Scan barcode
repobi's review against another edition
4.0
With beautiful and engaging prose, Kazuo Ishiguro wrote such a heartfelt story about Stevens, a devoted and rigid butler. After the death of his old master Lord Darlington and the arrival of Mr. Farraday. He takes a small trip around England. Along the journey, he reminisces the most important moments in his life with an introspective manner.
He spent most of his life as a stoic butler, rigid and emotionally detached. He only care about his job and become oblivious to what's happening around him.
There's restrained subtlety. Its about everything unsaid. The love, sadness, and regrets are hidden between the words.
He spent most of his life as a stoic butler, rigid and emotionally detached. He only care about his job and become oblivious to what's happening around him.
There's restrained subtlety. Its about everything unsaid. The love, sadness, and regrets are hidden between the words.
__andra__'s review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hdavra's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Very well written and easy to read, the story examines class, dignity, service and attitudes towards a life well lived through the words of a 20th century English butler.
This book is quietly tragic, with short subtle moments of great emotion which sneak up on you without being noticeably dramatic. There is a great sadness to the main character as he reminisces on his time in service to a great English house.
This book is quietly tragic, with short subtle moments of great emotion which sneak up on you without being noticeably dramatic. There is a great sadness to the main character as he reminisces on his time in service to a great English house.
megaroo93's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
So confused by this book. Got interesting by the end but I’m not sure I got it…
bscarlin's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
whiskeywizard's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
myqz's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
melissabraine's review against another edition
5.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. Despite its jumpy timeline it was very easy to follow and the message it achieved by this was interesting and one I’ve never seen before.
Stevens is a butler who is very determined to do his job to the highest standard, consequently meaning that his personal life and emotions are avoided. When Stevens is making his journey across England, his present often blurs into his past when he was actually proud of his ability as a butler, demonstrating that his self-worth is reliant on his meeting of expectations. This same determination is seen in his father, whose ability also deteriorated with age and ultimately led to his death.
A sense of regret is evident in Stevens’ narrative; regret of losing himself to the standards and expectations that his occupation and status require of him. This regret stays with Stevens throughout his journey and he begins to become more emotionally vulnerable, especially with the character of Miss Kenton. Stevens lost everyone he loved because of his commitment to the expectations of his job, and his realisation of this is slowly revealed throughout the novel.
When reaching a sensitive topic, Stevens would go on for pages to divert the attention from the situation at hand and would revisit it briefly with his conclusion. His emotions are not explicitly stated, but the way Ishiguro presents them are much more powerful and adds to this whole message of avoidance and fear of vulnerability.
However, by the end of the novel, Stevens recognises that he has to utilise ‘the remains of the day’ and use this as his own time to self-reflect. He learns that emotional vulnerability and love comes with satisfaction and freedom.
This novel is about turning regret into fulfilment. It explores the idea that conformity to expectations ultimately results in self-inflicted unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It’s about the journey of finding self-worth and letting the power of love destroy restricting expectations.
Stevens is a butler who is very determined to do his job to the highest standard, consequently meaning that his personal life and emotions are avoided. When Stevens is making his journey across England, his present often blurs into his past when he was actually proud of his ability as a butler, demonstrating that his self-worth is reliant on his meeting of expectations. This same determination is seen in his father, whose ability also deteriorated with age and ultimately led to his death.
A sense of regret is evident in Stevens’ narrative; regret of losing himself to the standards and expectations that his occupation and status require of him. This regret stays with Stevens throughout his journey and he begins to become more emotionally vulnerable, especially with the character of Miss Kenton. Stevens lost everyone he loved because of his commitment to the expectations of his job, and his realisation of this is slowly revealed throughout the novel.
When reaching a sensitive topic, Stevens would go on for pages to divert the attention from the situation at hand and would revisit it briefly with his conclusion. His emotions are not explicitly stated, but the way Ishiguro presents them are much more powerful and adds to this whole message of avoidance and fear of vulnerability.
However, by the end of the novel, Stevens recognises that he has to utilise ‘the remains of the day’ and use this as his own time to self-reflect. He learns that emotional vulnerability and love comes with satisfaction and freedom.
This novel is about turning regret into fulfilment. It explores the idea that conformity to expectations ultimately results in self-inflicted unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It’s about the journey of finding self-worth and letting the power of love destroy restricting expectations.