Reviews

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

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abi_cass19's review against another edition

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emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-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

4.25

kay_ness's review against another edition

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5.0

Others have written much more eloquent reviews of this book than I could, so I won’t even try. ‘The Remains of the Day’ will stay with me for a long time. Ishiguro’s gentle, beautifully crafted writing is a joy, as is the slow unfolding of the story, with, at its heart, the perfectly formed tragic figure of Stevens and his eventual realisation that with different choices his life could have been very different. In Ishiguro’s hands, Stevens is so real that I do hope that he found that ‘the evening’s the best part of the day’.

eyoung19's review against another edition

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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

3.5

queenofgotham's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

5.0

repobi's review against another edition

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4.0

With beautiful and engaging prose, Kazuo Ishiguro wrote such a heartfelt story about Stevens, a devoted and rigid butler. After the death of his old master Lord Darlington and the arrival of Mr. Farraday. He takes a small trip around England. Along the journey, he reminisces the most important moments in his life with an introspective manner.

He spent most of his life as a stoic butler, rigid and emotionally detached. He only care about his job and become oblivious to what's happening around him.

There's restrained subtlety. Its about everything unsaid. The love, sadness, and regrets are hidden between the words.

andra's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

hdavra's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Very well written and easy to read, the story examines class, dignity, service and attitudes towards a life well lived through the words of a 20th century English butler.
This book is quietly tragic, with short subtle moments of great emotion which sneak up on you without being noticeably dramatic. There is a great sadness to the main character as he reminisces on his time in service to a great English house.