Hot Girl Scribe

“As far back as I can recall, I have been in the bunker. Is that what they mean by memories?”

-I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman

Summary

The story follows one of 39 women held captive in an underground bunker in an unknown world. None of the women know how they got here or why they are being held as prisoners. The male guards that parole the bunker do not speak. The women are under surveillance 24/7.

The main character is the youngest of the group and, unlike her older cellmates, has no recollection of her life before the bunker. She frequently feels like an outsider and must rely on her cell mates for any information about the outside world, as her cellmates are her only vessel to understand any concepts outside of the bunker.

One day, everything changes, and an unprecedented event allows the women to escape from the bunker. The women are forced to grapple with this new, strange world and find their place within it. The story follows the women as they navigate through an unknown wilderness in a world void of men. They must work together to survive and build their new lives from scratch.

About The Author

Jacquline Harpman was a Belgian writer born in 1929. She first began writing in 1954 after her attempts to become a doctor were interrupted by a tuberculosis infection.

Harpman first published I Who Have Never Known Men in 1995. The book was initially published in French as Moi Qui N’ai Pas Connu les Hommes and was later translated into English in 1997.

A certified psychoanalyst with an educational background in French literature, Harpman approached her literary projects from multiple angles, creating a dynamic and smart interpretation of her philosophical ideals.

Themes

While I Who Have Never Known Men is very short, it squeezes so many philosophical questions and feminist ideas into 188 pages. Harpman’s novel is equally psychological and philosophical.

The novel explores absurdism in a beak and, at times, in a hopeless way. For this reason, fans of Albert Camus, in particular, may enjoy this book.

The story also examines girlhood, womanhood, and the camaraderie between women. The feminist ideals explored in this novel would be of interest to fans of Margaret Atwood and Ursula K Le Guin.

I Who Have Never Known Men is a story of survival and community. It examines ideas centered around existentialism, suffering, and what it means to be truly free. Whether you’re interested in absurdism, existentialism, or feminist theories, I Who Have Never Known Men has something to offer everyone.

My Review of I Who Have Never Known Men

I Who Have Never Known Men is the easiest 5-star rating I’ve ever given. This story is, without a doubt, the best book I’ve read this year and possibly the best book I’ve ever read.

Jacqueline Harpman did such a fantastic job in her world-building. Not one bit of the exposition feels in your face, and Harpman was very calculated in what information she chose to share about the setting. She found the perfect balance between world-building and leaving a mystery for the reader to wonder about.

The protagonist is fascinating and relatable, and her character development is top-tier. By the end of the story, I felt utterly invested in the main character and her journey.

If you’re looking for a light read, this might not be the choice for you, but if you’re like me and enjoy reading content that will rearrange your brain cells permanently and consume your thoughts for weeks, this may be the book for you.

Have you read this novel? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear what others have to say about it. If you’re interested in additional dystopian book recommendations, check out my Top 5 Dystopian Novels of All Time list.