Play Book Tag discussion

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - 4* - My Review

Published in 1995, I Who Have Never Known Men is a dystopian tale of the last human in a post-apocalyptic world. It follows an unnamed narrator, initially called “the Child,” who is imprisoned underground with thirty-nine older women for reasons never fully explained. The young woman has no memory of a life before imprisonment. This enforced detachment from society creates a vacuum in which the narrator must construct meaning. Little context is provided. Why are they imprisoned? Who are their captors? What happened to the world? Themes include isolation, survival, and identity.

The other prisoners remember the past but are reluctant to discuss their memories. The narrator is untethered from any cultural references, familial bonds, or even a concept of normalcy. She is constantly on an internal quest to understand her place in the world. It is intended (I presume) to put the reader into an uncomfortable position. It is a normal human tendency to desire explanation, so this lack of clarity puts the reader on par with the narrator. It examines the formation of a self-concept when all else is stripped away. It is very bleak and not a particularly pleasant read. It is one I can say I admired rather than enjoyed.

PBT Comments: This book is tagged summer x18. It is certainly not a "light-hearted summer read", so I'm assuming people read it during the summer months.

Very thoughtful review Joy, this sounds interesting.

Thanks, Nicole. It's definitely an interesting take on the feelings of a last human and not your typical dystopian novel.