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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
The Unconsoled is a remarkable creation in so many ways, not least in the technical feat of setting such an odd mood and pursuing it with theme and variations at such great length, never straying into straight-out Monty Python style absurdity, but always remaining within hailing distance. It is, I think, more "Kafkaesque" and more successfully Kafkaesque than anything I have read in Kafka.
It is also spectacularly successful surrealism. Ishiguro willfully breaks rules of verisimilitude that are so deeply engrained as to be obeyed unquestioningly by much more overtly experimental writers, few of whom would dare to have a conversation of at least fifteen minutes take place during an elevator journey from the first floor to the second floor, which is virtually the first scene here. Indeed, a fun student exercise would just be to list the spatial, temporal, and architectural impossibilities in the book, as well as the overt absurdities of personal behavior and relationships. It would be a very long list. But despite this, The Unconsoled is not only coherent but true-to-life. Indeed, it may be the most "realistic" book I have ever read about how intention, action, and memory really work in human life.
Like anything exceptionally beautiful, it is of course not going to be to everyone's taste.
It is also spectacularly successful surrealism. Ishiguro willfully breaks rules of verisimilitude that are so deeply engrained as to be obeyed unquestioningly by much more overtly experimental writers, few of whom would dare to have a conversation of at least fifteen minutes take place during an elevator journey from the first floor to the second floor, which is virtually the first scene here. Indeed, a fun student exercise would just be to list the spatial, temporal, and architectural impossibilities in the book, as well as the overt absurdities of personal behavior and relationships. It would be a very long list. But despite this, The Unconsoled is not only coherent but true-to-life. Indeed, it may be the most "realistic" book I have ever read about how intention, action, and memory really work in human life.
Like anything exceptionally beautiful, it is of course not going to be to everyone's taste.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rating 3.5
'The Unconsoled' is a gem in surrealism, and is as beautiful as it is frustrating,
This book is like an extended dream sequence. It's bizarre and amazing. It's notable for the fact the lead character, as well as the reader, have no idea who he is, where he is, or what he's doing - at any point. There are often lengthy repetitive passages of dialogue that are frankly taxing and simply boring. To say it was a difficult read would be an understatement. I was on the verge of quitting this book several times, not because it isn't good, but just the sheer frustration of going through it!
This book is definitely not for everybody.
'The Unconsoled' is a gem in surrealism, and is as beautiful as it is frustrating,
This book is like an extended dream sequence. It's bizarre and amazing. It's notable for the fact the lead character, as well as the reader, have no idea who he is, where he is, or what he's doing - at any point. There are often lengthy repetitive passages of dialogue that are frankly taxing and simply boring. To say it was a difficult read would be an understatement. I was on the verge of quitting this book several times, not because it isn't good, but just the sheer frustration of going through it!
This book is definitely not for everybody.
This was an interesting book. I can see why people either love it or hate it.
Personally, I loved it. It was all garnished with wonderful symbolism and dreamy conventions of writing. I did find the side characters extremely annoying, with them constantly asking for favours from Mr Ryder with always the expectation that he would say yes, but I think that was the intention the author wanted to go with. He wanted us to get annoyed with the characters and feel this sense of annoyance at Ryder’s inability to say no to all these people. The town portrayed here is beaten down by its own conventions of friendship and respect. And it doesnt even once get a sense of self awareness that it’s because of them all this is going wrong. The way people were so selfish and blinded by their own needs and wants that they just refuse to see Ryder was running on low sleep and hunger. What’s even more ironic is, Ryder towards the end, also behinds to imbibe the same curve of expectation from people who he knows are doomed to stay dependant on him.
I would say this book is a must read for those who are interested in social interaction and psyche that is close to a mental breakdown. I didn’t give this book a complete 5 stars because I did feel Ishiguro went a little too overboard to get to his point and maybe this WOULDVE been a more enjoyable read had he learned to sort of restrain his observations on humans instead of, at times, repeating it. I still felt that even with this unconventional way of writing, he still managed to tell me a story that I enjoyed greatly
Personally, I loved it. It was all garnished with wonderful symbolism and dreamy conventions of writing. I did find the side characters extremely annoying, with them constantly asking for favours from Mr Ryder with always the expectation that he would say yes, but I think that was the intention the author wanted to go with. He wanted us to get annoyed with the characters and feel this sense of annoyance at Ryder’s inability to say no to all these people. The town portrayed here is beaten down by its own conventions of friendship and respect. And it doesnt even once get a sense of self awareness that it’s because of them all this is going wrong. The way people were so selfish and blinded by their own needs and wants that they just refuse to see Ryder was running on low sleep and hunger. What’s even more ironic is, Ryder towards the end, also behinds to imbibe the same curve of expectation from people who he knows are doomed to stay dependant on him.
I would say this book is a must read for those who are interested in social interaction and psyche that is close to a mental breakdown. I didn’t give this book a complete 5 stars because I did feel Ishiguro went a little too overboard to get to his point and maybe this WOULDVE been a more enjoyable read had he learned to sort of restrain his observations on humans instead of, at times, repeating it. I still felt that even with this unconventional way of writing, he still managed to tell me a story that I enjoyed greatly
According to an interview with the author, this is a book in "the language of dreams." While reading it, I didn't really enjoy it and found that I kept reading purely to see how it was going to end in the hopes that everything would suddenly make sense.
Like with dreams, the ending was pretty unsatisfying. However, I find I have grown to appreciate this book more as the years go on. They say that nothing is more boring than other people's dreams, but it's a very original idea for a novel.
Like with dreams, the ending was pretty unsatisfying. However, I find I have grown to appreciate this book more as the years go on. They say that nothing is more boring than other people's dreams, but it's a very original idea for a novel.
I thought this was uniquely brilliant. I can see why most people haven’t liked it as much as some of his others, but I absolutely loved it.
It felt like living in an entire world of Ishiguro’s own creation, and I found I was completely captivated from the very start but I can’t really explain why. I just think he’s an absolute genius and this deeply affected how I found myself perceiving the world.
It felt like living in an entire world of Ishiguro’s own creation, and I found I was completely captivated from the very start but I can’t really explain why. I just think he’s an absolute genius and this deeply affected how I found myself perceiving the world.