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waylintaylin's review against another edition
4.0
I did the horrible deed of watching the movie before reading the book (le gasp!), but I just had to at the time since it had such wonderful actors. And it's safe to say that I love the book even more. It's certainly not my favorite of all time, but it was extremely ... emotional? No that's not right. It just tugged at my heart and made me cry at random moments due to the fact that these people aren't too far out of our future and it's terrifying. Defiantly recommend.
sophialai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
cleooooo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ahorsey's review against another edition
5.0
Never written a review till now. This was my first Kazuo Ishiguro book and I was really moved towards the end of the book. I was so absorbed into the bleak, enclosed life, yet dotted with rays of happiness of the students as described by Kathy that the overarching themes of sci-fi and dystopia never really occured to me other than just hanging in the background. I have not read anything quite like this before, where the story just kind of flows with a lot of emphasis on mood and atmosphere rather than a clear plotline. By the end I was really attached to majority of the characters.
I an sure to read more books by him in the future.
"I was thinking about the rubbish, the flapping plastic in the branches, the shore-line of odd stuff caught along the fencing, and I half-closed my eyes and imagined this was the spot where everything I'd ever lost since my childhood had washed up, and I was now standing here in front of it, and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across and the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy, and he'd wave maybe even call. The fantasy never got beyond that - I didn't let it - and though the tears rolled down my face, I wasn't sobbing or out of control. I just waited a bit, then turned back to the car, to drive off to wherever it was I was supposed to be. "
I an sure to read more books by him in the future.
"I was thinking about the rubbish, the flapping plastic in the branches, the shore-line of odd stuff caught along the fencing, and I half-closed my eyes and imagined this was the spot where everything I'd ever lost since my childhood had washed up, and I was now standing here in front of it, and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across and the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy, and he'd wave maybe even call. The fantasy never got beyond that - I didn't let it - and though the tears rolled down my face, I wasn't sobbing or out of control. I just waited a bit, then turned back to the car, to drive off to wherever it was I was supposed to be. "
inherentlysleepy's review against another edition
5.0
Reread on March 2023: still my favorite book of all time. Never Let Me Go has a hold on me no other book has.
----------
Original review in 2016:
Note: this review contains spoilers.
Halfway through, before finishing Never Let Me Go, I knew I won't be able to start reading another book right after because I sure would be bothered—dysfunctional, even—by every bit of it.
There was only one word I'd been whispering to myself throughout my read, though, it was "melancholic"—if not at all tragic. That was me being so emotional as ever as a reader. I could go on about the technicals of the book and Ishiguro's writing technique: conversational that makes the reader feel like they are "students" themselves. So as not to be "surprised" and bewildered when things and reasons—we all knew were being subtly revealed with clues one by one as the story wore on—have unclouded officially. How he used stream of consciousness as a device to appropriately deal with the former matter. It is something that comes close to telling a story which gives off a certain intimacy between the protagonist and its reader. It really worked out well for me.
But I don't think that's the whole point. The beauty and importance I found in this book is that not only can it tug at readers' hearts, but is also a retelling (if not in the most honest and literal way) of truths about our world and how we move forward as a person included in a society, but some times we feel as though we really aren't exactly.
(Side note: this whole donation thing kind of reminded me of Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal.)
Kathy, Ruth, Tommy and the rest of the "students", I can't help but think how unfortunate their fates were. First they live to learn and at least get a glimpse of how it really is to feel like a real human (and to test whether or not they had souls) by their guardians' teaching of them to appreciate art—all of these weren't told until the anagnorisis of the book. Thereafter they'd been given just enough time before training and becoming carers to explore and understand the world outside Hailsham and sort things out for themselves, which includes discovering and rediscovering things they haven't yet known and knew all their lives without completely considering it. And finally settling in to mainly why they were made for: to donate, and "complete" by the end of their time. However I think their fates unfortunate according to my own measure stick, it was all redeemed by their bound to fulfilling the purpose of their existence.
