A review by kirsten0929
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

2.0

[1988] I didn't not like this book, I thought it was okay, maybe 2.75 stars? This is the second book by this author that I have read and felt lukewarm about (the other was Never Let Me Go). I found this one very one-note. The message - the role of the butler as the consummate professional - was relentless. The main character is perfect, never cracks, never stumbles - although he does have moments of doubt when it comes to some personal interactions, I suppose - which makes him a really nice but not a very interesting character. I didn't fully buy/understand the relationship between the two main characters, so there was no real tension there for me. I'm not sure that the journey, with the stops in different villages along the way, was the right plot device for telling this story, that is to say, a story that was told solely through reminiscence. There is something sweet and lovely about it, however, and I do see why so many people like it so much.