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kalyaniwarrier's reviews
63 reviews
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I Who Have Never Known Men encapsulates the enslavement of women and their submission to perform in accordance to set rules.
Unlike any other plot symbolising the dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed, Jacqualine Harpman has beautifully described a world like our own - with ideals like ours, that somehow manages to feel entirely foreign to the human imagination.
In an attempt to discuss the drastic power imbalance between men and women, the novella successfully portrays a painstaking and bizarre world that the women are enslaved in. In a feeble attempt to escape the madness, the women are suddenly met with an opportunity to flee their imprisonment, who upon further exploration, come to the conclusion that only they were lucky enough to be free.
One thing to appreciate immensely is the perfect comprehension in translation by Ros Shwartz - as someone who is fond of translated literature, I Who Have Never Known Men (originally written in French), I have noticed the lack of comprehension and natural flow in many works, but this novella can be easily mistaken to be originally written in English. The translation was done meticulously and keeps the natural flow, without losing nuance.
Unlike any other plot symbolising the dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed, Jacqualine Harpman has beautifully described a world like our own - with ideals like ours, that somehow manages to feel entirely foreign to the human imagination.
In an attempt to discuss the drastic power imbalance between men and women, the novella successfully portrays a painstaking and bizarre world that the women are enslaved in. In a feeble attempt to escape the madness, the women are suddenly met with an opportunity to flee their imprisonment, who upon further exploration, come to the conclusion that only they were lucky enough to be free.
One thing to appreciate immensely is the perfect comprehension in translation by Ros Shwartz - as someone who is fond of translated literature, I Who Have Never Known Men (originally written in French), I have noticed the lack of comprehension and natural flow in many works, but this novella can be easily mistaken to be originally written in English. The translation was done meticulously and keeps the natural flow, without losing nuance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt