thesonorista 's review for:

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

4.0

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My first impression is that it reminds me of a Raymond Carver story, a slice of action that gives me all the feels even if I'm not sure why. Unlike Carver, The Buried Giant is a story that you have to be patient with. The characters are not developed at the beginning and there's a reason for it. Do not go into The Buried Giant expecting a fantasy novel. The post-Arthurian setting with dragons and all, is simply a vehicle for Ishiguro's exploration of memory and forgetfulness on a personal and national level. Can a nation ever find peace with an enemy without forgetting, in some form, the wrongs that have been done to it in the past? Can love survive without forgetfulness? How much of "you" is made up of your memories? Ishiguro has written a deep, literarily thoughtful novel and The Buried Giant should be approached that way, with a willingness to dig into the text and allow it to develop its themes.