This has to be one of the most reactionary works I have read lately. The word feminist was associated with this book, and I was anticipating some impact along the way. However, I was massively disappointed. My bad. In the end, setting expectations aside, it never really took off. There were lots of interesting formations that seemed ready to fly splendidly but just crashed.

To be honest, the more I think about the book, my displeasure grows. I wanted to get it off my chest, especially after reading Earthlings by Sayaka Murata. It was an interesting connection as both books deal with the issue of conformity in very different ways and degrees of success.

Some parts of this book are beautifully written, with heartfelt moments here and there, and the mood is smoothly sustained. But the particularities are a mess and, beneath the surface, troubling. I understand the despair of being the last of a civilization, the tortured path each woman walked, and the years of imprisonment. But grouping and mixing the same despair with the impossibility of motherhood and being without a male partner is just crazy. Seriously? Let's just die without boyfriends? Okay, that's partially unfair, but it's really ridiculous to read that apparently women can only develop a meaningful connection with men and that relationships formed among women are just empty substitutes, both sexually and non-sexually. Apparently, gays and bisexuals don't really exist, and there's nothing to find without a heterosexual romantic/sexual relationship... nothing at all.

Just the able-bodied survive. I'm all in favor of euthanasia, and no one who wants to avoid terrible pain should be forced to endure it. But every time someone had a problem, it's better to die. Without men, there's no joy or comfort in creativity or a peaceful existence. Being alone is the worst that can happen. Yes, they do stuff around, but it's just meh. It gives the idea that the majority of these women had a dimmed intellect for unknown reasons, and yet they suffer an existential anguish that doesn't quite fit, and the simple pleasures of a simple mind are negated. I'm not expecting the heavenly utopia of some feminist SF, but just not this... poverty. I would find it equally ridiculous if it was about men instead of women.

I have to stop now because there are no more stars of rating to remove. I'm having trouble leaving just one, considering how some parts were described, like the never-spoiling-frozen-meat and how hard I laughed when the young girl recalls being told that only a penis can take your virginity away. After the laugh, part of the book's core is revealed.

Fun fact. It came to my mind the book The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa and how it achieved what I Who Have Never Known Men couldn't regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding the plot.

This book is truly incredible.

I embarked on this reading journey knowing next to nothing about it, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you do the same.

As you delve into its pages, you'll be met with an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

But it's not just the spooky elements that make this book remarkable. It's also incredibly thought-provoking, challenging you to question your beliefs and perspectives.

When I finished reading it, I just sat there, stunned by the impact it had on me.

This is one of the most quietly powerful books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, making you think and reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

If you're looking for a book that will both thrill and启迪 you, then this is the one for you.

I Who Have Never Known Men has been sitting on my shelf unread for nearly two years. I'm not sure why I kept postponing it. Maybe it's because sci-fi dystopian isn't my favorite genre, or perhaps it's because the cover is rather dull (my edition doesn't match the one on Goodreads).... But now I'm really kicking myself, because this has become my new favorite of the year.

One of the tags associated with the novel is Feminism, and that's true. However, in my opinion, this book is much more about humanity.

I felt a rush of grief, I, who have never known men, as I stood in front of this man who had wanted to overcome fear and despair to enter eternity upright and furious.

I think the author must be a nihilist because this book is extremely bleak. And that bleakness really spoke to me. I adored the desperation of the plot...humanity reduced to its most basic essence. The search for meaning but never finding it in the barren landscape.

But a blue sky does not die, it is I who am dying, who was already dying in the bunker...

The Child is truly fascinating. Her thoughts drove the narrative, but there was so much to infer between the lines. Harpman is the queen of "show, don't tell".

I will definitely reread this book, probably many times in the future. If you've been putting it off, don't. Pick it up and give it a try. Maybe it will stay in your mind just like it has in mine.

There is a person who cannot tolerate books that leave the reader without explanations. This kind of person has a strong desire for clarity and understanding. They believe that a good book should provide sufficient details and interpretations to help the reader fully grasp the content. Without clear explanations, they may feel frustrated and confused. This preference may stem from their intellectual curiosity and the need to explore and learn. They want to delve deep into the subject matter and gain a comprehensive understanding. For them, a book that fails to meet this requirement is like an incomplete puzzle, lacking the necessary pieces to form a complete picture. As a result, they are more likely to choose books that offer detailed explanations and analysis, rather than those that leave too much to the reader's imagination.

——

There is very little I think I can say about this book that was not already described by this review.

It truly is a masterclass in worldbuilding. The story gradually unfolds just enough from the protagonist's perspective to maintain a sense of suspense and curiosity. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, eager to discover what lies ahead.

As others have said, it is more of a thought experiment than a traditional narrative. It takes Plato's allegory of the cave and leads it in a different direction. Once you have left the cave, once you have been blinded by the newfound knowledge, what comes next? Where will your insatiable thirst for knowledge take you?

