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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This was easy and fast read – you want to know more. However, in the end, I feel as if womanhood is condensed into having a womb and being a mother. Even though the book was published in 1995 and this pretty much sums up the feminism at the time, I was still disappointed.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don’t know if I can review this book in a way that fully encompasses my feelings about it, mostly because I haven’t even started sorting through the mess of them to begin with. This was heart-rending in its injustice, the unimaginable cruelty inflicted on these characters, and on our main character specifically, felt so barbaric in a way that, sadly, isn’t entirely unbelievable in the world we live in today. The complete helplessness of the women was contagious, I don’t know if claustrophobia is a feeling that people feel often as they read this book, but I found myself experiencing it over and over as our characters kept going and going with no relief in sight.
Normally, I’d say that a book that refuses to elaborate on its various mysteries and intricacies is at best frustrating, and at worst badly written, but I don’t feel this with I Who Have Never Known Men. I think the mystery, and the complete nonsensical reasoning (whatever it may be) behind these people’s imprisonment serves to make us feel just as lost and confused as the main character, and the author/translator did magnificently in carrying that feeling over.
One last note about the main character: she was a perfect vessel for this story. Her detachment from our world contrasted so perfectly with the sorrow of the women as they lamented their losses. Her entire life felt like one giant tragedy unfolding bit by bit, with the unique characteristic of her unawareness of the scope of that tragedy. It’s so utterly brilliant, and so deeply heartbreaking.
4.5/5 stars
Normally, I’d say that a book that refuses to elaborate on its various mysteries and intricacies is at best frustrating, and at worst badly written, but I don’t feel this with I Who Have Never Known Men. I think the mystery, and the complete nonsensical reasoning (whatever it may be) behind these people’s imprisonment serves to make us feel just as lost and confused as the main character, and the author/translator did magnificently in carrying that feeling over.
One last note about the main character: she was a perfect vessel for this story. Her detachment from our world contrasted so perfectly with the sorrow of the women as they lamented their losses. Her entire life felt like one giant tragedy unfolding bit by bit, with the unique characteristic of her unawareness of the scope of that tragedy. It’s so utterly brilliant, and so deeply heartbreaking.
4.5/5 stars
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
tense
I typically don’t read science fiction, but this was recommended to me by a friend. What an interesting timeline! I listened to it as an audiobook, so I feel like it was a little harder for me to grasp what was going on at first. Definitely not a happy ending, but I really really appreciate the afterword!
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated