I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

4.24 AVERAGE

bookwyrmbutch's profile picture

bookwyrmbutch's review against another edition

5.0
There are no chapters. This book is one steady, pensive plod to the end, which expertly reflects the characters' lives. It made me feel like I have a hole in my chest. It's about grief, loneliness, and confusion. No questions are answered, which is kind of frustrating because I'm fascinated by the world, but the book is definitely better for it. This book joins a small category of others that I can only describe as quiet.

shandrea13's review against another edition

4.25
emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix

leesgordgeous's review against another edition

4.25
challenging dark reflective fast-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

emmylock's review against another edition

4.0
dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
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chloelamorna's review against another edition

4.0
challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
Eerie and deeply retrospective with such a unique narrator's voice. The story frankly isn't much, but it is entertaining - you're kept reading by the same hope of the protagonist. An excellent book to go back, reread, and write an essay on.

It's very open from the start that you will not find answers in this book. It is 188 pages of musing on paper one's thoughts on love, society, and feeling othered your entire existence. 

katieness's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark mysterious medium-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
Incredible book that really challenges you and leaves you thinking 
perusal's profile picture

perusal's review against another edition

5.0
dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Impossible to put down. 

dreamotters's review against another edition

4.5
challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

miaaglieco's review against another edition

4.0
A very interesting concept and kept my attention the whole time, will be thinking of questions about this for a while 

thechrissomers's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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