Reviews

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

eleanorkb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

betty_netch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Legitimately one of the creepiest books I have ever read. Made me deeply uncomfortable, very well written. 

rhoben's review against another edition

funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

cliotine's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

3.25

fake_gyllen's review against another edition

5.0

Just read it. Don’t read any synopses. Don’t even go to the Good Reads page to add it to your TBR. Don’t spoil this incredible story for yourself. Just read it.

suvata's review against another edition

5.0

• Read in March 2015
• Re-read in October 2020 for ModernMrsDarcy.com #MMD pick for October 2020

I have a “thing” about boarding school novels. This one, NEVER LET ME GO, and THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt are my two favorites — both 5-stars.

cindy_freez's review against another edition

5.0

Never Let Me Go is a poignant exploration of humanity and morality, told through the eyes of Kathy H. as she reflects on her time at the boarding school, Hailsham. Ishiguro is a master at storytelling, as he delicately reveals the fate of Kathy and her friends, Ruth and Tommy, while exploring the values instilled in them by their school. Through Kathy's recollections, we are drawn into the intricate web of their friendships and the unsettling truths they must confront about their own existence. The gradual revelation of their destiny is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and introspection. Despite knowing the central premise of the story, Ishiguro's skillful storytelling captivated me from start to finish. This book has been on my bookshelf for the longest time- unread, simply because the plot was revealed to me, but since it survived many book “unhauls,” I decided it was time to give it a go. And I’m so glad I did. I know these characters will stay with me for a very long time.

sdraffan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

anasagrado's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

book_concierge's review against another edition

4.0

The students at Hailsham are special. Kept isolated from the outside, nurtured, educated and encouraged to find ways to express their creativity and maintain excellent health, they are nevertheless kept in the dark about their purpose in life. Little by little, they piece together the clues to discover their intended purpose in life.

Ishiguro creates a dystopian society that seems idyllic at first; he introduces the reader to the horrible reality a little at a time, so that you are seduced by the “normalcy” of these students’ lives. But what happens once they leave Hailsham and go out to find their destinies, is what really sets this book apart. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.


NOTE: re-read June 2016 - definitely not my favorite genre, but this book really holds up well for me.