Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Yo que nunca supe de los hombres by Jacqueline Harpman

14 reviews

khadijah98's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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alexisgarcia's review against another edition

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

4.0

i did not realize this was dystopian/sci-fi. it was still really good. i do wish there was a little bit more of an explanation/closure. 

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liesthemoontells's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a beautiful, haunting, moving book. I had put off reading it as the themes sounded incredibly heavy, but after a friend's recommendation and assurance that it was more of a reflective read I decided to tackle it. 

While the book's themes are complex, heavy, and at times very dark, Harpman's treatment of the subject matter is more meditative and philosophical than shock provoking. There are many ruminations on what it means to be human, on navigating love, gender, and human connection when you have been given no reference point. 

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who needs resolutions to their mystery fiction but if you are looking for a powerful and ambivalent piece of speculative literature I could not recommend it more.

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ameliasbooks's review against another edition

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

3.25

As much as I appreciate and enjoyed the ideas in this book, the execution didn't really click for me. Even without knowing the author's professional background, it would be quite obvious to notice that there was some psychoanalysis stuff going on. 

The writing was okay, but nothing to write home about, which I probably expected more of, because of all the praise this book received lately.

There were some interesting questions raised to think about and I am reading a lot of bleak and depressing books, so I had no problem with this story being as plotless as it was.
I can also love an apocalyptic book in which the reason for it all is not explained (looking at you The Road), if this is not really what the book is about.

You could argue that this is also not what this story is about and you could just read everything as a metaphor for misogyny and patriarchy and to raise some big questions about resilience and the surving of the human race (women in particular). 

However the way the story is build, it is a weakness of the book that not at least some of the questions are answered, because this would have only made the novel stronger. And I couldn't help but think that the author simply didn't want us to know, but that she didn't know herself, because that wasn't the focus of the story she wanted to tell. But authors should always have all the answers to their stories, even when they are holding them back from the reader, because otherwise it always shows.

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cspa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow, where to start? I Who Have Never Known Men, is such a consuming story for a tale that give no answers.

The story follows an unnamed narrator from her earliest memories to her final days. She entered the bunker at such a young age that she has no recollection of the world before it. The women captured with her also lack memories of their abduction, creating a stark contrast with the protagonist. She feels isolated and alienated due to her inability to comprehend their perspectives and her young age inhibiting her from seeing their situation as anything other than normal.

As she grew, she discovered that the bunker's strict rules molded her aversion to touch, emotions, and softness, all enforced by the silent, vigilant guards' cracking whips. Despite the women's desire to console her as a child, they were restricted from any physical contact, along side the complex realization that her presence evoked memories of their own separated children. She initially believed they were withholding knowledge from her, only to realize the limitations imposed by their confined environment.

It is only when a twist of fate grants them freedom that she comprehends the extent of her captivity, yet she maintains her spirit and curiosity. Her distinctiveness from the other women allows her to perceive beyond the expected and assumed societal norms of their past.

This apocalyptic/otherworldly setting that when breached seems no different from our own lacks the diversity of seasons and broad landscapes. Traversing through this gripping and heart-wrenching narrative is engrossing. The voice of "the child" resonates strongly, and Harpman's skill in maintaining suspense in a seemingly plotless narrative is captivating. The transition from a clinical writing style within the bunker to vivid descriptions outside, where she encounters new experiences, is particularly striking.

Reflecting on the story, a quote from the book in another review caught my attention. Initially overlooked, it was actually from the beginning pages, where she recounts her journey – a subtle yet remarkable revelation as I revisited these pages with newfound understanding.

I observed a few outdated beliefs held by some older women, highlighting the stark contrast with the budding philosophy of our young narrator. For instance, one captive's view was, “Men mean you are alive, child. What are we without a future, without children? The last link in a broken chain.” However, our main character's unique situation, devoid of interaction with men, challenged this notion. She found joy in simple pleasures, becoming a crucial link in others' salvation. Another belief centered around beauty solely for men, yet later in the story, women found beauty and love among themselves. Even early, on when exploring her own body she discovered an overwhelming sensation she described as an "explosion," which can only be accomplished through self-pleasure but has little understanding of it and the women won't provide an explanation. However, later on in the book when she does get a little clarification, it's told in a very clinical sense... a very heteronormative rational. Though, her indifference was understandable, considering her upbringing and discomfort with physical contact.

Amidst the multitude of thought-provoking questions and the remarkable achievements of these women, there lies a profound sense of sisterhood and love, even in the midst of trauma and grief. Hope and despair claim this book, and though, the story is incredibly sorrowful and disheartening, it also embodies resilience and determination.

Highly recommend.

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sakisreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I had seen this all over BookTok and I am easily influenced so I bought a copy immediately when I saw a copy at a book fair 😂

I’m puzzled by this one. I could not put it down, even though it explained NOTHING (e.g. why were these women trapped in the bunker?!). I was upset by some of the more graphic scenes (which I’ll detail in the content warnings below), but still wanted it to keep going 😳 Literature is so powerful.

I’m giving this 3.5 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something with a Margaret Atwood energy. Fascinating! 

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picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

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

5.0


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itsybitsygingie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

This was an incredibly difficult yet beautiful book to read. It brought forth some incredibly difficult feelings concerning being human and the role of womanhood within society. My one slight of the book was the sheer amount of anti-female sentiments from the main character. Her one consistent thought throughout the book was that she was better because she wasn’t constrained by the supposedly womanly traits of the other characters, and I didn’t see as much growth as I would liked concerning this position. 

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meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

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

4.0


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biobeetle's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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