I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Imagine waking up in an underground bunker, with 39 other women around you, all being held captive, with no explanation as to why or how you got there. The guards restrict your physical contact, food intake and exercise. Now imagine you are a small child, and you grow up only in this environment, with no contact from men, the outside world, family, friends or education.
This dystopian story follows our narrator, known only as “Child,” the youngest captive in this unknown situation. As the undetermined years unfold, a chance to escape is given to them when the guards suddenly evacuate without warning. But what world are they escaping into? What waits for them above?
What unfolds is a beautiful story of female friendship, tenacity and the strength to endure under the most extreme circumstances. Even as our protagonist, “Child,” grows through the years, we understand how she feels different from the other female characters. She does not have any memories of “before,” allowing her to focus on and plan a future in this environment, a world that seems to provide more questions than answers. She is strong and motivated but, as the youngest captive, must face the reality of possibly living for years alone.
This unforgettable tale is very haunting in its ambiguity; I felt very sad navigating and immersing myself in this challenging world alongside these women. It is a tragic story, but one that shows the strength of women and how a life might be shaped away from the influence of men. Some readers might find the unanswered questions frustrating, but I found them thought-provoking. I would love to sit down with Jacqueline and discuss this book to get some answers, but I suppose that may be her intent for us to be immersed in this uncomfortable space, just as the characters were. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy engaging, shocking, sad, thought-provoking, female-centered novels.
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