A review by aclypse
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I’ve picked up the book because i heard of the author and I wanted to read some of his works. And to say, I wasn't left disappointed, but i did expect something… better. 
I was immersed by the first lines – the usage of first-person POV, the atmosphere… but my mind couldn’t comprehend many things. For example, I didn’t understand until about the middle of the book that Christopher is an Englishman – there were so many mentions of Shanghai that i believed he was at least part Chinese. But I believe it to be a mistake on my side as the language is quite challenging for someone whose native language isn't English. 
Another one – its slow pace caught me a little off guard. Though I have to admit, the author is a master of managing the reader's attention. He knows when to slow down the pace. He knows when to get in some action scenes so the readers don’t get bored. I haven’t found myself bored even once while reading. 
 
I especially enjoyed all the scenes with Akira – from their childhood plays to the last time they saw each other. But so many questions were left unanswered… where did the soldiers take him? Where did he end up? Are Banks and Akira ever going to meet up again? 
 
 
Their dialogue after the two friends met after a long time of not seeing each other frustrated me in a surprised way. On one hand, I couldn’t understand why Christopher’s reaction was so… dull… while seeing his friend half dying basically. On the other, Akira’s reaction is what i will use when i find myself in a similar situation as he was in. 
 
I’ve also noticed Banks often says such phrases as “as i remember” or “i don’t remember correctly…”, and so I’m just wondering, is that an example of an unreliable narrator? 
 
Many questions haven't been answered. Those that should have been answered. And so many things went unexplained. I want to know more about Christopher’s career. I want to find out where did they take Akira. And there wasn’t much information shared about the cases Christopher has worked on – hence I didn’t find his career to be convincing enough. 
 
But what this book is truly worthwhile for is the amount of touching quotes, wholesome as well as drastic scenes, and a valuable resource to historical events. Another item on the “advantages” is the half-open ending – i love it when stories don’t answer every question, therefore, manage to stay with us a while longer after finishing it.