A review by ninatw
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

5.0

There were so many things to love about this book; the writing style is uniquely conversational and meandering in its controlled recollection of memory, and reminded me of ‘The Remains of the Day’. The characters are believable and vivid, and all the little squabbles and minute interactions between them make them feel even more real. The plot itself feels slightly dull on the surface, but subtle hints and discreet insinuations throughout create an eerie atmosphere around this whole world, and I was totally captivated by the wanting to uncover more about it. The revelations near the end of the book are made more believable by the small discoveries we as the reader make alongside Kathy growing up, and I think that’s what helps it feel not too whacky and sci-fi, which was perfect for me. There are studies of human nature and relationships throughout the book, all coming to a head with the ultimate premise of the novel, which makes us question the skewed boundaries between scientific discovery and humaneness/morality in both our world and this distorted version of it. The idea of Hailsham as a symbolic place which emotionally connects Ruth, Tommy and Kathy is powerful, for me even more so than the love triangle between them, as it represents their childhood and the innocence they have since lost as they approach their inevitably tragic fate. Overall this was just such a captivating book unlike anything else I’ve read, I loved the writing style, and it had a powerful impact for me!