A review by faehriss
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely stunning piece of literature, which is only enriched after learning the context of Jacqueline Harpman being the child of a family fleeing from the Nazi's in WW2. Spoilers of overarching plot in relation to authorial context:
The way the MC grows up knowing only of life in confinement and spends her whole life trying to make sense of her imprisonment only to find no answers that make any of it make sense is a beautiful parallel to the real life experiences of many and is handled in a truly sensitive and exceptional manner here.
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