I find this utterly melancholic as they knew all along how and what their lives should be, like it's written in the books that can never be altered. But at the same time, I can't help but ponder how much truth that weighs in on this story across the real situations in our lives. That we sometimes question ourselves against the gush of wind, but given no choice better than to accept and take contentment in the way the tide of fate for us is supposed to be. That love may be infinite, like how we drink in the sea view as though the waters can go on forever unbounded by mountains, but—at the very same recognition—we knew it must come to an end.
Never Let Me Go, in a fascinating manner, is so disturbing of a book that will haunt me for quite some time.
----------
Original review in 2016:
Note: this review contains spoilers.
Halfway through, before finishing Never Let Me Go, I knew I won't be able to start reading another book right after because I sure would be bothered—dysfunctional, even—by every bit of it.
There was only one word I'd been whispering to myself throughout my read, though, it was "melancholic"—if not at all tragic. That was me being so emotional as ever as a reader. I could go on about the technicals of the book and Ishiguro's writing technique: conversational that makes the reader feel like they are "students" themselves. So as not to be "surprised" and bewildered when things and reasons—we all knew were being subtly revealed with clues one by one as the story wore on—have unclouded officially. How he used stream of consciousness as a device to appropriately deal with the former matter. It is something that comes close to telling a story which gives off a certain intimacy between the protagonist and its reader. It really worked out well for me.
But I don't think that's the whole point. The beauty and importance I found in this book is that not only can it tug at readers' hearts, but is also a retelling (if not in the most honest and literal way) of truths about our world and how we move forward as a person included in a society, but some times we feel as though we really aren't exactly.
(Side note: this whole donation thing kind of reminded me of Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal.)
Kathy, Ruth, Tommy and the rest of the "students", I can't help but think how unfortunate their fates were. First they live to learn and at least get a glimpse of how it really is to feel like a real human (and to test whether or not they had souls) by their guardians' teaching of them to appreciate art—all of these weren't told until the anagnorisis of the book. Thereafter they'd been given just enough time before training and becoming carers to explore and understand the world outside Hailsham and sort things out for themselves, which includes discovering and rediscovering things they haven't yet known and knew all their lives without completely considering it. And finally settling in to mainly why they were made for: to donate, and "complete" by the end of their time. However I think their fates unfortunate according to my own measure stick, it was all redeemed by their bound to fulfilling the purpose of their existence.
I find this utterly melancholic as they knew all along how and what their lives should be, like it's written in the books that can never be altered. But at the same time, I can't help but ponder how much truth that weighs in on this story across the real situations in our lives. That we sometimes question ourselves against the gush of wind, but given no choice better than to accept and take contentment in the way the tide of fate for us is supposed to be. That love may be infinite, like how we drink in the sea view as though the waters can go on forever unbounded by mountains, but—at the very same recognition—we knew it must come to an end.
Never Let Me Go, in a fascinating manner, is so disturbing of a book that will haunt me for quite some time.
maria_c's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jessiemcg's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.0
…eh. This is the second book I’ve read from Kazuo Ishiguro, and just like the first I was DESPERATE to get it finished. It’s a snooze fest, I can’t lie.
Concept? Cool. But I need MORE, stop alluding to things - I’m a simple gal, spell it out, give me the details, give me a PLOT for heavens sake.
Just not my kinda fiction and unfortunately not an author i’ll be returning to for a third book. Not my cup of tea!
Concept? Cool. But I need MORE, stop alluding to things - I’m a simple gal, spell it out, give me the details, give me a PLOT for heavens sake.
Just not my kinda fiction and unfortunately not an author i’ll be returning to for a third book. Not my cup of tea!
ma9enta's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t enjoy this book that much.
The plot idea was great, very interesting and thought provoking but the execution could be better. Overall it was a bit boring for me and I felt like something was missing, I can’t even tell what.
The plot idea was great, very interesting and thought provoking but the execution could be better. Overall it was a bit boring for me and I felt like something was missing, I can’t even tell what.
megmoos's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I feel like this book has holes in it and I feel like the holes are probably where the really really good parts were.
eyeoweyooone's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75