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A review by dsarle
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
5.0
The Greatest Love Story Never Told
The brilliance of Ishiguro's writing lies not in his ability to write an engaging text, but in his unrivaled skill in creating an alternative story that runs in your own head parallel to the text that he so masterfully created.
If you will, there are two books that are taking place at the same time. One that is skillfully told through Steven's eyes, which grabs the readers heart and attention, as it explores several aspects of his profession as a butler in a grand English home. We are struck with the most detailed account of concepts such as professionalism, dignity, and loyalty. In some ways, it parallels with the notion of "quality" from "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance".
At the same time and congruently, Ishiguro gives space for a parallel story, that you, as a reader create completely on your own. The masterful use of language and psychology forces you to think about many aspects of Steven's life that he is NOT mentioning. In fact, at times, it is hard to point to any particular reference in the text, that would explain the story that you have formulated in your head.
This effect is what makes "The Remains Of Day" - a masterpiece. It forces you to work with your own psychology, to struggle with your own demons that you happen to notice in Stevens. Each reader will undoubtedly pay attention to alter-stories that are most relevant to their own lives, and in that sense - the book gives us a list of things that we, ourselves, need to work on.
Without giving away too much of the "face-value" story, I must but say that this work was the greatest love story "never-told".
The brilliance of Ishiguro's writing lies not in his ability to write an engaging text, but in his unrivaled skill in creating an alternative story that runs in your own head parallel to the text that he so masterfully created.
If you will, there are two books that are taking place at the same time. One that is skillfully told through Steven's eyes, which grabs the readers heart and attention, as it explores several aspects of his profession as a butler in a grand English home. We are struck with the most detailed account of concepts such as professionalism, dignity, and loyalty. In some ways, it parallels with the notion of "quality" from "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance".
At the same time and congruently, Ishiguro gives space for a parallel story, that you, as a reader create completely on your own. The masterful use of language and psychology forces you to think about many aspects of Steven's life that he is NOT mentioning. In fact, at times, it is hard to point to any particular reference in the text, that would explain the story that you have formulated in your head.
This effect is what makes "The Remains Of Day" - a masterpiece. It forces you to work with your own psychology, to struggle with your own demons that you happen to notice in Stevens. Each reader will undoubtedly pay attention to alter-stories that are most relevant to their own lives, and in that sense - the book gives us a list of things that we, ourselves, need to work on.
Without giving away too much of the "face-value" story, I must but say that this work was the greatest love story "never-told".