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renegades 's review for:
I Who Have Never Known Men
by Jacqueline Harpman
This is a short book along the lines of the Handmaid’s Tale and other dystopian, post-apocalyptic stories about women that are poignant in how harrowing and realistic they are. It is depressing and bleak and the stark and sparse writing effectively conveys the futility of the protagonist’s world and situation. It didn’t make me enjoy it or the narrator much, though.
I think overall I didn’t love this book. Much of it feels well-trodden and not particularly novel in insight or musings. Granted this book was written in the 90s, so part of that isn’t the author’s fault—by now so many other books HAVE explored similar themes and topics that this one doesn’t add a ton more.
The philosophical and bleak last few chapters I think were the most interesting part. For me, the book ends better (more interesting) than it begins. I love post-apocalyptic fiction, but I think I’ve learned I don’t like when they’re devoid of hope. It’s just such a depressing drag otherwise.
I appreciated the discussion of the book and its intentions in the afterword though—I wish more books had analysis at the end!
I think overall I didn’t love this book. Much of it feels well-trodden and not particularly novel in insight or musings. Granted this book was written in the 90s, so part of that isn’t the author’s fault—by now so many other books HAVE explored similar themes and topics that this one doesn’t add a ton more.
The philosophical and bleak last few chapters I think were the most interesting part. For me, the book ends better (more interesting) than it begins. I love post-apocalyptic fiction, but I think I’ve learned I don’t like when they’re devoid of hope. It’s just such a depressing drag otherwise.
I appreciated the discussion of the book and its intentions in the afterword though—I wish more books had analysis at the end!