Reviews

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

catjiau's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

I was originally drawn in by the mystery of what was going on with these students. I was trying to puzzle out exactly what is going on. But the further I got, the more I realized how well the author captures what it’s like to be children and form relationships. How universal some of these experiences are. I feel there’s some thing someone can relate to with a character at one point in time (when it’s not related to the donations). What it’s like to have petty fights with your friends at a certain age. How mean and viscious a friend can be but because of their circumstance, still be very close and share intimate and special moments. He does such a great job of painting such vivid pictures of these people, that in the end, I was heartbroken. While the context of the story is dark, and dystopian, I really felt I was reading about someone’s childhood experience with friendship and love. The premise of the book is disturbing yes, but I think the power of the story comes through not from the shock of the situation, but from trying to understand who you are and the layers that exist in all relationships. And that there are just some things out of your control. 
Lastly, while we are still quite far behind the scientific enhancements this book is at for this situation to happen, I still see the parallels between how people in the world treat view other people as inferior and don’t care about equal rights and fair treatment for them, or are ignoring what’s going on because they don’t want to feel any guilt when they are experiencing the benefits. 

niawriteswords's review

reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

ashlina8's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense

3.5

lucywan's review

challenging emotional mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

kramerica's review against another edition

2.0

Some interesting ideas here, but overall more of a weak character study rather than dystopian/sci-fi. I don’t love the way it was narrated, it felt like being forced to read someone’s journal or listen to gossip except it’s really boring.

mparish's review

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

gabriellegraceg's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.75

This read incredibly quickly, a true page-turner, and the world felt so real I actually believe it might be. The characters felt so realistic too, their interactions, disagreements, hopes, and habits all felt lifelike. I can't wait to read more of Ishiguro's work since this was my introduction to him. I initially felt disappointed by the ending but the book was realistic from beginning to end so I really can't fault it.

lise_wejlby's review against another edition

3.0

OK book -

suyagotz's review against another edition

4.0

i feel like the book could've touched on the main topic more deeply than it did, but i liked the social analysis of the narrator

wavez's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0