Oh my God, when you revealed that book it made so much sense that you don't love it but it's a new favourite. I couldn't sleep properly for days after reading this. This book gave me a sensation no book has given me before. There is hope and community and even love, but overall it was just a Daliesque nightmare (as in his surreal landscapes, but maybe I just mean the emptiness). 5/5 stars definitely would recommend. Just maybe not when you have any important events or deadlines coming up.

I finished the book this evening and then watched this video. It’s going to take a few days to settle but there is so much in under 200 pages here. In a strange way, everything that happens made sense to me, and I think it helped that I wasn’t expecting answers. I thought it was a beautiful novel about being human and being alive and what those things mean when they are stripped back to their essence. And it was a terrific translation too. Also don’t give that jumper away. It really suits you!

Will pick this one up on the strength of your review! Thank you so much, Simon 😊

I love this style of video, Simon. I’m intrigued and plan to check it out, then come back later for the spoiler portion of the discussion.

Happy to hear you talk about this because it’s been on my radar. Now I really need to get it. 😊💙

I'm so glad you got around to this book. I read it about a year ago and still think about the characters every now and again. So very compelling.

This was my favorite book that I read last year!! It was so quiet yet devastating. I had so many questions about what was happening but it wasn’t distracting at all. I was so focused on the narrator and her development throughout the book which was beautiful. One of my favorite quotes that might be a spoiler: “I was forced to acknowledge too late, much too late, that I too had loved, that I was capable of suffering, and that I was human after all.”

Your video editing has no equal! Love all your videos! Will pick up this book soon!

One of my favourite books of last year! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. One of my favourite aspects of the book is that it holds all its secrets so close to its chest. As the reader you get the sense that Harpman knows the true reality of the circumstances, and I think that's why it wasn't fustrating to me, because I could trust I was in capable hands even with the narrator's knowledge being limited. The last line sent shivers down my spine as I read it. The whole book was so captivating. I'm so keen to read Orlanda, and thank you for mentioning The Wall as similar, I will definitely keep that on my radar!

Awesome! I’ll have to add it to the ole TBR.

Can’t wait for my copy to make it across the pond! I’ll come back and watch the rest of your video after I’ve read it!

Can’t wait to read it! Added to my TBR ❤

I read this book this month! I was transfixed and left thinking about it long after finishing it. Loved hearing you talk about it.

I watched the first part of your video, read the e-book over 2 evenings, then watched the second half. I was completely bowled over by the book and made me cry in several places. It's the first time I've dripped my toe into this genre and it certainly didn't disappoint - such a page turner. So much happened in 200 pages and yes, it would be a fantastic book club read. It's made me realise that if I'm ever in that situation, I know diddly-squat about survival skills. An amazing book that will remain with my for a long time. Oh, I do love this type of video Simon - and are you starting a collection of jumpers to match book covers!

I read this book and enjoyed it. Kept turning the pages to find out what's going to happen and then it ended. This is also another book vlogger's favorite book - Emily Fox. She kept on raving about it last year that's why I ended up ordering it from Amazon since it wasn't available here in Manila. Glad I read it.

I'm saving this video for later, as I am currently reading it. Which makes me all excited and anxious like 'wait for me!' 😅

I keep circling around this book, thinking I should read it. I think you’ve pushed me to finally jump in :-)

Read this in a day and only just finished it, I think it will take a while to sink in and will definitely be one I'll have on my mind for a long time. It was such an eerie reading experience, the only other book I can compare it to is Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh which is another one that stayed with me and gave me that sinister feeling. I was left with so many questions that I wanted answers to, which I kind of loved! A great recommendation 👍

I have just finished this and also definitely thought ‘this would be perfect for a book club discussion!’. It is so good but I have so many questions. Will be thinking about it for a long time.

YES! This book is so good!

Oh I adore this book! Such an amazing read

I’m stopping at the spoilers because this book is on my 24 books I want to read in 2024.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it on my kindle but I loved it so much I bought a physical copy. This book has stayed with me and I randomly think about it.

Loved this book, it was just so intriguing. I still find myself thinking about it. I loved the female friendship aspect too and how they learn from each other 👍

this might be the first time ever I actually listen to the advise and stop a video midway because I wanna read the book first 🙃 for sure made it’s way higher on my tbr now 😊

I you love this book, I might recommend two of my favorite books of all time. Together they - in my view - form a trilogy of existential books on solitary women: Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson and God's Wife by Amanda Michalopoulou (translated by Patricia Felisa Barbeito). Both have mysterious premises quite like Harpman's and brilliant women at their center who deal with questions of meaning, of life, of solitude, of the company that literature provides, and other questions.

Very much enjoying your outfit and book cover coordination!

An interesting premise. Thanks for the spoiler warning. Can't remember the last time I read a book in one sitting.

