Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Book Reviews of Never Let Me Go
Book Review: I Can Let It Go
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to be honest and declare that I don't get what all the hype surrounding this book is about. I was intrigued by the concept of this novel, knowing only that it involved a dystopian society. The subject matter was interesting (I don't want to spoil it for those who have not read the book), but I ultimately believe that the intrinsic visceral nature of what the author discusses drives the reader's emotional response rather than Ishiguro evoking any sentiments or thoughts through his actual words. The characters are sympathetic, but I felt that much more could have been done with them, their drives and motivations fleshed out more so that the reader truly empathized with their plight. To be honest, although the characters face a clearly horrific future, they actually don't seem all that bothered by it, which in my mind greatly detracts from Ishiguro's aim of humanizing science.
I will say that I found to book to be greatly compelling while I was reading it. Most chapters end on cliffhangers, and the prose flows organically, such that you can move through the book briskly and with ease. But I can't help but feel that the first two parts of the book are more engaging and captivating, while the final third is anticlimactic and disappointing. The big payoff is never truly delivered and I didn't feel that any of the answers offered to the story's "Big Questions" were all that surprising or inspired.
Kathy H is an interesting choice for a narrator, and I applaud Ishiguro's decision here. However, I feel like this issue has been dealt with better in books like "The Handmaid's Tale" or "Brave New World". The subject material may be timely, but I did not feel the ultimate story was innovative here. It is clear what the main points the author wishes to drive home, because anyone who has ever thought sensibly about the issues will have considered them, I just feel that Ishiguro fails to make his points any more salient than they inherently are. It's a subtle distinction, but while I was engaged by Kathy H, I never really felt invested in her.
I wanted to like this book, and by and large I did enjoy reading it. I just don't think it captivates beyond the immediate reading experience, and was not so remarkable that I would feel the need to read it again. It's a decent story, and the writing is fine, but neither has an enduring quality. It's not clear to me why this was a Man Booker finalist, because it was good, but not great.
Book Review: reality in a sci-fi setting
Summary: 4 Stars
Set in a late 1990s England, Ishiguro places us in an uncomfortably realistic, sci-fi scenario where cloning is normative and routine. We follow the lives of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, students at Hailsham, a picturesque boarding school. Only about halfway into the novel is the nature of this society completely revealed, when we find that the students are clones, living as normal humans until their organs are needed.
Fortunately, the story never directly questions societal ethics of cloning. Doing so, even slightly, would have changed the tone to a political bent, shredding the tender story. And although he doesn't question cloning, he does, however, lead the reader to an underlying answer while maintaining a tight reign over the actual storyline.
Ishiguro broaches many topics, such as societal detachment and the struggle of a minority class, but its his focus on the aching to belong, an experience that, I venture to guess, most people feel or have felt at some point, that gives us real emotions filtered, only mildly, through prose.
Kathy is one of few students raised at Hailsham, where the caretakers focus on creative outlets; we discover later that the art is being preserved as possible evidence of students' humanity. Oddly enough, the caretakers miss the student's self awareness and emotional maturations, arguably the most human of all traits.
Through Kathy H., we see that the students are capable of ranging emotions, from sadness and forgiveness to lust and curiosity. She excels as a "carer" because she interacts with the dying on a personal level, interprets their moods, and calms them. As a human-like force, she doesn't embrace the horrific outcome of her life and list towards death like many of her peers, she focuses on her friends, repairing old mistakes and forming stronger bonds.
In spite of the sci-fi setting, the unique traits of Ishiguro's narratives, such as a languorous flow and inherent subtlety, allow him to slip rather significant items into the story without any grandiose epiphanies. You feel as though you're like sitting with a friend, listening to recalled events, some familiar and some new.
After reading the last chapter, I honestly didn't know how to feel. Tapped out emotionally, I just desperately needed a hug. It's a rare occasion that instead of reading a novel, I experience it; a testament to Ishiguro's skill in crafting a story, not just words.
Book Review: This One's Not For The Casual Reader...
Summary: 3 Stars
This is the first book by Kazuo Ishiguro I've ever read. I happened upon this book by accident in fact. I was reading an interview of Kathryn Stockett (writer of The Help) and in it she listed some of her favorite authors and books. 'Never Let Me Go' being one of them. And since I loved The Help, I thought it would be interesting to see what type of literature she was into. I started reading this book on Saturday, March 20th and I've just finished it today, Monday, March 22nd. This book was very interesting and definitely a challenge for me to read. I say that because most of the books I gravitate towards have clearly defined plots and make you, as a reader, so excited about getting to the end if only to satisfy your curiosity about what happens to the characters you've come to love or hate.
