Reviews

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

meyrathedreamer's review against another edition

4.0

this is undoubtedly one of the strangest books I've ever read. just read this. Don't look up anything about it on the internet and find out on your own what all these mean. It's a bizarre and emotional journey.

soccer8s's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

I just couldn't get into this book.  It wasn't bad,  just didn't pull me in for whatever reason. 

gohanian's review against another edition

5.0

4.75 ⭐

A genius, relatable coming of age portrayal.

aziraphale2000's review against another edition

2.0

Show don't tell, right? The first-person, random thoughts narrative style was off puttng. It made the significant issue of the book---growing clones for their organs---dull. I know this was probably an intentional choice by the author... contrasting and understated, casual narrative with the horrors of what is actually taking place. Still, dull. A chore to read.

bookswithlydscl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Not what I expected - literary sci-fi I'd say. It felt much more character driven and doesn't really have any action. It's a really interesting take on the dystopian/scifi genre, glad to have finally read it.

julia_shugart's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bettinaab's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

emchuah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

angushchan's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

The first half of the book is a tough chew. Kathy begins by reminiscing on her time at school, and recounts every interaction she has with her schoolmates in minute detail – making you feel like you're stuck in a conversation you don't want to be a part of. However, it is all washed down with Ishiguro's silky writing; and once you discover the horrible world they find themselves in, you realise he has been holding a mirror to you the entire time.

Pouring one out for my boy Tommy tonight.

psmith11011's review against another edition

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? N/A

2.75

I just didn’t like the whole pacing and then ending of the book. I felt like despite being character driven the characters did not have any strong development and stayed the same. I also did not like how I could not feel the love between Kathy and Tommy. They just basically said they were and slept together and that’s it. When they learn at the end that they can’t extend their time together it doesn’t even seem like they are super upset they just calmly move on and go to their deaths. I did think the plot twist of why the school existed was pretty cool though.