Brilliant book ❤ loved it , raises some very important questions in the readers mind .

I read it last year and it knocked my socks off. Months later, it's still with me. What I loved about it is... . . . . (Spoiler alert) . . . . that it's not really about what's going on in the narrative. It's not about who kept them captive or why, or where they are (I think by the end it becomes clear that they're not on Earth). And indeed you'll be disappointed if that's what you're after. Rather it's examining what we as humans need at the bare minimum. Not just food and shelter, or even love and companionship, but also dignity and respect. If you haven't already read it, you might also like Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro. Very different storyline, but a similar vibe, and another five star read for me. Gotta love a comfy jumper, BTW.

I had the same experience with this book!! Just one of those books you cannot put down!!

Yay, I'm so glad you loved it - this video has made my day after a rubbish day at work! I definitely agree with you that it's such a hard book to follow woth others from the dystopian genre; the wall is also on my tbr but I am yet to find another novel that is so *chef's kiss* ..... why hasn't Jacqueline Harpman written more?! I also intend on picking up Orlanda at some point but it is out of print so is a hard one to track down and I wonder if I will miss out on a lot of subtext having not read Orlando. I totally agree with you on why this book is so amazing. For me, Harpman strikes just the right amount of ambiguity and questions about the dystopia and yet the humanity is so crystal clear through the women's dynamics. My personal reading *spoilers* ....I think the bunker at the end and description of the world implies that we are on another planet that was setup through the intentions of humanity resettling there after disaster on earth. Perhaps this is also the reason that men and women are capitvely waiting to repopuate this world? However, when the protagonist comes across the bus with all of the skeletons, this detail has always thrown me, but in the best way. I think the point is that it is purposefully ambiguous to show how earth can appear unrecognisable to us. For this reason, I would also reccomend Indelicacy by Amina Cain; it is very different but shares similar lamentations on the loneliness of womanhood and ambiguity of setting.

I placed it on my wish list, hoping it will go to Kindle eventually. Yes, oeuvre is right up there with cerulean and hyperbole in fun to say words.😅

Your sweater reminds me of mint chocolate chip and now I want an ice cream ❤

I’ve put a hold on it from the library!

ooop sruning away now - don't want it spoiled. Back in a bit

Thanks so much for being sensitive about not revealing the plot and denouement of this book (which I intend to read) but still saying something meaningful about it. I have just finished reading a biography of Josef Roth which gave away the plot and denouement of every book he ever wrote. That made me quite cross as it diminishes my future enjoyment of his novels.

Ha! I’m glad this book gets the ❤ it deserves 🤓

Oh my goodness! My first thought was … oh man it’s probably a book I haven’t read. But then…. YES!! I read this in Dec and loved it as well!! ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ Spoilers: Like you, I was perplexed but didn’t mind I had no answers. The narrator’s perspective on things (like the deaths of others) was interesting as she only knew that stunted life from the cage - not sure I’m articulating that right. And the bus with all the dead guards?!! What was that?! Were they in the process of being evacuated since they had on gas masks? Why was I ok with all these unanswered questions?! 😂 I can’t explain, but did love it!

I had to stop this video and any others also talking about this book. I have this book for a year which I still haven’t got around to. I need to read it before watching in-depth reviews despite you mentioned it’s spoiler free. Maybe I should pick this one up sooner rather than later😂

Just reserved it at our library

I also read it in one sitting! Really enjoyed it. @@@@@spoilerish@@@@ I would have liked a little bit of an answer though not having an explanation of what, where, why may have made this book even more interesting and memorable 😊

Ok, I was too intrigued. Went and read the book. Now I'm BACK. . . . Spoilers? It's clever. One big narrative hook. Questions on questions on questions... til we die. (Cheerful!) It would be fun to attempt a deep literary analysis of this because not only are there all the questions raised by the narrator about the fictional world... but then you start questioning authorial intent (Are the bunkers symbolic? Books on gardening and aeronautical engineering? EH?!) and shortly after that you start having an existential crisis about LIFE THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING. What is freedom? Why are we all here? Why is life devoid of all meaning? Ahhh! I'm spiraling (down the staircase to a luxury apartment)! Yeah. It's clever.

I’ve been waiting so long to get this from the library - 10 more weeks. 😢

I tuned out of fiction for a long time, only reading non fiction. Having googled this because your clickbait title won and drew me in. I am quite stunned by what I have read about this book and writer after googling and will buy and read. so am switching off your vid to avoid spoilers. cheers.

When I first read the premise of this book, I thought, “a book that reads like a cheesy B-movie exploitation “women in prison” film such as “Chained Heat” or “Cell Block Sisters.” Thankfully, this doesn’t seem like the case. I’ll wait for it to come in from my library and then watch the spoiler portion of your video.

