finished it and while of course I wish I would have gotten a few more answers, the lack of them really add the entire existential message. This book was Camus' 'The Stranger' mixed with 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia E Butler. I really liked it, but I was not prepared to experience such existential terror!

[@Sharonreadsbooks]

Waiting to get this from the library so thanks for the heads up about the foreword and your spoilers. I’ll come back to hear your thoughts once I’ve read it.

[@AnnNovella]

I hope they will publish her other novels too. All the books I read by her are stellar.

[@RSelcov]

I'll get back to this one after I've read the book.

[@judybrown1624]

I loved the book. I'm someone who is almost always willing to write my own ending with the crumbs I'm given.

[@AnnNovella]

Have you ever read The Wall by Marlen Haushofer?

[@rororeads]

I haven’t. I’ll look it up :)

[@toddwonders4054]

I'll tread lightly to avoid spoilers as people may have not read the book or seen your video before reading this. I just finished the book, and while wrestling with my own thoughts, a realization struck me. The missing details you mentioned in your video, the ones you'd typically expect in this kind of story, might be due to the narrator's perspective. Given her background, do you think she has the empathy to see those interpersonal nuances of the other women as they cope? It's hard to say, and considering this is a personal account, if she didn't have those skills, I can excuse their absence. Probably a bit of a gimmick, but it helped settle some of my dislikes. Enjoyed your video and commentary and I hope you get some rest!!

[@rororeads]

I think you might be right! :)

[@mandab4245]

are you planning to read the women’s prize longlist?

[@rororeads]

Due to work life balance I won’t be able to read the women’s prize long list…but I’m hoping read the entire shortlist when it’s announced:)