Reviews with content warning for Death - Never Let Me Go

This is my first read of 2024 and it’s been a good start. I read some reviews while updating my page numbers, and I was interested by the mixed takes on how a lot of the book is reflecting on the past. This is not a book that takes you forward. It takes you back.

There are parts of the story that I feel are incomplete. Some of my questions don’t have answers which is frustrating! However, I really enjoyed the story and how it was framed. I will be looking into more Ishiguro.

Content Warnings

grapefruitjuice's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

blau_elmo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I feel that the label of 'science-fiction' or 'dystopia' is a bit misleading. Sure, the premise does have such elements, but the primary focus of the book is the human drama between the trio of Tommy, Ruth and Kathy.

The way Ishiguro sets up this seemingly normal universe at the start, but sprinkles in these tiny clues throughout the book of the true nature of the tritagonists, makes the pay-off at the end all the more amazing. The ending, in particular, is extremely poignant yet purposeful.

This is my favourite book of all time, for its drawn out human drama, for its tragic elements regarding inevitability, for its brilliant relatability regarding growing up (and the propensity to ignore the world that is bigger than us as teenagers), and its commentary on the ethics of technological advancements. There is a resigned fatalism that veils the entire narrative that grounds the story is realism, one that is crushingly unavoidable and real, regarding the smallness of us human beings.

Content Warnings

hmatt's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I've been meaning to read this for over a decade now, so I'm mostly very pleased with myself for getting to it. I think it earns its place as a contemporary classic - it's well-written, the pacing is great, and I liked how it was broken up by "era".

Content Warnings

caroisreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Sometimes you don't vibe with a book, and this is one of those for me. I made the mistake of listening to the hype, seeing the awards, and inflating my expectations. I still think this book is still important, and worth a read, with a sobering message.

The writing is repetitive and meandering, a first-person POV with a protagonist I had a hard time liking, surrounded by other characters that were faintly filled in, and just as difficult to warm up to, often frustrating me. No one likes each other, any relationships are rote.

It's a story with no satisfaction intended, and there are no spikes of events, just a long narrative. The entirety is desolate.

The commentary is clear: humanity is cruel. Life is futile. Innocence is lost. The real world is a lie.

Maybe I'll try re-reading when I'm in a different mindset.

Content Warnings

ginbat's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Beautifully sad, unique. I grew to appreciate this writing style and think it would very well. This book made be feel sad and angry, and I feel like it's a better for a few things. I guess that's what makes it a "good" book. It doesn't make me feel good things, but it does make me feel things.

Content Warnings

impeachnixon's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ugly cried for the last 50 (60? 70?) pages. beautiful, gut wrenching.

fascinating how they know and don't know so much, and how that effects their worldview, where they're very nonchalant about the doning until it's their time. by 'fascinating' i meant that i don't think i'll ever be able to stop crying. also the last line bringing up NORFOLK is i think a crime against humanity

Content Warnings

More...