I Who Have Never Known Men
Author: Jacqueline Harpman
Translated by: Ros Schwartz
Published by: Penguin Vintage Editions
Pages: 188
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★1/2
Translated by: Ros Schwartz
Published by: Penguin Vintage Editions
Pages: 188
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★1/2
Deep underground, thirty-nine women are kept in isolation in a cage. Above ground, a world awaits. Has it been abandoned? Devastated by a virus? Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only vague recollections of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl – the fortieth prisoner – sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others’ escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground. The woman who will never know men.
Deep underground, thirty-nine women are kept in isolation in a cage. Above ground, a world awaits. Has it been abandoned? Devastated by a virus? Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only vague recollections of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl – the fortieth prisoner – sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others’ escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground. The woman who will never know men.
My thoughts:
Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men is an eerie, contemplative novel that delves into themes of isolation, survival, and the essence of humanity. While it’s a challenging read both in its tone and subject matter, it also offers a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after the final page.
The story follows a nameless narrator, a young woman imprisoned with thirty-nine others in a barren, underground room. The mystery of their confinement—why they are there and who their captors are—remains unsolved, creating an oppressive sense of uncertainty that permeates the novel. When an unexpected turn of events grants the women freedom, the narrator embarks on a journey through a desolate, uninhabited world, exploring her physical and emotional limits while reflecting on life, memory, and existence itself.
Harpman’s prose is spare yet poetic, capturing the bleakness of the narrator’s world while illuminating moments of fragile beauty. The narrator’s voice is compelling, and her reflections raise deep philosophical questions about individuality, relationships, and what it means to be human when stripped of society and history.
However, the book’s bleakness may not resonate with all readers. Its sparse details and refusal to provide answers can be both its strength and its frustration. During our book club discussion, it became apparent how polarizing the story could be. Some admired its daring exploration of existential themes, while others found the ambiguity and hopelessness hard to connect with.
Ultimately, I Who Have Never Known Men is a novel for readers who are willing to embrace its starkness and dive into the unsettling questions it raises. While its heavy atmosphere and lack of resolution may deter some, those who appreciate literary fiction that challenges and provokes will find it a deeply rewarding experience.
If you’re looking for a book that is equal parts haunting and meditative, and don’t mind grappling with difficult subject matter, this might be the novel for you.
Overall reaction:
Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men is an eerie, contemplative novel that delves into themes of isolation, survival, and the essence of humanity. While it’s a challenging read both in its tone and subject matter, it also offers a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after the final page.
The story follows a nameless narrator, a young woman imprisoned with thirty-nine others in a barren, underground room. The mystery of their confinement—why they are there and who their captors are—remains unsolved, creating an oppressive sense of uncertainty that permeates the novel. When an unexpected turn of events grants the women freedom, the narrator embarks on a journey through a desolate, uninhabited world, exploring her physical and emotional limits while reflecting on life, memory, and existence itself.
Harpman’s prose is spare yet poetic, capturing the bleakness of the narrator’s world while illuminating moments of fragile beauty. The narrator’s voice is compelling, and her reflections raise deep philosophical questions about individuality, relationships, and what it means to be human when stripped of society and history.
However, the book’s bleakness may not resonate with all readers. Its sparse details and refusal to provide answers can be both its strength and its frustration. During our book club discussion, it became apparent how polarizing the story could be. Some admired its daring exploration of existential themes, while others found the ambiguity and hopelessness hard to connect with.
Ultimately, I Who Have Never Known Men is a novel for readers who are willing to embrace its starkness and dive into the unsettling questions it raises. While its heavy atmosphere and lack of resolution may deter some, those who appreciate literary fiction that challenges and provokes will find it a deeply rewarding experience.
If you’re looking for a book that is equal parts haunting and meditative, and don’t mind grappling with difficult subject matter, this might be the novel for you.
Overall reaction: