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pineconek's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
2.75
I love how eclectic of an author Ishiguro is. I find some of his works brilliant, and others painfully boring. This one ended up in the latter bin.
The beginning was stellar: we follow an elderly couple who live in a village where an omnipresent mist dulls their memories of specific past events. Through this haze, they remember that they have a son who left them (under possibly mysterious circumstances) and decide to set out for his village and visit them.
A point of annoyance quickly arises: the man calls the woman "princess" in every other sentence he utters. This never got less grating.
We follow them on their quest where they meet an Arthurian knight, a mysterious boatman, and hear tales of a she-dragon. This got quite repetitive and stretched out through the bulk of the book.
And then, the last few pages contain a reveal that I won't spoil for you. While the reveal is heartbreaking, the journey ultimately didn't feel like it was worth the destination.
Recommended if you're a fan of Ishiguro's work where most things are unsaid (I'm looking at you, Remains of the Day), enjoy an Arthurian middle England setting, and are in need of a sad fairytale for grown-ups. 2.75 stars on SG rounded up to 3 on GR.
The beginning was stellar: we follow an elderly couple who live in a village where an omnipresent mist dulls their memories of specific past events. Through this haze, they remember that they have a son who left them (under possibly mysterious circumstances) and decide to set out for his village and visit them.
A point of annoyance quickly arises: the man calls the woman "princess" in every other sentence he utters. This never got less grating.
We follow them on their quest where they meet an Arthurian knight, a mysterious boatman, and hear tales of a she-dragon. This got quite repetitive and stretched out through the bulk of the book.
And then, the last few pages contain a reveal that I won't spoil for you. While the reveal is heartbreaking, the journey ultimately didn't feel like it was worth the destination.
Recommended if you're a fan of Ishiguro's work where most things are unsaid (I'm looking at you, Remains of the Day), enjoy an Arthurian middle England setting, and are in need of a sad fairytale for grown-ups. 2.75 stars on SG rounded up to 3 on GR.
katiegilley's review against another edition
5.0
This story is full of ogres, dragons, and pixies – definitely not what I was expecting for my first Kazuo Ishiguro novel! Set in the time of Arthurian legend, Beatrice and Axl are on a quest to their son’s village. It’s a difficult journey not just because of the hazards along the way, but because there is a strange mist over the entire island that causes its inhabitants to lose their memories. Some memories come back in flashes and snippets, but there is this constant cloudiness that suppresses everything. Even within a simple conversation, two people can become so confused that they’re often repeating themselves or reminding the other what has been said.
This story explored some very fascinating themes and I highlighted a TON on my kindle. I don’t want to say too much, because watching the themes unfold was a big part of this novel’s appeal. This was about lifelong relationships and the things that we do that are hurtful to the most important people in our lives. It was about nearing the end of our lives and how we become separated from our loved ones when we die. There were some interesting religious allusions – the things we do because we believe that it’s what a god wants, despite our own inner voice telling us that it’s wrong.
It seemed as though Ishiguro was exploring Alzheimer’s in some way. Memories swam to the surface, but in fuzzy and incomplete ways. Conversations were cut off or needed to be repeated for meanings to be understood, and even then it didn’t always work.
I thought this was written brilliantly. There were moments when I found the story to be slow, but there was enough of an undercurrent that kept pulling me along. The way the characters kept repeating themselves was executed so well – I could feel the mist settling over me and my own brain start to feel bogged down. My heart pounded through the last third of the book as Axl and Beatrice neared their destination. I was so worried about what was going to happen.
I’ve never been a huge Arthurian legend fan and this time period has never been a favorite for me, so the odds of me liking this book were not huge. But I’m going to step out on a limb and say that this will be one of my favorite reads this year. And I am definitely going to return to Ishiguro!
