A Book Review: I Who Have Never Known Men by: Jacqueline Harpman

Imagine waking up as a 12-year-old girl, locked in a cell with 39 strangers. You have no memory of how you got there, no connection to these women, and the only men you see are silent guards enforcing their rules with the crack of a whip. This chilling premise sets the stage for I Who Have Never Known Men, a novel that explores the unsettling intersection of "Lord of the Flies" and "The Handmaid's Tale."

The story unfolds through the eyes of our narrator, the only child in this group. She observes the women around her, their shared trauma creating a wall of silence. Their refusal to speak of the past angers her, leaving her feeling isolated and excluded from secrets she desperately craves. As she grows into adolescence, her imagination fills the void with fantasies, creating her own "secrets" in a world devoid of personal history.

The novel truly comes alive when the women escape their confinement. We witness the narrator's coming-of-age in a world where gender roles and societal structures have been radically redefined. Amidst the heartbreak and confusion, the women forge powerful bonds, clinging to their humanity in a world without men.

Reading this book was both depressing and enlightening. It forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about power, control, and the resilience of the human spirit. In our current political climate, where women's rights are increasingly under threat, this novel serves as a chilling reminder of what could happen if we're not vigilant.

Whenever I bring up books like this and draw parallels to our reality, I'm often met with dismissive eye-rolls. But history has shown us time and again that seemingly outlandish fears can become terrifying realities. Ignoring the warning signs, dismissing the "weird" talk, can have devastating consequences. I Who Have Never Known Men may be a work of fiction, but it's a stark reminder that we must always be mindful of who we give power to, and never stop fighting for a just and equitable world.

I hate to add more negative fuel to an already negative dumpster fire world that we live in, but consider this: What is the true cost of silence in the face of oppression? Could your reluctance to speak out for yourself and others be a step towards the danger of complacency? If this book doesn’t inspire you to get out and vote for your equality than I suggest you still read it as the very real possibility that threatens to be your future. This novel is art and art has different interpretations depending on the observer so I do not want to tarnish what this novel could be to you with my own opinions, all I will say is that during this election season, this book should be a priority on your TBR list.