I don't know what I expected when I read it, but not what I got 🤣 spoiler... I needed more answers!

Insanely good book, I'm ahppy to hear you talk about it. SPOILERS - - - - - - - - My favorite part had to be the life of the remaining women at their self built farm, the monotony of their lives without answers and the understanding that they will all die without ever knowing what and why these events happened to them, it felt like a slow drowning, terrifying but incredibly realistic

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS** I have never been a fan of The Handmaid's Tale and this book was scarily like it, unfortunately. But I found myself hoping I wouldn't have nightmares about it, the desolation, I mean this was a terrifying perception. When the other 'prisoners' were found also in cage/s, you realized that this could be all over this world, people locked in cages and then bodies of prisoners!! Was this the repercussion of some nuclear event? or plague? She never reveals the truth, you get some hints of 'thinning hair' or 'cancerous' deaths perhaps, which can be radiation effects!! What made me frustrated, because I was at the end, is there wasn't a sense of hope for our narrator, at least I don't think so. At the end she's alone, doesn't know what or how to use the knowledge she's gained and isn't she sick or near death at the end herself? So it's all over!!! Left with more questions, than answers. Frustrating novels like this rate lower for me, because of the lack I feel in the final round up of them.

Damn it… I have typed this message 3 times and lost it…here’s hoping this works. 😡. I read this book in January as part of Scott’s (Gunpowder Plot and Fiction) book club. I LOVED IT! Spoiler alert*** I really loved the part about the bunker, but I no longer have my borrowed copy of the book, and the other members of the book club couldn’t remember this, but do you remember her saying that the bunker had never been lived in? I swear I read that, and to me this is such an interesting point. Who was it built, furnished and supplied for, but then never used. And it was covered up… almost hidden. But other then this group, who should not have been free, there was no one and nothing around. So who are they hiding it from? I both absolutely HATE, and also love that our questions were never answered. Imo, the book would have been ruined if the author explained everything by the end of the book.

I read this book a year ago and it still lingers with me. Even the layout of the text mirrors the bleakness of the story and the world itself. ***Spoiller*** ***Spoiller*** ***Spoiller*** ***Spoiller*** One of the most interesting parts for was the discussion about passing on knowledge and teaching things to the next generation. The old women didn't really remember their past and they didn't see a reason to talk and ponder about it. Also the fact that the young girl would not be able to do anything with their knowledge since the world was different. There was no need to teach the girl anything really. She would not pass on any knowledge to her children EVEN IF she met a man... I also bawled my eyes out when the old women knew that they were about to die. They took back their agency and chose HOW to die.

Excellent point regarding the translation- I couldn’t tell the way I sometimes can w other books ; it was so seamless this excellent point didn’t even occur to me until you said it. 📖🪱💚

Oh no! Where’s the bum vase gone? 😮

Spoiler alert Spoiler alert - - - - - - - - - - I never expected to find out why the women were being held. So while I was intrigued about what was outside the bunker, I was reading the book more as an exploration of survival, solitude & the meaning of life. Every item or place the women and then the protagonist found made me desperately hope she’d find something or someone to help her live and give her reason to live. I wasn’t desperate to know what was happening in that world, I was desperate to know she could live a meaningful life in it. I’ve really enjoyed hearing other readers’ thoughts here on what they thought the world was, they’ve made me consider the book more. I love that this book can be read in so many ways. ❤️

I read this last year for women in translation month Here is a big break For SPOILERS!!!! I liked the book but didn't love it. I think it was more as It didn't connect with the protagonist or characters fully. Although given the plot this makes sense both int Erma of the narrator and as these people have had a part of themselves removed by being imprisoned for so long with not reasoning for it. The premise and execution of the journey is amazing and I loved that bit, but for me I also have to feel a bit more connection. I understand why the lack of connection was there, it felt that the protagonist also didn't have that fully, and that given her upbringing and also even when escaping she is a girl not a woman and having to be brought up without touch, comfort, parent, connection to the women in the cage and also the othering of her by them because of her age. You can certainly see more warmth when talking about the only woman who did take the time to connect with and look after her, but the way that her tone felt very matter of fact and flat meant I couldn't read this quickly despite it being so short. I think I would have liked it more and maybe loved it if I hadn't been trying to read it for shorty September and had approached as NOT as a short book to read quickly AND had the chance to talk to people about it. Sounds really negative for a book I liked doesn't it!?!? I did love the very slow reveal of the place that they were and the different snippets of information suggesting what could have happened. I think that the most intriguing one was that she was the only child and it wasn't just women being caged. Apologies for the text dump. Difficult to write well for long bits on a phone!

Ooouh I just read that a couple weeks ago and I continue to periodically think about it 📖 🪱 💚