This story explored some very fascinating themes and I highlighted a TON on my kindle. I don’t want to say too much, because watching the themes unfold was a big part of this novel’s appeal. This was about lifelong relationships and the things that we do that are hurtful to the most important people in our lives. It was about nearing the end of our lives and how we become separated from our loved ones when we die. There were some interesting religious allusions – the things we do because we believe that it’s what a god wants, despite our own inner voice telling us that it’s wrong.
It seemed as though Ishiguro was exploring Alzheimer’s in some way. Memories swam to the surface, but in fuzzy and incomplete ways. Conversations were cut off or needed to be repeated for meanings to be understood, and even then it didn’t always work.
I thought this was written brilliantly. There were moments when I found the story to be slow, but there was enough of an undercurrent that kept pulling me along. The way the characters kept repeating themselves was executed so well – I could feel the mist settling over me and my own brain start to feel bogged down. My heart pounded through the last third of the book as Axl and Beatrice neared their destination. I was so worried about what was going to happen.
I’ve never been a huge Arthurian legend fan and this time period has never been a favorite for me, so the odds of me liking this book were not huge. But I’m going to step out on a limb and say that this will be one of my favorite reads this year. And I am definitely going to return to Ishiguro!
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
3.0
A noble Arthurian tale. Like one reviewer said, I felt as if it was a metaphor that went over my head. Well done capturing a more classic style of storytelling, but not my favorite type of fiction. Refreshing to see a fantasy story centered around an aged couple rather than a young upstart.
danang's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
deanrossss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
lkreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A wonder and captivating story full of rich characters that you grow to care for.
The language grew on me throughout the book and became on of my favourite aspects. While it to me felt stilted the first couple of chapters, once I became used to it, I appreciated the careful, polite tone that helped embrace the warmth of the characters and the cold, harsh world, they have to navigate.
The first few chapters were somewhat uneventful and a little boring. While I appreciated l, after the fact, the careful groundwork it lay for the relationship between the two main characters, it stood in an not entirely favourable contrast to the tense and eventful remainder of the book.
The language grew on me throughout the book and became on of my favourite aspects. While it to me felt stilted the first couple of chapters, once I became used to it, I appreciated the careful, polite tone that helped embrace the warmth of the characters and the cold, harsh world, they have to navigate.
The first few chapters were somewhat uneventful and a little boring. While I appreciated l, after the fact, the careful groundwork it lay for the relationship between the two main characters, it stood in an not entirely favourable contrast to the tense and eventful remainder of the book.
illusie's review against another edition
2.0
It was a bit boring and strange. I feel like I wouldn't have missed a thing if I hadn't read this book.
free_lance's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
funktious's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
As with Klara and the Sun, I’m unsure how I feel about this book after finishing it. I think it will need a reread at some point.
More of an atmospheric, extended metaphor than an actual plot, with an intriguing, eerie, post Arthurian setting. Interesting themes of national identity and collective memory - I couldn’t help thinking of Brexit, which obviously the book predates, but it would’ve been written in that febrile era of 'we don’t need them, we can go it alone, up Britannia' etc etc.
I struggled with the dialogue, and found the whole middle section a bit of a slog, but the ending was strong, if melancholy. I’ll come back to this again.
More of an atmospheric, extended metaphor than an actual plot, with an intriguing, eerie, post Arthurian setting. Interesting themes of national identity and collective memory - I couldn’t help thinking of Brexit, which obviously the book predates, but it would’ve been written in that febrile era of 'we don’t need them, we can go it alone, up Britannia' etc etc.
I struggled with the dialogue, and found the whole middle section a bit of a slog, but the ending was strong, if melancholy. I’ll come back to this again.
photogeezer's review against another edition
2.0
Like Never Let Me Go, this left me unsatisfied. I wonder if anyone else feels that the ambiguous ending to a book is a literary mind-fuck. I suppose I could be convinced that this response is a function of my personality. Also, I thought that it was written like YA fantasy fiction. I would have liked it batter as a teenager.