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diyuk 's review for:
The Remains of the Day
by Kazuo Ishiguro
reflective
slow-paced
"A 'great' butler can only be, surely, one who can point to his years of service and say that he has applied his talents to serving a great gentleman - and through the latter, to serving humanity."
The Remains of the Day is a novel of introspection and nostalgia, exploring themes of duty, dignity, and the quiet regrets of a life devoted to service. The story follows Stevens, a devoted butler, as he embarks on a short motoring trip across the English countryside, reflecting on his past. His life has been defined by unwavering loyalty to his employer, Lord Darlington, a once-respected aristocrat whose political choices during the interwar period have since come under scrutiny. Through Stevens’ perspective, Ishiguro presents two contrasting versions of England—one confined within the grandeur of Darlington Hall, where influential politicians once shaped history, and the other, a more ordinary world of rural communities disconnected from the affairs of the elite. Despite the criticism Lord Darlington has faced in recent years, Stevens remains steadfast in his defense of his former employer, grappling with the weight of his own choices. Alongside his reflections on duty, he is forced to confront the emotional cost of his rigid professionalism, particularly his unspoken feelings for Miss Kenton, the housekeeper who once offered him the possibility of a different, more personal life.
Written with beautiful prose, this book has been a great introduction to Ishiguro's world!
The Remains of the Day is a novel of introspection and nostalgia, exploring themes of duty, dignity, and the quiet regrets of a life devoted to service. The story follows Stevens, a devoted butler, as he embarks on a short motoring trip across the English countryside, reflecting on his past. His life has been defined by unwavering loyalty to his employer, Lord Darlington, a once-respected aristocrat whose political choices during the interwar period have since come under scrutiny. Through Stevens’ perspective, Ishiguro presents two contrasting versions of England—one confined within the grandeur of Darlington Hall, where influential politicians once shaped history, and the other, a more ordinary world of rural communities disconnected from the affairs of the elite. Despite the criticism Lord Darlington has faced in recent years, Stevens remains steadfast in his defense of his former employer, grappling with the weight of his own choices. Alongside his reflections on duty, he is forced to confront the emotional cost of his rigid professionalism, particularly his unspoken feelings for Miss Kenton, the housekeeper who once offered him the possibility of a different, more personal life.
Written with beautiful prose, this book has been a great introduction to Ishiguro's world!