There are only a handful of novels that have made me want to cry in order to purge myself of the myriad emotions upon reaching the conclusion. I’m not a crier. Unless it’s weddings, graduations, and sports events. But after reading this book I really envy my wife who can cry for five minutes wipe her eyes and move on with life. Not so with me. After shutting the book, or most likely tossing it across the room out of sheer madness for making me feel like this, I tend to sit there catching my breath trying to process everything. Only besides The Book Thief have I felt as bad as Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro made me feel.
Never Let Me Go is told by Kathy, one of the three protagonists of the novel. She begins in her current time and flashes back to her childhood in order to explain her story. It’s hard to give a plot summary without spoiling anything. The crux of the book is that the readers are just as in the dark as the characters are about their purpose in life and the challenges they will face. You do notice odd things about the characters’ upbringing and, while Kathy doesn’t seem to be aware that these things aren’t normal, we do. As the novel continues and Kathy becomes more aware of the differences between the life she and her friends lead and the lives everyone else is living, we readers are suddenly brought to the poignant truth of the purpose of Kathy and her friends’ lives.
This is a haunting book in the sense that halfway through it you have an idea that not all is well in Kathy’s world. And you don’t fear for her–you pity her. Ishiguro does an astounding job of making Kathy a reliable, well rounded narrator and character in her own story. She’s very similar to Nick in The Great Gatsby. Her innocence in life is reflected in the way she tells her story. Which makes it all the more harrowing when she realizes the direction her life is going to take.
Before I spoil anything I’ll wrap this up by saying that this is going to be one of those books I’d take to a desert island and reread over again. I’m going to miss spending my days with Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth. And I suspect you will too.
This is one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time.
Exactly! The first time I read this I was devastated, but in the best way possible. Ishiguro really created such an incredible world and complete characters. This is one of my favorites…
I agree. Ishiguro really created these complex yet likeable characters that are hard to say goodbye to. This has definitely crawled into my favorites list.
That’s one of the disappointing things about finishing it; you can’t have that first time experience. But I think the subsequent readings will be more like visiting with old friends.
I loved this one! It’s so melancholy.
Ironically I finished this on a nice sunny day. But I feel like the mood of the book is more fitting for those melancholy fall/winter days. But I love a good melancholy read so I’ll read them regardless of the weather.
This was recommended by a coworker after we were talking about Station 11… I’ll add it to the post-Cannonball list but you’ve made it sound amazing!
Great! I hope you’ll like it. I think you will if you liked Station 11. Both authors are very adept at creating amazing characters.
Ishiguro writes sooooo beautifully, I loved this one too. Good review. He’s talented at melancholy – ever check out The Remains of the Day? It’s a little more stuffy subject-wise but definitely worth a read.
I have read Remains of the Day. I like it but I think compared to Never Let Me Go, Remains just seems to progress so slowly. It feels like a slog through the first half. But the ending of Remains is just as heartbreaking as Never Let Me Go. Which, as you said, is something Ishiguro is good at.