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

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

4.5

I’m not sure how a book can be so bleak and yet so hopeful. I absolutely flew through this novel as the writing is so beautiful, even when Harpman is writing about heartbreaking things. I really recommend the audio read by Sarah Lambie, as her performance is excellent. You will not find answers to your questions or why these things happened to these women, but instead you are given a lyrical and contemplative reflection on aging, sisterhood, survival, and going on. I don’t know if you can say you necessarily enjoy a book with so much sorrow, but I cannot stop thinking about it 
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