Scan barcode
A review by zaiphon
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am on the fence with this one. I can definitely understand why this is considered a great piece of fiction and recommended as should be classic or a "everyone should read this".
I think the problem for me is that my mind kept slipping from the thought provoking topics to imagining this as a sci-fy thriller and desperate to have figured out what was happening in these bunkers. In theory, I guess that is another human trait - the desire to know and understanding.
As you read further into the story (which is told from our nameless narrator's recounts of her life caged with 39 other women), it asks the reader to look into what it means to be a human. To have lived, loved, had purpose - and to have known men. There was a lot of symbolism and interesting takes on feminity that had me questioning what exactly defines a woman. Man. Human.
An interesting read overall.
I think the problem for me is that my mind kept slipping from the thought provoking topics to imagining this as a sci-fy thriller and desperate to have figured out what was happening in these bunkers. In theory, I guess that is another human trait - the desire to know and understanding.
As you read further into the story (which is told from our nameless narrator's recounts of her life caged with 39 other women), it asks the reader to look into what it means to be a human. To have lived, loved, had purpose - and to have known men. There was a lot of symbolism and interesting takes on feminity that had me questioning what exactly defines a woman. Man. Human.
An interesting read overall.