Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - The Remains of the Day

Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

84 reviews

thetatteredowl's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Utterly stunning portrayal of an English butler reflecting on his career during the 1930s. It is similar to Never Let Me Go in its themes and writing style, but unlike that book, I came to The Remains Of The Day without spoilers, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

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monahed's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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diyashasen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.25

I highly recommend if you love: Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey, Longbourn, long drives, the narrative structure of The Catcher in the Rye (but not the actual narrative), and Joe Wright's cinematography.

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literarypaiges's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

This was my first book by Kazuo Ishiguro and I see why so many people love his work. The Remains of the Day is a beautifully crafted, slow moving journey through the memories and pondering of an old-fashioned, proud English butler named Stevens. ⁣
⁣
Stevens is cold and refined, and yet also contemplative in a way that feels warm despite his own pointed detachment from his surroundings, thoughts, and feelings. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a narrator so unreliable who also has such a distinctive voice. I’ve never read a book quite like this, and I doubt I will for some time. There are so many interesting debates to be had here, particularly regarding class, power structures, and politics both historical and contemporary — but I keep coming back to the complex and fascinating characterization of Stevens himself. ⁣

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ilka's review against another edition

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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

3.0

The book was very well written and many of the topics that were discussed will stick around in my head for sure, but I just hate the main character. That´s probably the point of the story, but I found it very frustrating to read.

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strrygo's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

unbelievable, will have to come back one day to revisit day two the morning at salisbury

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nofacelif's review against another edition

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challenging lighthearted 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

2.5

I enjoyed that the protagonist's flaws and character growth were a significant part of the novel and the discussions surrounding dignity. Ishiguro brilliantly manages to establish a political undertone without it being the main focus. However, I think I just didn't connect much with the novel. There isn't really a story, and it's very slow-paced and boring at times. Therefore, it came as a letdown after reading Never Let Me Go.

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paulinevb's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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miagw962's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-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

"But we could still have chaps like you taking messages back and forth, bringing tea, that sort of thing. Otherwise, how would we ever get anything done? Can you imagine it, Stevens? All of us rooted in the soil? Just imagine it!"

Third book in a row that I've rated 5 stars which is extremely exciting. I picked up The Remains of the Day simply because it was Ishiguro - I've only ever read Never Let Me Go which I liked but didn't move me in the way that I expected it would. I did, however, enjoy Ishiguro's quiet, sensible yet emotive style of writing that made his characters seem so tangible. I did not expect to fall in love with The Remains of the Day - in fact, I was told I might find it tedious or just kind of odd considering it is a little historical fiction that only shows the perspective of Mr Stevens, a butler in the mid-19th century. Guess what? I did indeed fall in love with every moment of it. There was a point where I kind of slowed down reading the book but that was mostly because I had other stuff on. I don't know how Ishiguro has written something so purposefully emotionally charged yet so indifferent and content. At every moment, I felt like I knew how Stevens was going to react to things, I felt after all this time I completely understood why he reacted in the ways that he did. He both frustrated me and warmed my heart. I can barely describe it - I just wanted to tell him 'hey, it's ok to let your feelings show' and he'd probably reply back 'I'm perfectly fine, I have no idea what you're talking about' (but probably in some proper, more polite English). I was crying maybe for the last 20 pages of the book. I was getting really upset knowing it would end with Stevens being like 'oh well, I've had a pretty nice career' WHICH HE HAS but I need him to know that people love him and he deserves happiness. AHHHHHH I feel so strongly for this character. I was just so upset by the end, it was so so so bittersweet. Indescribable things I feel. Anyway I will indeed be watching the movie which I've heard is a beautiful adaptation and am really looking forward to it.

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zmiya's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

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