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sbtariq's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Very dream-like, bit hard to keep up at the beginning but overall a very splendid read.
fairywren's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
vortimer's review against another edition
5.0
Went into this completely blind, and after little confusion about a long rambling speech made by a elderly hotel porter to the protagonist, it became clear that the main character is in a dream. He can travel miles, and enter a building, and be in a eariler location. Things change about him, an example being when he's asked to speak to the porters semi estranged daughter, and her young son, and during the meeting with these strangers, he morphs into being in a strained longterm relationship with her, struggling to connect with his de facto stepson.
With a tight schedule he can't quite remember, he attempted to get to appointments, while the people he meets ask things of him, often to carry out favours and tasks to solve their raw hidden personal pain caused by events and decisions buried deep in their past. As this growing list prevents him carrying out his already agreed errands, the strain grows.
While utterly compelling, I found this a physically difficult listen (I tackled this on audible) as accompanying Ryder on his epic anxiety dream brings all too much to mind the dreams caused by the catalogue of problems and overwork in the community sector during the stresses of the pandemic. There where times I had to switch to a pulpy easy read, and even considered abandoning the novel, as there were moments I felt my chest tightening.
I've skimmed Wikipedia, and seen this is a novel that sharply divided opinions, but for what it's worth, I thought it a work of genius.
With a tight schedule he can't quite remember, he attempted to get to appointments, while the people he meets ask things of him, often to carry out favours and tasks to solve their raw hidden personal pain caused by events and decisions buried deep in their past. As this growing list prevents him carrying out his already agreed errands, the strain grows.
While utterly compelling, I found this a physically difficult listen (I tackled this on audible) as accompanying Ryder on his epic anxiety dream brings all too much to mind the dreams caused by the catalogue of problems and overwork in the community sector during the stresses of the pandemic. There where times I had to switch to a pulpy easy read, and even considered abandoning the novel, as there were moments I felt my chest tightening.
I've skimmed Wikipedia, and seen this is a novel that sharply divided opinions, but for what it's worth, I thought it a work of genius.
frostap's review against another edition
4.0
For as confusing as the plot was, "The Unconsoled" wasn't a bad read. I'd be curious to talk about this at a book club, because either I 1) missed the point or 2) there maybe isn't a point. I wondered if some of the underlying themes (parent-child relationships, life seemingly out of control, haunting reminders of the past, etc.) were issues Ishiguro himself struggled with as an artist? I don't know.
I did spend the first 100 or so pages (which I think take place during one afternoon/evening) so disoriented. I kept thinking (throughout the book, actually) "what time is it?! They've been up all night!" The action had a dreamlike quality. I often have dreams where there's something I have to get done and I just can't seem to arrive, much like Ryder (I guess that's a spoiler?). Interesting read.
I did spend the first 100 or so pages (which I think take place during one afternoon/evening) so disoriented. I kept thinking (throughout the book, actually) "what time is it?! They've been up all night!" The action had a dreamlike quality. I often have dreams where there's something I have to get done and I just can't seem to arrive, much like Ryder (I guess that's a spoiler?). Interesting read.
mercurue's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
biha's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.0
His most difficult read if im honest. It took me a long time to finish this book as I genuinely felt like i was having a panic attack with the way Mr. Ryder was ALWAYS being distracted by something. Did he even sleep? It seems like he just took a nap or two, was interrupted, then woke up to another task feeling like he only slept for a few moments. There were so many questions answered and I genuinely felt like I was in dream- which after finishing the book & reading another review, apparently this is the tone. Which makes a lot more sense but if you’re someone who already has anxiety AND anxiety dreams about performing/ doing a task/ having pressure on yourself to succeed- this is not the book for you. I absolutely love Kazuo Ishiguro and I would like to re read this book with a new outlook and perspective and I think could see it becoming more likeable.
softrosemint's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolute joy of a novel. Masterfully written and entirely intriguing, though I understand why it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
It is the kind of novel that you have to trust and just follow along - much like you would a dream. This is, in fact, the stylistic structure the novel purposefully follows and perhaps the sense of confusion it creates within many a reader is on its own a testament to its success. But in short, if you are the kind of person who wondered at the end of "Inception" whether it was all real or just Cobb's imagination, rather than focus on the thematic resolution and conclusion of the narrative, you would not enjoy this.
Personally, this was my favourite aspect of the novel and what made it an exceptional reading experience for me. It took some time getting used to but once I understood where it was purposeful, it was something I could trust would take me where I needed to be.
It is fascinating to me how excellently Ishiguro achieves the precise sense of confusion yet absolute resolution in confidence in one's dreams in literary form. From the way it makes perfect sense for Ryder to have once seen his schedule and to have completely missed it in the next paragraph, to the way he cannot help himself from reacting and acting a certain why, out of nowhere, to the confidence with which he goes from a room that was at the other end of town straight back into the hotel without question (he once even remarks it was just "one of those buildings"), to the humour in the absurdity of it all. In my mind, it also played strongly on several cultural references - Escher's work, a perhaps less lyrical Borges, and the structure of Dante's "Inferno" (almost every Canto ending with Dante passing out due to the untenable horror of Hell compared to Ryder's falling asleep at the end of each section), in particular come to mind.
And like any dream, it is our (Ryder's) subconscious trying to put our (Ryder's) life into order and unburden the mind from the matters that torture us (Ryder) during our waking hours. In that sense, the novel can be read Ryder encountering different versions of himself from different periods of his life (I believe this is something that Ishiguro himself has suggested; it comes off clearly in my opinion and it is the way I feel I understood it for the majority of my reading time). It is an exploration of what has been and what could have been.
Regardless, "The Unconsoled" is the kind of the novel of which any reader could find their own interpretation should they only allow it to speak, trust and listen.
It is the kind of novel that you have to trust and just follow along - much like you would a dream. This is, in fact, the stylistic structure the novel purposefully follows and perhaps the sense of confusion it creates within many a reader is on its own a testament to its success. But in short, if you are the kind of person who wondered at the end of "Inception" whether it was all real or just Cobb's imagination, rather than focus on the thematic resolution and conclusion of the narrative, you would not enjoy this.
Personally, this was my favourite aspect of the novel and what made it an exceptional reading experience for me. It took some time getting used to but once I understood where it was purposeful, it was something I could trust would take me where I needed to be.
It is fascinating to me how excellently Ishiguro achieves the precise sense of confusion yet absolute resolution in confidence in one's dreams in literary form. From the way it makes perfect sense for Ryder to have once seen his schedule and to have completely missed it in the next paragraph, to the way he cannot help himself from reacting and acting a certain why, out of nowhere, to the confidence with which he goes from a room that was at the other end of town straight back into the hotel without question (he once even remarks it was just "one of those buildings"), to the humour in the absurdity of it all. In my mind, it also played strongly on several cultural references - Escher's work, a perhaps less lyrical Borges, and the structure of Dante's "Inferno" (almost every Canto ending with Dante passing out due to the untenable horror of Hell compared to Ryder's falling asleep at the end of each section), in particular come to mind.
And like any dream, it is our (Ryder's) subconscious trying to put our (Ryder's) life into order and unburden the mind from the matters that torture us (Ryder) during our waking hours. In that sense, the novel can be read Ryder encountering different versions of himself from different periods of his life (I believe this is something that Ishiguro himself has suggested; it comes off clearly in my opinion and it is the way I feel I understood it for the majority of my reading time). It is an exploration of what has been and what could have been.
Regardless, "The Unconsoled" is the kind of the novel of which any reader could find their own interpretation should they only allow it to speak, trust and listen.
dw_'s review against another edition
challenging
tense
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? No
3.5