These are the questions that the book poses, making the reader reflect on the nature of knowledge, perception, and the human condition. It is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will leave a lasting impression.

Haunting, beautiful and poetic.

These words have the power to send shivers down one's spine and stir the deepest emotions within.

They tell the scribes that this was the cause of my existential crisis and insomnia.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Quotes

”Being beautiful, was that for men?” “Yes. Some women say that it is for ourselves. What on earth can we do with it? I could have loved myself whether I was hunchbacked or lame, but to be loved by others, you had to be beautiful.”

“Even a person raised in captivity learns to want, yearns to see beyond their cage. How much of our humanity is intrinsic? How much remains, when all else is stripped away?”

“I cannot mourn for what I have not known.”

“I was forced to acknowledge too late, much too late, that I too had loved, that I was capable of suffering, and that I was human after all.”

“This slow dissipation, the gradual abandonment of all expectations, a defeat that had killed everything without a battle.”

“Survival is never more than putting off the moment of death.”

“Perhaps you never have time when you are alone? You only acquire it by watching it go by in others.”

These quotes touch on profound themes such as beauty, love, humanity, and the meaning of life. They make us question our assumptions and beliefs, and force us to look within ourselves.

They are a reminder that life is complex and often full of pain, but also that there is beauty and hope to be found even in the darkest of times.

She might just as well have written about a leaf gently blowing in the damn wind.

The image of a solitary leaf, tossed and turned by the capricious breeze, is a powerful one. It represents the fragility and transience of life, constantly at the mercy of forces beyond its control.

When she chooses to write about this simple yet profound scene, she is perhaps exploring the themes of fate, chance, and the insignificance of the individual in the grand scheme of things.

The use of the word "damn" adds a touch of frustration or resignation, as if the writer is感叹ing the futility of trying to make sense of the world around us.

In this way, her description of the leaf blowing in the wind becomes a metaphor for the human experience, filled with both beauty and sadness.

That might be the single greatest, most traumatizing last sentence in a book that I have ever read. It leaves me with a profound sense of shock and unease. The simplicity of the words belies the depth of emotion they convey.

The title, "God, I wish that were me…", seems to hint at a longing or a desire for something that is not quite attainable. It makes me wonder what the context is and what led to this wish.

The content, "God, I’m so happy that’s not me", on the other hand, provides a stark contrast. It implies a sense of relief or gratitude for not being in a particular situation. But what is that situation?

Together, these elements create a powerful and thought-provoking piece that makes me reflect on my own life and the choices I have made. It makes me question what I truly desire and whether I am grateful for what I have.

This one completely sucked me in. The constant foreshadowing of the main character made it almost thrilling to read. The blunt language added an interesting touch. It's a beautiful short book that grapples with profound questions. What does it mean to be free? Who are we when we have no ties? How do we hold on to hope?

However, one thing that made me uncomfortable was its treatment of femininity. The narrator has a deep fascination with men and sex, as the title suggests. I think the narrator's thoughts and view of life were shaped by the 39 women around her. They lived traditional lives as housewives and saw romantic love as the highest achievement. As a result, there is a big focus on the reproductive function of women as being useful in life.

The narrator says, "I think that time must have something to do with the duration of pregnancy, the growth of children, all those things that I haven't experienced."

Even though the narrator is the most human with the questions she grapples with and the hope she feels, she still feels less human because she can't do what she's told women are supposed to do. She literally mentions thoughts about the 'womb shrivelling up' due to the lack of male incentive. Is the author trying to show how patriarchy can brainwash us, or are these backwards views her own? I'm not sure, but I love a book that makes me think a little. Since this book is often marketed as feminist, I'm inclined to think the former.

If you need me,

I’ll be staring at a blank wall for the next 4 - 6 hours.

Holy shit.

It's truly an absurd situation. I don't know why I have to spend such a long time just looking at a blank wall.

Maybe there's some kind of task or thought process that requires this strange form of concentration.

But it feels so odd and almost mind-numbing.

Staring at that blank expanse for hours on end, my mind might start to wander.

I could be thinking about all sorts of random things.

Or maybe I'll try to find some meaning or pattern in the emptiness of the wall.

Who knows what will happen during these 4 - 6 hours?

It's a rather peculiar and somewhat frustrating experience.

But here I am, committed to this strange activity for the time being.

I who have never been more confused.

In this complex and ever-changing world, I find myself in a state of utter confusion.

The choices before me seem endless, and I am at a loss as to which path to take.

Every decision feels like a gamble, with unknown consequences lurking around the corner.

I look around, hoping to find some sort of guidance or inspiration, but all I see is a blur of uncertainty.

My mind is filled with a jumble of thoughts and emotions, making it difficult to think clearly.

I question my abilities, my goals, and my very existence.

But despite this confusion, there is a small glimmer of hope within me.

I know that I must push through this difficult time and find my way.

I will continue to search for answers, to learn from my mistakes, and to grow as a person.

Maybe one day, the confusion will lift, and I will see clearly the path that lies ahead.