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I Who Have Never Known Men

The heart-breaking post-apocalyptic TikTok sensation

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I Who Have Never Known Men

Written by: Jacqueline Harpman, Ros Schwartz - translator
Narrated by: Sarah Lambie
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THE HEART-BREAKING POST-APOCALYPTIC TIKTOK SENSATION

Discover the haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic tale of female friendship and intimacy set in a deserted world.

Deep underground, 39 women are kept in isolation in a cage. Aboveground, a world awaits. Has it been abandoned? Devastated by a virus?

Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time and only vague recollection of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl - the 40th prisoner - sits alone and outcast in the corner.

Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them aboveground. The woman who will never know men.

Listeners Reviews:

‘The voice actor is FANTASTIC’ *****

‘Life-changing. An absolute must read.’ *****

‘Beautiful contemplation on what makes life worth living’ *****

©2019 Jacqueline Harpman (P)2021 Penguin Audio

 Dystopian Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Women's Fiction
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Critic Reviews

It is a novel about community, loneliness, and solitude, about intellectual awakening in impossible situations. It asks... What does it mean to be alive, to learn, to know? (Carmen Maria Machado)
A novel that takes you into philosophically interesting territory… this [is a] intriguingly dark thought experiment told by a compellingly alien voice – dispassionate and unfussy – is strangely fascinating
A vivid evocation of another world, alive with hope and dignity
A bleak but fascinating postapocalyptic novel… all the loneliness and oblivion of a deserted world won't stop us from following the narrator as far as she can go
All stars
Most relevant
Listened to a really good audiobook after a long time. Never wanted it to finish. The narration was so calm and clear, I will listen it again.

So Good!!!

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I Who Have Never Known Men is not a book on female rage. Neither does it ask for women’s rights to the exclusion of men’s.

The book asks for just one thing - the opportunity to love - irrespective of gender.
The women in this book don’t hate or fear the men - rather they fondly remember their pasts where men and women explored love and life together.

As they try to make sense of this post-apocalyptic world, they try to feel more “real” and reclaim some part of life that feels more “human”.

But, what is human about the horrific violence that has needlessly been perpetrated on these women? Absolutely nothing human at all.

Overall, this book is an interesting listen. But it does have many plot holes and problems. The obscurity of time makes things worse - and neither the protagonist nor the reader/listener are able to find a stable spot to root themselves in throughout the novel. The narration is excellent- but perhaps too good, given the backstory of the protagonist.

A unique look at patriarchy and female friendships

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This was a great listen overall. While the story starts off quite slow, it gradually picks up pace as more layers and details unfold, making it increasingly engaging. The setup is intriguing, and the focus on the main protagonist is well-handled, allowing the character to develop meaningfully over time.

The ending, in particular, stands out—it feels earned and satisfying, especially because it avoids the temptation of a forced happy conclusion. That realism gives the story more weight.

That said, the introduction feels completely unnecessary. It’s out of place and misleading, suggesting a tone or agenda that doesn’t reflect the core of the book. It almost gives the impression that this is just another story pushing a blatant feminist narrative, which does a disservice to the nuanced plot that follows.

On the performance side, the narration is excellent—engaging and expressive, adding depth to the listening experience.

Total Grit

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A must read for everyone!!!! I believe this will one day become a classic. Makes you think and question things which doesn't necessarily have all the answers. I'm going to think about this book for a very long time.

Simply brilliant

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If you have closely followed the stories of Hitler and his gas chambers, read this one, this isn’t the typical book from that period. You can also read this book as a stand-alone. This book has just left me sad, the way it ended and the way I had so many questions but there were simply no answers. And my heart goes out to “the child”. She deserved so so so much more.
Overall, it was a beautifully in-completed book.

Speechless 😅

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