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stitcho's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Death
Minor: Cancer
dovewrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
I remember reading a piece of writing advice recently, about how so many authors get tragedy and trauma wrong. That many stories seem to display trauma just for shock. This book executed tragedy in the most profound and beautiful way. As the advice I read stated, Ishiguro managed to do sadness with the audience, not to the audience. the catharsis of this story is that these three people who were not considered people by the world they lived in mattered, their love mattered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
milet22's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
luxxltyd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, and Death
elisabeth_with_an_ess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is written in the style of spoken reminiscences, with allusions to things that haven't been described yet, and "but maybe I should explain..."
This device makes you really feel that you are one of Kathy's friends, or maybe just a chance acquaintance, or perhaps one of her donors who has been asking for stories of Hailsham.
All in all, this is a devastating book, will make you ponder all the things that bind us together as humans.
This device makes you really feel that you are one of Kathy's friends, or maybe just a chance acquaintance, or perhaps one of her donors who has been asking for stories of Hailsham.
All in all, this is a devastating book, will make you ponder all the things that bind us together as humans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Chronic illness, and Cancer
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
1.0
The students at Hailsham, a private school in the lovely English countryside that Kathy, now 31 years old, attended as a kid, were shielded from the outside world and taught that their wellbeing was essential for both themselves and the community they would eventually inhabit. Kathy had long since left this beautiful past behind her, but when two of her Hailsham pals come back into her life, she quits resisting the tug of recollection.
Kathy remembers their time at Hailsham as her relationship with Ruth is revived and the sentiments that once drove her juvenile Tommy obsession start to develop into love. She paints joyful pictures of boys and girls growing up side by side, unconcerned—even comforted—by their seclusion. However, she also portrays episodes of conflict and misunderstanding that allude to a sinister truth concealed under Hailsham's maternal façade. The three friends are forced to face the truth about their childhoods and their current lives as the clarity of hindsight begins to emerge.
Sometimes, even in their own stories, people don't merit being the main characters. Ruth is such a jerk and also such a boring person. Like, why are you a bland AND a jerk? Imagine being only known as a jerk. I wished Kathy wouldn't have reignited their friendship. And let's not even talk about the writing. It was equally as dull and nasty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Bullying and Infertility
Minor: Homophobia
arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death, and Medical trauma
emfield's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Death and War
oceanwriter's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
This book has an interesting concept and poses a lot of intriguing questions about life and creativity. I only wish I'd latched onto it more.
The story follows Kathy as she reflects on her life and relationships at the Hailsham boarding school. In this ultimate universe, people like Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are lumped in these 'schools' as they were created with one purpose in mind — to be organ donors.
I'd call this light sci-fi, which I do like, I just found the pacing to be too slow (a similar issue I had with The Remains of the Day). There was also a glaring lack of world-building. Without a lot of context, I struggled to connect to the characters and the universe.
The story follows Kathy as she reflects on her life and relationships at the Hailsham boarding school. In this ultimate universe, people like Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are lumped in these 'schools' as they were created with one purpose in mind — to be organ donors.
I'd call this light sci-fi, which I do like, I just found the pacing to be too slow (a similar issue I had with The Remains of the Day). There was also a glaring lack of world-building. Without a lot of context, I struggled to connect to the characters and the universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content, Infertility, and Bullying
leahgustafson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I truly believe Kazuo Ishiguro is a complete genius and his works are going to be considered the classics of our time. This is actually a reread for me. I had read this for the first time in college as part of my English major. As someone who isn’t a huge re-reader, I am so glad I took the time to revisit this one. I was definitely able to get much more out of it than I was on the initial read. This has me thinking there are many more books I will be needing to revisit.
•
Ishiguro is a master at exploring the concept of memory through unreliable narrators. This story explores what it means to truly be human—focusing on the importance of connection, love, friendship, and memories. It also highlights the importance of art and ones ability to “create.”
•
As with all of his books, Ishiguro raises some important question that ask us to reflect further on: the importance of the truth, how we view/ approach mortality (especially our own), the ethics involved in developing new technologies and policies that enhance the human condition, and who is benefiting from these enhancements. Because his books explore such major themes and questions, I think they are best read as book club selections or as buddy reads. I’ve discovered a greater level of depth when discussing them with others.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
•
Ishiguro is a master at exploring the concept of memory through unreliable narrators. This story explores what it means to truly be human—focusing on the importance of connection, love, friendship, and memories. It also highlights the importance of art and ones ability to “create.”
•
As with all of his books, Ishiguro raises some important question that ask us to reflect further on: the importance of the truth, how we view/ approach mortality (especially our own), the ethics involved in developing new technologies and policies that enhance the human condition, and who is benefiting from these enhancements. Because his books explore such major themes and questions, I think they are best read as book club selections or as buddy reads. I’ve discovered a greater level of depth when discussing them with others.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical trauma