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A review by vortimer
The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro
5.0
Went into this completely blind, and after little confusion about a long rambling speech made by a elderly hotel porter to the protagonist, it became clear that the main character is in a dream. He can travel miles, and enter a building, and be in a eariler location. Things change about him, an example being when he's asked to speak to the porters semi estranged daughter, and her young son, and during the meeting with these strangers, he morphs into being in a strained longterm relationship with her, struggling to connect with his de facto stepson.
With a tight schedule he can't quite remember, he attempted to get to appointments, while the people he meets ask things of him, often to carry out favours and tasks to solve their raw hidden personal pain caused by events and decisions buried deep in their past. As this growing list prevents him carrying out his already agreed errands, the strain grows.
While utterly compelling, I found this a physically difficult listen (I tackled this on audible) as accompanying Ryder on his epic anxiety dream brings all too much to mind the dreams caused by the catalogue of problems and overwork in the community sector during the stresses of the pandemic. There where times I had to switch to a pulpy easy read, and even considered abandoning the novel, as there were moments I felt my chest tightening.
I've skimmed Wikipedia, and seen this is a novel that sharply divided opinions, but for what it's worth, I thought it a work of genius.
With a tight schedule he can't quite remember, he attempted to get to appointments, while the people he meets ask things of him, often to carry out favours and tasks to solve their raw hidden personal pain caused by events and decisions buried deep in their past. As this growing list prevents him carrying out his already agreed errands, the strain grows.
While utterly compelling, I found this a physically difficult listen (I tackled this on audible) as accompanying Ryder on his epic anxiety dream brings all too much to mind the dreams caused by the catalogue of problems and overwork in the community sector during the stresses of the pandemic. There where times I had to switch to a pulpy easy read, and even considered abandoning the novel, as there were moments I felt my chest tightening.
I've skimmed Wikipedia, and seen this is a novel that sharply divided opinions, but for what it's worth, I thought it a work of genius.