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bubblybelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
this book left me with so many questions and an existential crisis
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage and Dementia
now_booking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was an interesting and unique exploration of what it might be like to come of age in a world completely without the trappings of culture, history, familial and social baggage and of course, men. Yet, despite the title, this is not a criticism or analysis of gender norms or an argument against the patriarchy. Indeed, my reading of “(not having ever) known men” is that the the nameless heroine may not only be referring to the male race even though that’s literally how she frames it and thinks about it, but figuratively (or synecdochically), in a broader sense, she refers to not ever having known “man” or the human race and all its trappings. For the heroine, raised in captivity, in a planet that might be earth or not at a time that might be contemporary or futuristic, conditioned to avoid human touch, raised without a name, without a fixation on identity or appearance or privacy, without understanding love or connection, no concept of time or seasons or of life or death, or art or history or the scope of the world or the universe, she has to find her own meaning to human existence, craft her own understanding of community and society and the vagaries of human behaviour, of time and body, sexuality and society.
In this coming of age tale, the heroine who spends much of her life isolated recounts her story as she remembers it perhaps pursuing the natural human instinct to be acknowledged to have existed at some time in history. Because of the unique way the heroine was raised (or raised herself), she’s not given to much emotion, so this feels like a very detached recounting of what is simultaneously and extraordinary and mundane existence. It’s not at all an exciting book but it is one that keeps you going even if just in the hopes that you’ll learn along with the protagonist where she and the 39 other women were kidnapped and taken to and for what reason.
I overall thought this was really unique and different and I’m glad I read it but I’m not passionate about it. I thought there was very little “so what” about having never known men. Towards the end, the author tried to make some inferences that are beautifully written but they never quite landed in elaborating on “the point”. This felt somewhat experimental for experiments sake and I wish the author had gone a little further with this. I recommend reading this if you’re looking for something quiet and uneventful, thought-provoking, and slightly disturbing (and sad).
In this coming of age tale, the heroine who spends much of her life isolated recounts her story as she remembers it perhaps pursuing the natural human instinct to be acknowledged to have existed at some time in history. Because of the unique way the heroine was raised (or raised herself), she’s not given to much emotion, so this feels like a very detached recounting of what is simultaneously and extraordinary and mundane existence. It’s not at all an exciting book but it is one that keeps you going even if just in the hopes that you’ll learn along with the protagonist where she and the 39 other women were kidnapped and taken to and for what reason.
I overall thought this was really unique and different and I’m glad I read it but I’m not passionate about it. I thought there was very little “so what” about having never known men. Towards the end, the author tried to make some inferences that are beautifully written but they never quite landed in elaborating on “the point”. This felt somewhat experimental for experiments sake and I wish the author had gone a little further with this. I recommend reading this if you’re looking for something quiet and uneventful, thought-provoking, and slightly disturbing (and sad).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Toxic relationship
poirot's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol
embattista13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book did not go in the direction I originally thought it would, and I'm so glad that was the case. The story isn't written to solve its mysteries, it actually adds more questions that will never be answered. This slightly frustrated me at first. Until I realized that "solving the mystery" wasn't the point of the story. The point was to explore how humans may deal with a situation where they're unable to solve the mystery, how they may or may not find purpose in life in response, and how they may find themselves in all the confusion (especially the main character).
The way Harpman writes is so enchanting, there are many ups and downs in the story, mellow and slow parts and exciting parts, and I felt as if I was along for the ride the entire time. When the main character was feeling hopeless, excited, or tied down, I too felt that way. You almost feel like you're grieving, reacting, and coping with the experience alongside the 40 women. There are also many reflective moments that moved me and were quite thought-provoking.
If you have the chance, please read this book!! It's not the most energetic novel, but it's such a good read and definitely worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Cancer and Murder
clovetra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this was heartbreaking. to begin with, i wasn’t sold on this book, but the more i read, the more i became invested and felt both melancholy and serenity.
i really can’t explain why this book enthralled me so much. the writing was superb, but although the protagonist lacked characterisation beyond her motivations, i was rooting for her.
usually when i review a book or contemplate my thoughts surrounding it, i like to break down my thoughts based on the writing, the plot, the characters, and how it made me feel emotionally. but this book is the first that is difficult to explain why it evoked such deep emotions in me. maybe because i can relate to the protagonist, who feels as though she is meandering her whole life. maybe it’s because i wanted to see if she would find civilisation, and how the book ends. or maybe this book is enigmatic and truly sits in its own field. i can’t say a single book ive read comes close to this one in terms of its plot & deeper themes. it is in a genre of its own, floating around on bookshelves, just like the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Excrement, Medical content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
sparklerat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
vixie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Terminal illness
lit_as_fakh's review against another edition
dark
reflective
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
acgeorge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Grief
allisoncdn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’m afraid that I did not really enjoy this much. I was expecting answers at some point of the book and felt disappointed.
I liked the questions about what makes us humans, but the plot was almost non existent.
I got bored a couple of times because not much happens and the side characters are really flat. The writing is beautiful though!
I liked the questions about what makes us humans, but the plot was almost non existent.
I got bored a couple of times because not much happens and the side characters are really flat. The writing is beautiful though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
Minor: Torture and Grief