Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Yo que nunca supe de los hombres

Wow. What a strange and compelling book. And so vaguely spooky too. This is a speculative fiction/sci-fi about a young woman who grows up as a captive in a bunker with thirty-nine other women. Her story begins with her coming-of-age, but really picks up when she and the other women finally escape the bunker in search of answers to why they’ve been held captive for so many years. They never do find answers. In fact, every new discovery just brings up more questions. But the book isn’t about the rules of their world. It’s more of a think-piece, interested in asking existential questions. What do things like death, time, or love mean for someone who doesn’t experience a normal human existence? What happens to a person if there’s no one left to remember them? What does womanhood mean to a woman who has never known men? I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

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vivisms_82's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Only a small book but it packs a thought provoking, philosophical punch. The subject matter is definitely not a cheery, summer read! It is bleak and heavy at times. I guess, for me, it is a tale of the highest oppression; a world where sensory deprivation and social interaction is forbidden; basic education is no longer, zero privacy (no toileting or washing alone), living in constant fear of violence under the watch of guards. For our main character (who is nameless) we see the impact of all this on her as a human that knows no differently. We begin with her as a child among adult women - no men are imprisoned however the guards are male. I found this deeply reflective on the human experience. Thought it was terrific and not sure why it's not as well known in the English speaking world. I keep thinking about it weeks after finishing it. This book has been described as one that explores loneliness and survival. For me, it's also about our need for connection to the people we share our world with and the need to make sense of the world we live in. It's about how our world, the people in our circle and life experience shape our view and sense of self. This book will make you question how devastating it can be when the human experience we know has been stripped away and our senses, brains and souls aren't nourished, stimulated or challenged.

** note: If you are one of those people that require answers to all your questions then this is not for you. And I think that (at least for me) only strengthens the story.

Our protagonist gets her information from the women that are all older than her. Not from experiencing anything first hand or learning from a book, tv, internet etc. So once they escape, her view of her world is largely shaped by these 39 women - and their varying opinions, and of their own faded memories and experiences of pre oppressive, imprisoned life. They have not forgotten the violence and that is what makes them so obedient. But their memories pre-imprisonment is vastly lost. My point is, we the reader don't get further answers because our protagonist doesn't know them. That, for me, is what made this book so terrific - no explanation of why she and all the other people were in cells, of their world before or where they are now - is this earth in the future? Is this another planet? A parallel universe? Where is everyone? By not having these questions answered, we are forced to see this world and horrible human experience through this girl's eyes - a girl that knows no different. Truly masterful.

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hoopoebird's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

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bookmuva's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

IT’S COMPLICATED

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aly97's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

elliv's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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adoptedbuttons's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I have never read anything like this book. From beginning to end, I was enthralled by the story. Humanity is reflected in the main character. There are many moments in this book where the narrator describes a common, "normal" human reaction or realization, without realizing it is normal, like her distaste for touching people, or her disconnection to the world she lives in. I love how the author doubled back to "explain" certain aspects. I imagined someone, just like her, stumbling upon her story, and feeling understood. so just ya read it

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avilareads's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

a uniquely feminine take on hopelessness in a post-dystopian world that seems endless and vacant. as someone who adores mccarthy’s the road, this novel is a masterclass on writing.

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