Just finished it and while of course I wish I would have gotten a few more answers, the lack of them really add the entire existential message. This book was Camus' 'The Stranger' mixed with 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia E Butler. I really liked it, but I was not prepared to experience such existential terror!
I just finished this and it’s up there as a top read this year. I feel like the way Harpman wrote this is just genius leaving all the questions. We all have to use our imagination.
Waiting to get this from the library so thanks for the heads up about the foreword and your spoilers. I’ll come back to hear your thoughts once I’ve read it.
I'll tread lightly to avoid spoilers as people may have not read the book or seen your video before reading this. I just finished the book, and while wrestling with my own thoughts, a realization struck me. The missing details you mentioned in your video, the ones you'd typically expect in this kind of story, might be due to the narrator's perspective. Given her background, do you think she has the empathy to see those interpersonal nuances of the other women as they cope? It's hard to say, and considering this is a personal account, if she didn't have those skills, I can excuse their absence. Probably a bit of a gimmick, but it helped settle some of my dislikes. Enjoyed your video and commentary and I hope you get some rest!!
My goodness, this book sounds horrendous! I can't even bring myself to read it as I know just from reading the synopsis that if I get into the book and read the entire thing, it's most likely going to make me feel absolutely terrible! I really don't want to read about a woman getting badly S.A.'d on a regular basis. I can see men enjoying this if they have fantasies about S.A.'ing women but never want to actually cause a woman pain in real life. I am definitely not that type of guy, so I really don't see any reason why I would want to subject myself to going through the emotions reading something like this would likely bring up in myself. Anyone else feel the same, or am I all alone here?
Just finished it and while of course I wish I would have gotten a few more answers, the lack of them really add the entire existential message. This book was Camus' 'The Stranger' mixed with 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia E Butler. I really liked it, but I was not prepared to experience such existential terror!
I hope they will publish her other novels too. All the books I read by her are stellar.
I just finished this and it’s up there as a top read this year. I feel like the way Harpman wrote this is just genius leaving all the questions. We all have to use our imagination.
Waiting to get this from the library so thanks for the heads up about the foreword and your spoilers. I’ll come back to hear your thoughts once I’ve read it.
Have you ever read The Wall by Marlen Haushofer?
I haven’t. I’ll look it up :)
I loved the book. I'm someone who is almost always willing to write my own ending with the crumbs I'm given.
I'll get back to this one after I've read the book.
This has become my favourite book
Understated dystopian novel ye
are you planning to read the women’s prize longlist?
Due to work life balance I won’t be able to read the women’s prize long list…but I’m hoping read the entire shortlist when it’s announced:)
I'll tread lightly to avoid spoilers as people may have not read the book or seen your video before reading this. I just finished the book, and while wrestling with my own thoughts, a realization struck me. The missing details you mentioned in your video, the ones you'd typically expect in this kind of story, might be due to the narrator's perspective. Given her background, do you think she has the empathy to see those interpersonal nuances of the other women as they cope? It's hard to say, and considering this is a personal account, if she didn't have those skills, I can excuse their absence. Probably a bit of a gimmick, but it helped settle some of my dislikes. Enjoyed your video and commentary and I hope you get some rest!!
I think you might be right! :)
My goodness, this book sounds horrendous! I can't even bring myself to read it as I know just from reading the synopsis that if I get into the book and read the entire thing, it's most likely going to make me feel absolutely terrible! I really don't want to read about a woman getting badly S.A.'d on a regular basis. I can see men enjoying this if they have fantasies about S.A.'ing women but never want to actually cause a woman pain in real life. I am definitely not that type of guy, so I really don't see any reason why I would want to subject myself to going through the emotions reading something like this would likely bring up in myself. Anyone else feel the same, or am I all alone here?
The women are not SAed in this novel
The women in the book never talk to the men or touch the men and the only men are there up to lie page 80