A review by blau_elmo
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I feel that the label of 'science-fiction' or 'dystopia' is a bit misleading. Sure, the premise does have such elements, but the primary focus of the book is the human drama between the trio of Tommy, Ruth and Kathy. 

The way Ishiguro sets up this seemingly normal universe at the start, but sprinkles in these tiny clues throughout the book of the true nature of the tritagonists, makes the pay-off at the end all the more amazing. The ending, in particular, is extremely poignant yet purposeful. 

This is my favourite book of all time, for its drawn out human drama, for its tragic elements regarding inevitability, for its brilliant relatability regarding growing up (and the propensity to ignore the world that is bigger than us as teenagers), and its commentary on the ethics of technological advancements. There is a resigned fatalism that veils the entire narrative that grounds the story is realism, one that is crushingly unavoidable and real, regarding the smallness of us human beings.
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