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dyno8426's review against another edition
5.0
'The Remains of the Day' is a portrait of a life of a butler, who served a distinguished English lord during the happening times of the two World Wars. He undertakes a roadtrip across the English landscape and through his retrospection is this portrait painted. There's nothing spectacular about the story or the writing here but what imparts it its beauty is the grace which it carries, both in its writing and its characters. The author writes in a very gentlemanly English, the calmness and the dignity associated with the language and the English manners. It was one of the things which I loved about this book, the rhythm that it lets the reader easily catch up with. The other is the humble perspective it takes, one which is acceptable and not cynical. It is a liberating and comforting view towards life, telling us how to look back towards our lives without regret and enjoy what remains of the day.
maramergens's review against another edition
3.5
Felt true to my other Ishiguro reads in the story telling style. The narrator starts off telling their story in a linear way but backtracks and recollects memories not in chronological order but in a way that still manages to make sense.
There were moments that I felt fond for Mr. Stevens solely because he reminded me of Adrian Monk.But I can’t really understand Miss Kensington’s love for him, honestly. Especially after defending his anti-Semitic employer and then denying that he defended him years later?
I understand that Mr. Stevens’ failings to understand the benefits of democracy over monarchy don’t actually reflect the views of the author but? I didn’t really get what his perspective was meant to teach the reader. Maybe this one’s just for the Brits.
It’s such a bummer that the two other Ishiguro books I’ve read are his only sci-fi/dystopian novels because I think it’s a genre he does so well. It’s not even my favorite genre but it is when he does it. I’m interested to read more of his literary works and his one fantasy novel and see how they stack up. My ranking so far is:
1. Never Let Me Go
2. Klara and the Sun
3. Remains of the Day
There were moments that I felt fond for Mr. Stevens solely because he reminded me of Adrian Monk.
I understand that Mr. Stevens’ failings to understand the benefits of democracy over monarchy don’t actually reflect the views of the author but? I didn’t really get what his perspective was meant to teach the reader. Maybe this one’s just for the Brits.
It’s such a bummer that the two other Ishiguro books I’ve read are his only sci-fi/dystopian novels because I think it’s a genre he does so well. It’s not even my favorite genre but it is when he does it. I’m interested to read more of his literary works and his one fantasy novel and see how they stack up. My ranking so far is:
1. Never Let Me Go
2. Klara and the Sun
3. Remains of the Day
modalmle's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
lizcheyenne's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Never did I think I would enjoy reading an old English butler gossip but it's the best book I've read in quite a while
56bumblebees's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
joshuabeardsley's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
maxap's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
connie56's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
_felix's review against another edition
2.0
I really struggled to get through this book, not because it's badly written, but because I didn't care about anything that happened at all. The entire book just follows this butler as he slowly realises that he hasn't done much in his life other than being a butler. Had I managed to connect with him, that would be one thing, but that never happened and I think that made it very difficult to enjoy the book as a whole