Ephemeral digest

Just another Bristol blog

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I didn’t tell a soul I was reading Never Let Me Go because I couldn’t risk anyone spoiling it for me. There was something so precious about these recollections of a former student at one of what seem to be specialised schools around England. Kathy H spends her time driving around the country caring for others and telling her story.

The stories involve a time of gentle and developing friendships between children in what seems like an orphanage. They spent their time navigating the rules of friendship and social relations in a manner so familiar to anyone having navigated school and other people.

The stories go back in forth in time in a story full of foreshadowing and intrigue and of the utter gentleness of these little characters. I fell so in love with them and felt their anticipation and fear at growing up and having to transition into a strange and scary life outside of a known home.

This was a beautiful story, written so lovingly and carefully. I highly recommend it.

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4 responses to “Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro”

  1. Judith Avatar
    Judith

    Not a spoiler in sight! Well done. This book was so good! I liked it so much better than the movie. Unfortunately, the movie description will tell all- it’s a major spoiler, while I loved the book for not knowing what was going on and slowly discovering the truth. A very good book.

    Reply
  2. stillawake Avatar
    stillawake

    I wanted to avoid spoilers so much that I almost didn’t write a review but I found it hard to move on to the next books without a final write-up. I just loved this book. Good reminder to go read your review as well, Judith. I’ve just read Remains of the Day too – Ishiguro is such a poignant writer. I want to read everything he has ever written now.

    Reply
    1. judith Avatar
      judith

      Wasn’t Remains of the day great too? I didn’t enjoy Nocturnes, his short story collection, so much, though, but that’s because I’m not keen on short stories.

      I’ve yet to read A Pale View of the Hills, but I read Once We Were Orphans and that was good, too. I think Remains of the Day is the best-written and Never Let me Go has the best plot.

      Reply
  3. Nose in a book Avatar
    Nose in a book

    Beautiful book, isn’t it? I’ve been trying to get Tim to read it but without telling him spoilers it’s hard to explain why I think he’d like it. I really liked Artist of a Floating World and Remains of the Day too.

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