In saying that, this book definitely kept me curious and eager to get to the end. But for all the wrong reasons. When I purchased the book, I kind of thought it's premise was something like M. Night Shaymalan's movie The Village. Where these people lived a secluded place, far off the beaten path, completely separated from the rest world and not until much later in life do some of the residents find out they were living a lie. This book was nothing like that. In fact, I couldn't tell what it was even about for the first 50 or 60 pages. Not much happens. But why keep reading it you might ask? I kept reading it because the writer, Ishiguro is so good at giving you just enough information to hold you're attention for a little while longer, until you find yourself halfway through the book, thinking, no, rather hoping that you're going to get to something interesting, some revelation that's going to make up for all the energy you've given so far. And sadly in the end, the only thing you walk away with is how you've been duped into giving so much energy in the first place. Ishiguro is definitely a master of suspense, he kept me going much longer than I thought I would. But I wouldn't recommend this book to any one of my friends. I think they'd just get mad at me for telling them to read a book that doesn't really have a plot and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wait for an exciting, thrilling, and/or shocking revelation that never comes.
While I don't want to give away any spoilers, I will say that if you like books that are passionate, thrilling, exciting, and hard to put down, then 'Never Let Me Go' is not for you!
Book Review: Atmospheric novel focuses on character and less on the plot (which turgidly chugs along) still a worthwhile read
Summary: 4 Stars
Kazuo Ishiguro continues to craft novels focusing on character and atmopshere with less focus on plot. "Never Let Me Go" (which has been adapted into a film)continues Ishiguro's approach with a well written novel that focuses much more on creating an atmospheric, credible novel by focusing on developing fully realized credible main characters and the small details in those characters' lives.
WARNING: SOME MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW:
Narrated by Kathy H. a "carer" who has been comforting other "donor" children for 11 years, recounts her growing up at the exclusive and mysterious Hasilsham boarding school with her friends Tommy and Ruth. Constantly reminded how special they are these children also have virtually no contact with the outside world beyond their school. They hear the teachers whisper about how "special" they are and how they are "different" without any comprehension as to how they are being taken away from normal lives or that they are being brain washed to accept their role to help others fulfill their lives.
Author Ishiguro makes it very clear from the beginning what these children are donating and hints at the final surprise throughout the book. You'll probably be way ahead of the author's major reveals and, if you're looking for a mystery with a labyrinth plot, this isn't the book for you. Ishiguro's novels are as much about the prose style, characters and little details more than the plots themselves.
END OF SPOILERS:
Although extremely well written the slow pacing of this novel may make it difficult for some readers to make it through to the end without "cheating" and jumping ahead (I'll admit I was tempted but decided it would be wiser to be patient). As with all of Ishiguro's novels he creates memorable characters with depth but fails to create a complex involving plot.
If you have enjoyed other novels by Ishiguro such as "Remains of the Day", you'll enjoy "Never Let Me Go" as well since it doesn't deviate from his approach or concerns. "Never let Me Go" is a literary attempt to create a memorable novel that is character driven with elements of science fiction in it and while not completely successful, it does have its moments. It's good but could have been so much more if Ishiguro had created a more complex and involving plot to compliment his other literary skills as a writer.
Book Review: An intriguing and beautiful story
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to admit that while I was reading "Never Let You Go" I wasn't sure that I liked it or not. I had to ruminate on the intricacies of the plotline and the characters for a few days before deciding, definitively, that I enjoyed the book a lot. Perhaps that is why so many people complain about the apparent lack of action in the novel; it requires a degree of thought and settling in to the concept in order to see that it actually makes perfect sense. That's not necessarily the reader's fault -- by now we have all become inundated by stories of the downtrodden rising up to challenges they face and attempting to throw off the shackles of tyranny that bind them (it is, after all, a defining part of the American character, and we have come to expect people to want to be liberated when oppressed). Ishiguro, displaying an adept understanding of the psychology of the enslaved, takes the opposite road. The characters in "Never Let Me Go" have all of the hopes and dreams of normal human beings, but are too afraid to go after them and make them a reality. They willingly give themselves up to the lives that have been set for them because it is all that they know and all that they have been prepared for their whole lives. To step outside of that box never really crosses their minds because they are too terrified to consider the consequences of doing so. But I don't want to give anything away -- part of the joy of Ishiguro's writing is the way he teases out the details of the world they live in without making it feel like he's intentionally withholding information to build suspense. The narrative is extremely well crafted, perfectly capturing the slightly rambling way people tell stories in the first-person narration of Kathy H., a former student at a prestigious and mysterious boarding school named Hailsham. On the cusp of a life change, Kathy is recollecting her life story and her relationship with two other students at Hailsham named Ruth and Tommy. The ups and downs of their interactions propel the story along to a heartfelt and heartbreaking conclusion that is remarkably resonant for such a staid narrative (perhaps its impact is felt all the more because of the restrained emotions that preceded it). I would highly recommend this book, and look forward to exploring Ishiguro's other novels as well.