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A review by sha
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This was one of the bleakest books I’ve ever read. It throws you into a strange, dystopian world with no context and offers very few answers along the way. The atmosphere is definitely eerie and mysterious, and it kept me intrigued for a while—but after a point, the lack of plot and character depth made it hard to stay fully interested.
There isn’t much in the way of emotional connection between the characters, and since nothing is really revealed by the end, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. That said, the book’s haunting tone and the constant sense of unease are very effective, and it’s definitely a unique experience. Just don’t go into it expecting resolution or a big payoff.
There isn’t much in the way of emotional connection between the characters, and since nothing is really revealed by the end, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. That said, the book’s haunting tone and the constant sense of unease are very effective, and it’s definitely a unique experience. Just don’t go into it expecting resolution or a big payoff.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment