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stefanie76's review against another edition
5.0
"The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro is a tragic character study. On the surface, it seems not that interesting of a novel where not much really happens. And yet I felt I couldn’t put it down. So much did happen and I have so many intense thoughts about it all.
At its center is Stevens, the narrator, who is either the protagonist or the antagonist, or maybe both for he appears to be his own worst enemy. For the last 30-odd years, Stevens has been the butler at Darlington Hall, a fancy estate not unlike Downton Abbey. It has recently come under new American ownership.
At the suggestion of his new boss, Stevens agrees to go on a "motoring holiday" (butler-speak for "roadtrip") where all he can do is drive around and think about butlering. It becomes apparent very quickly that Stevens is a terrible, uptight borefest. He spends his vacation pondering the role of being a butler, the great butlers of his age, what it means to be dignified … and he reflects on how the English do this best. Am I supposed to like him? I don’t. He sucks.
Stevens is pathetic. He has spent his life in loyal service to an anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer. He has let happiness and a chance at love slip through his fingers in the name of … what exactly? Being dignified? Putting on an extravagant show of perfectly polished silver that doesn’t even belong to him?
However, by the end of the novel, any animosity towards Stevens gives way to pure pity. He is revealed as a tragic figure, trapped in a prison of his own making. He has deluded himself into believing that his duty is in simple service to those who know better. Having thoughts of his own are unimportant so long as he maintains dignified airs.
When he finally realizes his mistake, he is nearing the twilight of life, his best years so to speak. But he has built nothing and has nothing. So what is there to do now with what remains of the day?
At its center is Stevens, the narrator, who is either the protagonist or the antagonist, or maybe both for he appears to be his own worst enemy. For the last 30-odd years, Stevens has been the butler at Darlington Hall, a fancy estate not unlike Downton Abbey. It has recently come under new American ownership.
At the suggestion of his new boss, Stevens agrees to go on a "motoring holiday" (butler-speak for "roadtrip") where all he can do is drive around and think about butlering. It becomes apparent very quickly that Stevens is a terrible, uptight borefest. He spends his vacation pondering the role of being a butler, the great butlers of his age, what it means to be dignified … and he reflects on how the English do this best. Am I supposed to like him? I don’t. He sucks.
Stevens is pathetic. He has spent his life in loyal service to an anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer. He has let happiness and a chance at love slip through his fingers in the name of … what exactly? Being dignified? Putting on an extravagant show of perfectly polished silver that doesn’t even belong to him?
However, by the end of the novel, any animosity towards Stevens gives way to pure pity. He is revealed as a tragic figure, trapped in a prison of his own making. He has deluded himself into believing that his duty is in simple service to those who know better. Having thoughts of his own are unimportant so long as he maintains dignified airs.
When he finally realizes his mistake, he is nearing the twilight of life, his best years so to speak. But he has built nothing and has nothing. So what is there to do now with what remains of the day?
reverenddave's review against another edition
3.0
Im generally a pretty big Anglophile and am as much a sucker for the Upstairs/Downstairs genre as any of those, but didnt really get this book. I remember thinking the movie was alright without being great but this left me much more apathetic. Interesting at points and with a strong narrative voice but it just didnt seem to go anywhere.
mandrea's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I don't know why but I didn't expect this book to be so SAD.
mayokid's review against another edition
3.0
Unsure what to make of this novel. The plot felt slightly flat, yet the language had such a lovely and calm rhythm to it, truly mesmerising. At one point I was completely engrossed in the story, wanting to find out more about Mr.Stevens, only to be left disappointed towards the end. Also, he is such a frustrating character indeed; one which I felt sorry for towards the end. Not sure, might have to come back to this book and re-read it.
clayton10's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extraordinary book. I am glad that I listened to the audio version with Simon Prebble narrating. I have not seen the movie and was not familiar with the book's storyline so I had the pleasure of of hearing the unfolding story of a butler's life in a great house from the 1920s to 1950s. I highly recommend reading this novel or listening to the audio version!
boronguyen's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect, this book is perfect. It’s like I knew I had to prepare for it by reading three other Ishiguro before.