An enigmatic book,

haunting and mysterious, yet ultimately frustratingly open-ended.

If you're the sort of reader who requires everything to be neatly tied up and explained by the conclusion, then it's advisable to step away now.

We have no clue as to why these women have been imprisoned in a bunker,

who their male guards are,

why the siren blares,

what has transpired in the outside world,

or even if they're still on Earth.

What commences with a dystopian atmosphere evolves into a kind of existentialist musing as 'the girl', our unnamed narrator, potentially becomes the only woman remaining alive.

Devoid of companions or much purpose aside from simply staying alive in her seemingly threatless existence, the book poses the question: what is human life?

Ultimately, it leans more towards 'Waiting for Godot' than 'The Handmaid's Tale'.

I found this strangely captivating.

I award it 3.5 stars as I would have preferred a bit more substance to engage with.

Such an exceptional novel! I have never read anything like it. It's a captivating and mysterious piece of work. Is it a dystopian story? Well, not necessarily. The setting seems to be in a world that is both strange and unfamiliar. Is Earth the planet where the story takes place? Probably not, but you can't establish that for sure. Our protagonist, Child, was raised from childhood onwards locked-up in an underground cage with thirty-nine women. She has no knowledge of life beyond the cage. It's truly remarkable that she is there alive and well, supposedly only by pure accident. The women are closely observed by guards who snap whips but never physically mistreat them. By sheer incidental luck, the women can escape to the world above after at least fifteen years of imprisonment. It's devastating to read that they only find numerous cages wherever they go, all holding thirty-nine dead people, both women and male. They were obviously the only lucky ones.

The author, Jacqueline Harpman, must have been an extraordinary woman. I cannot phantom how she could so realistically imagine what would develop in the mind of a youngster who is experiencing the world without bars for the first time in her life. The way she portrays Child's journey of discovery and confusion is truly masterful.

What a special story this is! It is odd that it is not devastating to read, just very alien. This novel proved to be so dissimilar to any novel I ever read. It makes you think about the nature of freedom, confinement, and the human spirit. It's a thought-provoking and unique work that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

I'm truly shocked to be awarding this a mere 1 star. Honestly, I had firmly believed it was going to be a 5-star masterpiece, so my disappointment is palpable. The principal reason for this 1-star rating is that, quite literally, the story led nowhere. The same events repeated themselves ad nauseam. There was no fresh content, and the plot was all but nonexistent. It simply meandered without direction. Just because the writing contains philosophical elements, am I expected to overlook this glaring flaw? In all honesty, I don't think this is worth picking up at all.

It's a real pity as I had such high hopes initially. But alas, it failed to deliver on the most fundamental aspect of a good story - a coherent and engaging plot.

I would not recommend this to others looking for a captivating read. It's a prime example of how good writing alone cannot salvage a lackluster narrative.

1 star.

The actual rating of this product/service is 3.5 stars. This rating indicates that it has received a relatively good evaluation overall. However, it also suggests that there is still room for improvement.

Perhaps there are some aspects that did not quite meet the expectations of the customers. It could be the quality, performance, or even the customer service.

To enhance the rating and gain more satisfied customers, the provider should carefully analyze the feedback and identify the areas that need attention.

They could consider making improvements in product features, ensuring better quality control, or training their staff to provide more efficient and friendly service.

By taking these steps, they have the potential to increase the actual rating and build a stronger reputation in the market.

Title: Yearning to Return to a Time When That Sentiment Held True at Least Once a Day

In our modern and often chaotic lives, we find ourselves constantly longing for something more. There is a deep yearning within us to return to a time when a particular sentiment held true at least once a day.

Perhaps it was a time of pure joy, when the simplest of things could bring a smile to our faces. Maybe it was a period of contentment, where we felt at peace with ourselves and the world around us.

We remember those moments with a sense of nostalgia, as if they were precious gems that have been lost in the sands of time.

But rather than simply longing for the past, we can strive to recapture that sentiment in our present lives. We can make a conscious effort to seek out the things that bring us joy and contentment, and to cherish those moments when they occur.

By doing so, we can create our own little pockets of happiness in an otherwise busy and sometimes overwhelming world. And who knows, perhaps one day we will look back on our present lives with the same sense of longing and nostalgia, knowing that we made the most of every moment.

I was compelled to admit, far too late, far too belatedly, that I too had loved, that I was capable of enduring pain, and that I was, after all, human.

Viscerally disturbing, yet elegant and dignified. It is even superior to The Handmaid’s Tale.

This is the most haunting and thought-provoking book I have perused in an extremely long time. Harpman’s prose is stark and stylistically flawless, imbued throughout with an agonizing inevitability. It is a powerful concept as well: a concise dystopian novel narrated by an anonymous woman, whose only existence she has ever known is that of being imprisoned in a cage within a bunker along with thirty-nine other women. Her narrative is deeply introspective, despite her total lack of experience. And despite her intense emotional capacity, she is convinced that she is not entirely human.

At once exquisite and devastating, I am at a loss to fathom why this has not reached a broader audience. I Who Have Never Known Men is a profoundly melancholy novel that delights in its ambiguity.

Just not for me.

I have certain preferences when it comes to stories. I like either a captivating plot that keeps me on the edge of my seat or meaningful relationships that tug at my heartstrings. However, this particular book had neither.

