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livmull's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
kbiere's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ethanawang's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
markrickaby's review against another edition
5.0
This has to be one of the most subtle and charming books I've read. The tone is considered throughout and the book's message is inferred without Stevens, the protagonist, knowing it himself. It's the literary equivalent of a perfect cup of tea in the evening.
sarahboudereads's review against another edition
3.0
Loved all the scenes and discussions between Mr Stevens and Miss Kenton but was also quite bored during the rest of the novel. I'd recommend it for Downton Abbey lovers because it reminded me a lot of Carlson.
autogeek's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a masterpiece. It's a very subtle book with a quintessential English-gentlemanly prose. Ishiguro's writing style is just so beautifully elegant. This alone catapults the book into the class of all-time great contemporary literary classics.
The story is about Stevens, an English butler, taking a vacation traveling around the English countryside and reminiscing about his past. It is presented as if Stevens is speaking to the reader and as such is an account of events from his point of view. On the journey, he ponders and puts forth his thoughts on issues large and small such as greatness, dignity, etc. He discusses important events he was involved in or witnessed in the course of this career.
I initially picked this book up because of Jeff Bezos (the founder of Amazon). He once mentioned in an interview that this was the most influential book he ever read and credits it as the inspiration behind his "regret-minimization framework". And I can see why.
In the book, Stevens is obsessed with being the perfect butler to the exclusion of almost all else. While on his vacation he evaluates some of the personal choices he has made in the pursuit of excellence and is filled with regret. He regrets all the missed opportunities, the paths untrodden. Even though all the choices he made seemed to be the correct ones at the time, he regrets not having indulged himself a little, not having compromised a bit in his single-minded drive to be the perfect butler to have at least a semblance of a personal life. All the choices he made were based on an idea of what he thought a butler should be like with little regard to what he would be losing (or even gaining) in the trade. In the end though, he is forced to come to terms with the fact that all his choices and actions amounted to very little in the grand scheme of things. In his zeal to be the perfect butler, he focused all his energies on the tiniest of details and lost sight of the big picture.
This is a profoundly melancholic book. There is nothing more tragic than a man having given his entire life over to and sacrificed so much towards an ideal coming to the realization that it had been all for naught.
Recommended read for all.
The story is about Stevens, an English butler, taking a vacation traveling around the English countryside and reminiscing about his past. It is presented as if Stevens is speaking to the reader and as such is an account of events from his point of view. On the journey, he ponders and puts forth his thoughts on issues large and small such as greatness, dignity, etc. He discusses important events he was involved in or witnessed in the course of this career.
I initially picked this book up because of Jeff Bezos (the founder of Amazon). He once mentioned in an interview that this was the most influential book he ever read and credits it as the inspiration behind his "regret-minimization framework". And I can see why.
In the book, Stevens is obsessed with being the perfect butler to the exclusion of almost all else. While on his vacation he evaluates some of the personal choices he has made in the pursuit of excellence and is filled with regret. He regrets all the missed opportunities, the paths untrodden. Even though all the choices he made seemed to be the correct ones at the time, he regrets not having indulged himself a little, not having compromised a bit in his single-minded drive to be the perfect butler to have at least a semblance of a personal life. All the choices he made were based on an idea of what he thought a butler should be like with little regard to what he would be losing (or even gaining) in the trade. In the end though, he is forced to come to terms with the fact that all his choices and actions amounted to very little in the grand scheme of things. In his zeal to be the perfect butler, he focused all his energies on the tiniest of details and lost sight of the big picture.
This is a profoundly melancholic book. There is nothing more tragic than a man having given his entire life over to and sacrificed so much towards an ideal coming to the realization that it had been all for naught.
Recommended read for all.