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

dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I Who Have Never Known Men manages to be, at times, both deeply depressing yet hopeful. The nameless main character brings in a unique perspective to the strange world she lives in, given it's the only one she's ever known. Though some themes, such as her aversion to touch or her unexplained heritage, could be explored further, her relationships to the other women make for an interesting enough journey in this rather short book. 

Though I am typically not a fan of mysteries that remain unsolved, I could see why the protagonist's journey was the main focus all along. Watching her discover the most mundane things about the world that came before, if she even is on that same world, and marvel at books, regardless of their content, simply because she's never had them, was delightful. 

Yet still, I wish there had been at least one or two more hints as to what had happened to the world, or at the very least how come electricity in the bunkers remained working. Leaving the desolated characters with decades worth of perfectly well-preserved food, whereas every other luxury, such as toilets, furniture or housing, had to be built from scratch, showing off the versatility and resourcefulness of the forty women, seemed like an odd choice for this story.
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