Reviews

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

Only show reviews with written explanations

gerdash's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

3.25

sidranabeel's review

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challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

faloneran's review against another edition

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lighthearted 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

3.5

This appears to be quite a divisive one. It is either brilliant or “invented its own category of badness” (James Wood).

Good thing we all interact with books differently (agree to disagree, James); I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Unconsoled is nightmarish, darkly hilarious (“they have an electric scoreboard!”), and completely riveting. It meditates on the unique character communities often develop, the blind spots inherent in echo chambers, pride, the essence of “true art” and if that’s even a “thing”. We feel the characters’ inability to control the unpredictable tides of their lives, and wonder how much control we really have over our own.