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A review by knkoch
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fascinating, mysterious, conceptual book I could picture so vividly. The prose was remarkably spare, clear, and smooth, which immersed me inside the unusual speculative story. It worked well that I went in knowing nothing, as I couldn’t really predict each new development.
This reminded me of Jesse Jacobs’ graphic novels in that there were no references, allusions, adornments, or distractions from the premise. It’s pared down to ideas, applied to a specific scenario, and it’s open-ended and rich enough to lead thought in many directions. I imagine rereading could be fruitful.
The afterword in this edition was really interesting, and learning a bit about Harpman’s life gave potential context to certain setup choices. But overall, I liked how enigmatic this was and enjoyed where it led my thinking.
This reminded me of Jesse Jacobs’ graphic novels in that there were no references, allusions, adornments, or distractions from the premise. It’s pared down to ideas, applied to a specific scenario, and it’s open-ended and rich enough to lead thought in many directions. I imagine rereading could be fruitful.
The afterword in this edition was really interesting, and learning a bit about Harpman’s life gave potential context to certain setup choices. But overall, I liked how enigmatic this was and enjoyed where it led my thinking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death