I had initially thought that this might be a feminist book, as I was hoping for a more in-depth discussion on gender inequality. But to my disappointment, there wasn't much of that. Instead, it seemed to be more of an exploration on what would happen to someone who is born outside of society and has never experienced love.

While this concept has the potential to be interesting, the execution for me fell short. The answer that the book provided wasn't too interesting or groundbreaking. It didn't offer any new perspectives or insights that would make me think differently about the topic.

Overall, I can't say that I enjoyed this book. It didn't meet my expectations and left me feeling rather underwhelmed. Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but for me, it was a miss.

3.5⭐️
One of the most ambiguous books I’ve ever read!

This one won't be for everyone as it leaves almost every question you have unanswered.

However, it is extremely thought provoking.

It is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read, and that's in a good way.

I just think I have a personal preference for books that offer more resolution.

Perhaps some readers enjoy the mystery and the opportunity to form their own interpretations.

But for me, I often find myself longing for a more definitive ending.

Nonetheless, this book has its own charm and has managed to make me think deeply about various themes and ideas.

It's a unique reading experience that I'm glad I had, even if it didn't quite satisfy my desire for a neatly tied-up conclusion.

Maybe in the future, I'll be more open to books with a similar level of ambiguity.

Who knows, it might lead to even more interesting and challenging reading adventures.

Given the subject matter, one might initially assume that this would be a feminist novel. However, it is not. Instead, it is a humanist novel. Gender and sexuality are, in fact, rather subdued for significant portions of the story. I firmly believe that this was the best decision the author could have made. By doing so, she was able to maintain the focus on the experiment that the novel proposes. A great dystopian or speculative (science) fiction novel must achieve this in order to be successful, particularly in a book that offers no easy answers.

"My memory begins with my anger."

"Inevitably, with memory comes pain."

"Time is a question of being human."

"Conversation creates time."

These profound statements add an extra layer of depth to the novel. They make the reader reflect on the nature of memory, pain, time, and human existence. The novel explores these themes in a thought-provoking and engaging way, leaving the reader with much to contemplate long after they have finished reading.

I Who Have Never Known Men, a recently unearthed 30-year-old Belgian novel, presents a dystopian vision where forty women are held captive within a bunker. Beyond this, details are scarce, leaving both the reader and the characters in the dark about the location and reason for their imprisonment.

This is a highly engaging little novel. With its deliberately模糊的 world-building and thinly sketched characters, it relies heavily on tension, plot (albeit a slow-paced one), and themes to draw the reader in. This formula can work surprisingly well, as exemplified by Theft by Rachel Ingalls. I was completely engrossed in IWHNKM, devouring it in a single day. However, the book ultimately felt a bit lacking.

I attribute this to the lofty themes it attempts to explore. There are so many in the mix, including gender roles, emerging sexuality, nature vs nurture, survival instinct, and the locus of meaning in a human existence stripped of almost everything. This is a lot for an author to handle, but I don't think any of these themes were explored with sufficient depth. Unlike the characters, we never penetrate beneath the surface in these investigations.

This novel would translate well to the screen, given its moody and suspenseful nature, and its zeitgeisty quality in a 'feminist dystopia' sense, despite not really saying much of substance. I Who Have Never Known Men has sharp claws that don't quite scratch where it itches. 3.5 stars.

If you have a penchant for pondering whether you will ever experience hope again, then this book is precisely for you. I Who Have Never Known Men has the power to make The Road by Cormac McCarthy seem like a gentle walk in the park. The premise is rather simple. Forty women are confined in a bunker, and the reasons for this remain a mystery that no one is willing to share.

This is not the sort of book that aims to offer comfort. It is dark, desolate, and terrifying, yet at the same time, it is profound. It forces me to sit in discomfort and face the harsh realities of survival, freedom, and the very meaning of life.

The silence regarding what has befallen the world is deafening, louder than any dystopian world-building could ever be. Initially, I craved explanations, the "why," and the rules that govern this world. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I came to realize that the silence is the essence of the narrative.

If you are seeking a story with a happily ever after, you might be better off looking elsewhere, as this book does not offer redemption, catharsis, or answers. What we do obtain is a profound meditation on what remains when everything that we believe makes us human, such as love, connection, and hope, is brutally stripped away.

By the time I reached the final page, I was left reeling, grappling with the overwhelming sense of my own insignificance. It is frustrating, haunting, and truly unforgettable.

Highly recommended for masochistic readers like myself.

♦️♦️♦️

Sometimes I oscillate between fantasy and soul-crushing dystopian books to keep myself grounded.

4.0 Stars

This was an outstanding piece of literary dystopian horror. The story is crafted with great precision, leaving no room for any unnecessary elements. It is truly a tightly woven narrative. I have a profound love for the theme of curiosity and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge that it presents. What makes this work even more fascinating is that the "why" behind this particular future is deliberately left unexplored and not fully fleshed out. Instead, it offers an in-depth exploration into the inner psyche of the individual. It delves deep into the thoughts, emotions, and motives that drive this person in such a dystopian setting. I wholeheartedly recommend this to all my fellow readers who have a passion for delving into and exploring deep and thought-provoking themes. It is sure to captivate your imagination and leave you with much to ponder.