I Who Have Never Known Men

In what ways do human tenderness and kindness emerge in the novel?

"I Who Have Never Known Men" was first published in 1995 to relatively little fanfare in the English-speaking world, and was republished in English in 2022. Why do you think the book has found resurging popularity? What makes it resonate with modern readers?

This is a unique book, combining sci fi, dystopianism, first person narrative, and coming of age. Have you ever read a book like "I Who Have Never Known Men"? Are there any works that it reminds you of? How would you describe it in a few sentences to someone thinking about reading it?

"I Who Have Never Known Men" leaves many questions unanswered. What do you think happened that led to the women's imprisonment? What are your theories about where they are and why?

Do you wish that Harpman would have explained more of what happened, or do you think the uncertainty adds to the novel?

The narrator is never named. What did you think of this narrative choice? Would having a name change how we relate to her?

The circumstances the women find themselves in are certainly bleak, and yet you could say that the narrator maintains an optimistic tone. Did you ultimately find the book tragic or hopeful?

How do the narrator's unique circumstances - her younger age and her inability to remember anything before the bunker - differentiate her from the other women emotionally and psychologically?

How do you think you would have reacted if you were in the narrator's shoes? Are there any actions she took that you would have done differently?

How does having a sense of purpose propel characters in the novel?

What is the book trying to say about love?

What do you think the book is trying to say about the nature of humanity and what it means to be human?

That final sentence! Wow. Discuss.