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Lisa of Troy's Reviews > I Who Have Never Known Men
I Who Have Never Known Men
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Let’s be honest—this book is massively depressing, definitely not a light, airy beach read. However, the sorrowful journey is filled with meaning.
I Who Have Never Known Men begins with 40 ladies trapped in a bunker. The youngest one doesn’t remember anything about Before, and the women refer to her as The Child. Until one day, they escape.
As an American living in a country largely centered on capitalistic greed, most stories are structured on longing to achieve a goal, achieving that goal, and everyone living “happily ever after.” Not so in this book.
Even after obtaining freedom, it isn’t all rainbows and sunshine for the women.
This book would make an excellent book club book because there are several questions/topics that would be fascinating to explore:
1) The youngest is called The Child. How do you think this shaped the narrator? Why wasn’t she called The Legacy or The Future or The Truth or The Hope? How did the narrator’s identity change over time?
2) The women decide to (view spoiler)once “freed.” Why do you think that they picked this ritual from Before to resurrect? Do you think that the women are recreating Before or intentionally creating a Now?
3) The group of women must decide on a symbol to represent their group. What symbol would you have chosen and why? What symbol do you think a group of men would choose?
4) Time is measured internally by heartbeats instead of planetary objects. Should life be viewed in different units of time? How else did the women take on a sense of control even while in captivity?
5) Once “free” the ladies attribute their liberation to luck rather than their own cleverness. Even with The Child discovers (view spoiler) . Is the concept of otherness (oh that couldn’t happen to precious little ole me because I’m a hard worker, clever, etc.) something that is learned?
6) Do you think The Child lets the guards off too easily?
7) Who else thought that aliens were going to pop out at any minute?
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Softcover Text – $9.54 on eBay
Audiobook – 1 Audible Credit (Audible Premium Plus Annual – 24 Credits Membership Plan $229.50 or roughly $9.56 per credit)
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I Who Have Never Known Men begins with 40 ladies trapped in a bunker. The youngest one doesn’t remember anything about Before, and the women refer to her as The Child. Until one day, they escape.
As an American living in a country largely centered on capitalistic greed, most stories are structured on longing to achieve a goal, achieving that goal, and everyone living “happily ever after.” Not so in this book.
Even after obtaining freedom, it isn’t all rainbows and sunshine for the women.
This book would make an excellent book club book because there are several questions/topics that would be fascinating to explore:
1) The youngest is called The Child. How do you think this shaped the narrator? Why wasn’t she called The Legacy or The Future or The Truth or The Hope? How did the narrator’s identity change over time?
2) The women decide to (view spoiler)once “freed.” Why do you think that they picked this ritual from Before to resurrect? Do you think that the women are recreating Before or intentionally creating a Now?
3) The group of women must decide on a symbol to represent their group. What symbol would you have chosen and why? What symbol do you think a group of men would choose?
4) Time is measured internally by heartbeats instead of planetary objects. Should life be viewed in different units of time? How else did the women take on a sense of control even while in captivity?
5) Once “free” the ladies attribute their liberation to luck rather than their own cleverness. Even with The Child discovers (view spoiler) . Is the concept of otherness (oh that couldn’t happen to precious little ole me because I’m a hard worker, clever, etc.) something that is learned?
6) Do you think The Child lets the guards off too easily?
7) Who else thought that aliens were going to pop out at any minute?
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Softcover Text – $9.54 on eBay
Audiobook – 1 Audible Credit (Audible Premium Plus Annual – 24 Credits Membership Plan $229.50 or roughly $9.56 per credit)
Connect With Me!
Blog Threads BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
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Reading Progress
August 20, 2024
– Shelved
February 5, 2025
–
Started Reading
February 19, 2025
–
Finished Reading
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JaymeO
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rated it 4 stars
Feb 19, 2025 06:54AM
Glad you enjoyed it too! Great review!
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I considered this book - just did not get it. It has been on my list but I am taking it off and I thank you so much for reviewing it. I trust your reviews and I am just not in the mood for any of this right now. Too many awful things happening in my country (USA) so I think it would only depress me. Thank you for the review. peace, janz
I just read this recently and loved it. I wish I'd had your hypothetical book club questions to help focus me! I intend to reread this, so will need to bear those questions in mind when I do. I will sort of respond to 2 now, though: It seemed very important to me that "the Child" was never given a name. To not have a name feels like a tragedy, a trauma unto itself. As if the person were deemed unworthy of a reference identity. Like no one loved them enough to give them so basic a thing as a name. However, by the end of the book, and in hindsight, I've come to think that "the child" was never given a name because she was symbolic to the other women- of what? The children they had lost? In sadness that there would be no more children? I'm not sure, but it feels important.
I definitely expected aliens or some sort of lovecraftian entity to materialize! I have to admit I *love* those sorts of books! But I was very happy with the quiet thoughtfulness of this one as it is. (But maybe *one* alien might have been cool!
Our book club read this and as you can imagine we had an incredible discussion.As you commented the journey is filled with meaning. It has you ask what would I do if I were in Child's position.
Have you read any other dystopian novels you can suggest? TIA
Lisa, thanks for the review and giving me some things to ponder. I honestly didn’t know what to think after all the bleakness. This helped!
