pekey_reads 's review for:

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A wonderful book which is both remarkably gentle and incredibly hard hitting. What a wonderful and interesting structural choice to separate the narrative into distinct reflections from different point in the narrators trip. The way in which this allows the narrative to evolve, build on or contradict itself, and generally show the progression of one the narrators character development is really clever and a beautiful way to deliver the story. In the end, Stevens is a rather tragic character, as we sense from the beginning that the sum of his lives work in service to Lord Darlington's doomed plans for peace will end in catastrophe. As he reflects on the past and the virtues of his profession we know that ultimately that time is passed and he's a relic of a time which is now over. His "dignity" has brought him to the same end as his lord's believe in gentlemanly virtue. There's a bit of Satire in the search for meaning in both men, but in what remains of the day one can't help but wonder if any of it was really worth it.