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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
the ending/reveal was a little. insane? but as always i really liked ishiguro’s writing/storytelling style, even if this protagonist was especially hard to enjoy sometimes.
Not my favorite Ishiguro novel, but there’s a good chance I’ll read it again down the road and like it more.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half of the book was very fun, with the crystal cut layers of unreliable narrators and unreliable memory that Ishiguro thrives in. I felt like around the time Christopher arrives in Shanghai, the quality dropped.
The centrality of the idea that none of us truly know ourselves, or our own history, in fascinating, but I felt as though my suspension of disbelief really got stretched in the second half - less because of Christopher’s perception of events, and more because so many other characters also seemed to support this perception. (Are they entertaining him because of his wealth and fame?! Why the celebration plotline/promise? What was the end goal?)
Many of the characters come and go in passing, and I felt no real satisfaction in each character’s outcome (or lack thereof). And I felt as though Sarah’s character was solely there to create a sense of urgency amongst Christopher’s perception of events. I felt as though her and several other characters were squandered (even amongst the “such is life” theme of how quickly people can come and go).
I’d recommend The Remains of the Day over this book. While this book is more action-packed, I actually feel as though the central idea gets diluted by the events of the book if that makes sense.
The centrality of the idea that none of us truly know ourselves, or our own history, in fascinating, but I felt as though my suspension of disbelief really got stretched in the second half - less because of Christopher’s perception of events, and more because so many other characters also seemed to support this perception. (Are they entertaining him because of his wealth and fame?! Why the celebration plotline/promise? What was the end goal?)
Many of the characters come and go in passing, and I felt no real satisfaction in each character’s outcome (or lack thereof). And I felt as though Sarah’s character was solely there to create a sense of urgency amongst Christopher’s perception of events. I felt as though her and several other characters were squandered (even amongst the “such is life” theme of how quickly people can come and go).
I’d recommend The Remains of the Day over this book. While this book is more action-packed, I actually feel as though the central idea gets diluted by the events of the book if that makes sense.
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of those books I couldn't put down. Very thought provoking and sometimes emotional story. I enjoyed the first half more than the second, the conclusion was as good as the beginning. The main character was very naive and at his return to Shanghai is where I struggled to understand how other people seemed to react and behave around him. A lot of it made sense in the end, but not all of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture
Minor: Child death, Rape