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

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I who have never known a book like this. I think this one might end up in my top 5 for the year. It's so odd and yet totally stunning. The afterword says, "The prose is cool water. Its images are lonely, weird, sometimes horrific, and always arresting" - and this is exactly right. I am not even sure I grasped the entire message, but it made me feel so deeply. It's eerie and dystopian. It's loneliness, despair, complete hopelessness, and a wild look at the meaning of life. I am not sure if there were any happy moments or times when I felt like it was heading somewhere good. The ending is everything you expect, but absolutely nothing you want, and I am full of questions. Something about its vibes reminded me of "Leave the World Behind." Its other-worldly environment completely mystified me. I was sucked in from start to finish, and I love a sad book that leaves me longing to pick it back up and re-read it immediately.