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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
Story: English butler had a lady who also worked for him… he only paid attention to his duties. He needed help at his house and went to find her later in life thinking she had divorced, she hadn’t. He sits on a pier and realizes the end of the day is the best and he will work on his banter.
quietly devastating. so glad I picked this up, I see more Ishiguro in my future
Ishiguro excels at unreliable, stoic narrators with dark pasts that they refuse to acknowledge. Stevens is the consummate English butler – he is discrete, dignified, and will do anything in the service of his employer. Unfortunately, Stevens is so busy being emotionally closed-off and inhabiting the role of butler that he fails to actually live his own life.
Another Ishiguro specialty is creating mysteries in non-mystery stories because of the complete unreliability of his narrators. The question of what really happened? looms large. It pulls the story along, even as Stevens meanders through the English countryside. Some questions are never truly answered – you still have to sift through Stevens’ broken memories and elusive references to understand an objective truth.
It is clear that Stevens respected his father, but had a troubled relationship with such an emotionally reserved workaholic. He was also in love with the housekeeper, Miss Kenton – who seems to have returned his feelings (why, God only knows). Unfortunately, Stevens is completely incapable of expressing himself, or even really acknowledging any deep emotions. Stevens was also absolutely loyal to Lord Darlington, a good-hearted, naïve, terribly misguided man who. Even when Lord Darlington took actions that Stevens disagreed with, like dismiss two Jewish maids, Stevens refuses to express any public disapproval. His lord’s opinions are his own opinions. His lord can do no wrong. Hell, if this was Nazi Germany, Stevens would’ve gone along with whatever his Nazi master asked of him. Stevens is honorable for having loyalty, but he is tragic because he doesn't have the discretion to use it wisely. Just as Lord Darlington is honorable for trying to improve the world, but tragic because he believes the wrong people. I think part of the tragedy is that if Stevens had been honest with Lord Darlington, he might have persuaded him to take a better direction. Lord Darlington used Stevens as a sounding board – but never understood that Stevens was simply a yes-man. Stevens might have been able to save Lord Darlington from himself (then again, maybe not).
Stevens, because he could not take pride in his own actions or decisions (as they were not his own, only the shadows cast by Lord Darlington), took great pride in being close to Great Men doing Great Things. He never sees himself as capable of doing anything important – but he is happy to be in the presence of importance. That’s why he preened so much in front of the villagers who mistook him for a gentlemen and bragged about being near Churchill.
It’s also sad that Stevens, as loyal to Lord Darlington as he was in life, tries to disassociate from him in death. Whenever anyone gets close to making the connection between Stevens and Lord Darlington, Stevens disassembles or lies outright. Maybe because Stevens is embarrassed about dedicating his life to a man who became so vilified. Or maybe because Stevens knows he was wrong for supporting Lord Darlington’s misguided beliefs. I don’t know.
I’m a little worried for Stevens – what will become of him when he can no longer work? Will he, like his father, quickly fade away? Stevens is now working for an American gentleman, Mr. Farraday, and is going to work on his “bantering” – because Stevens is so stiff and reserved, he has never learned how to joke. Poor Stevens. He was built for a different age.
Another Ishiguro specialty is creating mysteries in non-mystery stories because of the complete unreliability of his narrators. The question of what really happened? looms large. It pulls the story along, even as Stevens meanders through the English countryside. Some questions are never truly answered – you still have to sift through Stevens’ broken memories and elusive references to understand an objective truth.
It is clear that Stevens respected his father, but had a troubled relationship with such an emotionally reserved workaholic. He was also in love with the housekeeper, Miss Kenton – who seems to have returned his feelings (why, God only knows). Unfortunately, Stevens is completely incapable of expressing himself, or even really acknowledging any deep emotions. Stevens was also absolutely loyal to Lord Darlington, a good-hearted, naïve, terribly misguided man who
Spoiler
fell in with fascists and Nazis while trying to create a better worldStevens, because he could not take pride in his own actions or decisions (as they were not his own, only the shadows cast by Lord Darlington), took great pride in being close to Great Men doing Great Things. He never sees himself as capable of doing anything important – but he is happy to be in the presence of importance. That’s why he preened so much in front of the villagers who mistook him for a gentlemen and bragged about being near Churchill.
It’s also sad that Stevens, as loyal to Lord Darlington as he was in life, tries to disassociate from him in death. Whenever anyone gets close to making the connection between Stevens and Lord Darlington, Stevens disassembles or lies outright. Maybe because Stevens is embarrassed about dedicating his life to a man who became so vilified. Or maybe because Stevens knows he was wrong for supporting Lord Darlington’s misguided beliefs. I don’t know.
I’m a little worried for Stevens – what will become of him when he can no longer work? Will he, like his father, quickly fade away? Stevens is now working for an American gentleman, Mr. Farraday, and is going to work on his “bantering” – because Stevens is so stiff and reserved, he has never learned how to joke. Poor Stevens. He was built for a different age.
adventurous
funny
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
I loved this book a lot for one that I rated a 7/10. The themes are mature and the romance is interestingly done, but I don't necessarily know that it is good enough to be placed with the likes of Gilead that I have rated higher. I surely have more thoughts on the book, I always do, but I have little interest in espousing them right now.
An absolutely beautiful book. What strikes me most is how so much is said beneath and between the narrative - there is an unspoken novel within this novel, and the discovery is poignant and heartbreaking and lovely.
Straordinario, da scoprire man mano.
Ha un gusto raffinato, nostalgico. È un romanzo d'altri tempi.
Ha un gusto raffinato, nostalgico. È un romanzo d'altri tempi.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Ah man. That was a heart-breaker. All the things that don't happen in this book. Regret is such an awful feeling to live with. The theme of dignity pervades the story and while there are times I wish we'd see a little more dignity in the world (do politicians really have to tell us they took the President's phone call while having sex?), dignity in this case leaves no room for vulnerability, and vulnerability allows one to open one's heart to love and to be loved. Poor Stevens.