49 pages 1 hour read

Jacqueline Harpman

I Who Have Never Known Men

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1995

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Book Club Questions

I Who Have Never Known Men

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

  • Was this your first experience reading a book in translation? Was there anything different about the style that might indicate it’s a translated work?
  • How did you respond to the narrator being unnamed? Did this change the way you viewed her or the story?
  • What is your experience reading dystopic works of literature? Did you find the book merely bleak, or were there threads of hope?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

  • What do freedom and liberty mean to you? Reflect on the women’s experience of gaining freedom after a lifetime of confinement. How does liberation change one’s outlook and life choices?
  • How has curiosity about your environment shaped your life or identity? How important do you think it is to ask questions and search for a deeper understanding rather than accept things as they are?
  • How does the author envision a world outside the bounds of traditional societal structures and norms? Do these structures feel limiting or supportive to you? 
  • How do the women handle situations where they lack information and control? What strategies help you stay grounded during times of uncertainty?

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