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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
100 pages in and had to bail. The whole perspective-switching thing doesn't make any sense; it's not "dreamlike" unless you're schizophrenic. Everything is flattened and grey, and all of that is fine if you're Kafka and writing The Castle, because that book is funny and often slapstick, but Ishiguro is not funny. This really reminded me of the Murakami I've read, which isn't much, because I don't like his faux-Kafka schtick either. If something's going to follow dream logic, the dream's got to be actually interesting! Kafka was always interesting!
3.5 stars. Ishiguro's more experimental work and a departure from his finely tuned prose. Peppered with some LOL moments, but needlessly long.
Unique, occasionally fascinating book that captures the perpetual shifting and vague urgency of dreams better than anything else I've read. I'm just not sure that's enough. There's enough here to make it worth reading, but not enough that I'd recommend it, and the length combined with the lack of narrative drive make the experience something of a slog. But it's not bad, really, and I never got that frustrated, almost painful feeling of boredom that comes off of complete artistic self-indulgence. Besides, this is arguably the end of the line for some of Ishiguro's most basic narrative obsessions; without the restriction of realism or anything beyond the lightest of continuity, the writer is free to noodle about themes like artistic pressure, self-doubt, the subjectivity of memory (the book is itself intentional, and frequently, inconsistent), and the obligations of living up to the needs of others. But it lacks the emotional gutpunch of Ishiguro's best work, since, despite the constant sense of events falling apart just outside of the narrator's reach, there's nothing solid enough to care about. Interesting, and has its moments, but ultimately not much more than an intermittently moving curiosity.
Reading this felt like living in an uncomfortable dream, which I think was kind of the point so well done you, Mr. Ishiguro, but ugh I dream plenty of uncomfortable dreams all by myself.
One of the stranger books I've ever read. I've never read anything that was quite so much like dreaming. Still wanted to punch the main character most of the time though.
I'm intending to read through all Kazuo Ishiguro's novels, which isn't too daunting a task as he only has eight and a collection of short stories at the moment. I'm half way through having read The Unconsoled and it's certainly one of the strangest novels I've read in a long time.
The plot is about a famous concert pianist Mr Ryder who is due to play a concert in an unamed European City. He is frustrated by a series of increasing bizarre and seemingly random events as he tries to prepare for the concert.
It's very different from the rest of Ishiguro's works that I've read in that it is set in a strange dream world. The events that happen seem more and more bizarre. His relationships with various people leave more questions than they do answer. The geography of the city can alter haphazardly. At times it's incredibly frustrating as Ryder gets increasingly involved in a series of events that hinder him and he seems unable to extricate himself. At times the absurdity of events is laugh out loud funny.
Having said it's different from his other novels it's also similar in many ways. There are echoes of The Buried Giant with the struggle with memory, there are also echoes of Remains of the Day as Ryder is seemingly a successful man in his chosen profession but is actually a mess in his private life.
What is the book actually about? It's far from clear, much of it is an enygma. It's a book that doesn't just leave you when you've finished the last page and pays well from thinking it through. All of Kazuo Ishiguro's novels have more to them than simply what appears on the surface. There are many layers to them and lots of metaphors. The Unconsoled however turns these things up to eleven.
Yes, at times the book is frustrating, it's far from clear what Ishiguro is saying but I loved it. I loved the labyrinth that he took us down even though we don't necessarily exit it. I enjoyed Ryder's frustrated attempts to prepare for his concert. I enjoyed the bizarre humour.
A strange but compellingly novel. Enjoyably frustrating.
The plot is about a famous concert pianist Mr Ryder who is due to play a concert in an unamed European City. He is frustrated by a series of increasing bizarre and seemingly random events as he tries to prepare for the concert.
It's very different from the rest of Ishiguro's works that I've read in that it is set in a strange dream world. The events that happen seem more and more bizarre. His relationships with various people leave more questions than they do answer. The geography of the city can alter haphazardly. At times it's incredibly frustrating as Ryder gets increasingly involved in a series of events that hinder him and he seems unable to extricate himself. At times the absurdity of events is laugh out loud funny.
Having said it's different from his other novels it's also similar in many ways. There are echoes of The Buried Giant with the struggle with memory, there are also echoes of Remains of the Day as Ryder is seemingly a successful man in his chosen profession but is actually a mess in his private life.
What is the book actually about? It's far from clear, much of it is an enygma. It's a book that doesn't just leave you when you've finished the last page and pays well from thinking it through. All of Kazuo Ishiguro's novels have more to them than simply what appears on the surface. There are many layers to them and lots of metaphors. The Unconsoled however turns these things up to eleven.
Yes, at times the book is frustrating, it's far from clear what Ishiguro is saying but I loved it. I loved the labyrinth that he took us down even though we don't necessarily exit it. I enjoyed Ryder's frustrated attempts to prepare for his concert. I enjoyed the bizarre humour.
A strange but compellingly novel. Enjoyably frustrating.
Most def not Kazuo Ishiguro's best book, I found it extremely confusing and incoherent.
challenging
slow-paced
It tortured me. It caused me such pain I got a taste for it. I gave it 3 stars initially. Now it's been 2 years since I read it, and the book haunts me. I am giving it 4 stars today. The pain is lingering.