Reviews

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

djschmo8's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

beel12's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

brianlarson's review against another edition

5.0

After reading Klara & The Sun, I wanted to visit some of Ishiguro’s earlier classics. ‘Remains of the Day’ came highly recommended and it did not disappoint.

Darlington’s Manor is a revolving door of the who’s who of early 20th century British aristocracy. Stevens, the narrator of the novel and chief butler of the manor, has a front row seat to all kinds of historical moments & yet still feels unfulfilled. Stevens’ journey across the English countryside is a bit like Steinbeck’s journey in ‘Travels With Charley’ in that all manner of things go wrong in order for the main character to come to a deeply meaningful self-actualized state.

Even though the narration can be a bit clumsy or forgetful at times, Ishiguro adroitly stays in character with Stevens & details scenes that are straight out of Larson’s ‘Splendid and the Vile.’ This book is for history wonks, international affairs students, and those simply at a point in their lives where finding meaning in the monotony of everyday life can make all the difference between a life lived and a life well lived.

Ishiguro doesn’t shy away from exposing the anti-Semitic and racist backbone of British upper-society (which feels all the more prescient today given the recent Oprah interview with Meghan Markle). Ishiguro forces readers to look more closely at their lives and realize that life’s small turning points (a couple extra words of love, a visit to an ailing parent, etc) can truly change the direction of our lives.

Last, because this book is from the point of view of Stevens, readers are viewing a world through the lens of a no-frills, mordant butler who struggles with “witticisms.” Under this crass exterior, Stevens is an erudite gentleman with formidable intuition. Ishiguro mockingly contrasts this with groups of men who think they have the ability to control and influence the world from their plush dining table. Readers soon learn that life is what we make of the little moments, the turning points, & even the world’s most famous politicians and leaders suffer from egos that are too highly inflated for their own good. There may be a “Room Where It Happens,” but it’s only a microcosm of what real life looks like for billions of people on this shared planet.

mockingquantum's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

anjavh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

hades99's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

hannahtosh's review against another edition

5.0

"Perhaps, then, there is something to his advice...

Spoiler

that I should cease looking back so much, that I should adopt a more positive outlook and try to make the best of what remains of my day. After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and me, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services. What is the point in worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and me at least try to make a small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment."

Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize in Literature for this novel because it “uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world", it creeps into you and before you know it you're crying over unpolished silverware.

bayerwithme's review against another edition

4.0

Stevens might be considered a national British treasure as one of the "great" butlers left from a time in which loyalty and dignity were ideal and viewed as a necessity to living a "great" life. His rare identity as one of the few remaining gentleman's butlers in post-war Europe is perceived when his new American employer reminds him that his service is considered part of Darlington Hall's real estate value and by this it is interpreted that Steven's life focus of striving to be "great" has been achieved. In his new post-war life, he reflects on his past and gains perspective into his life decisions and their consequences but comes across as an unreliable narrator due to the personal isolation he purposely maintains throughout his life for the sole purpose of possessing the dignity needed to rise to the level of his profession's "greatness". Towards the end of the book and his life, he slowly comes to the realization that people need others' views and personal relationships to maintain humanity rather than Steven's dignity that he cherished all throughout his younger years. He ignored all opportunities of inner growth such did the european nobility ignored the rise of Nazi Germany all in the name of maintaining old world traditions and values. This realization at first inspires sadness but soon he grasps that regretting one's past achieves nothing and he begins to look forward to living out his remaining years with his new goal of striving for the simple warmth of human interactions.

jenniejingsi's review against another edition

5.0

Ishiguro has done it again! He is my all-time favorite author. This book portrays a memoir of an honorable Englishman who devoted his life as a butler. This book is written in the first-person point of view during the road trip taken by the butler. It is just a beautiful piece of literature were to show the stunning sites of Britain's countrysides. One of the main themes is talking about what makes a good butler. Being this good butler made Stevens missing out on so many important people and moments. But at the end of the day, when the sun is going down, it is about looking forward.

samsteer's review against another edition

4.0

Meandering but never a bore. I appreciate the subtlety but the millennial in me wanted to know more about Stevens’ thoughts after his conclusions towards the end of the book.

Edit on 16th March:
Ignore me. I don’t need to know. I keep thinking back to this book and the sentiment of making the most of what you have left in life is comforting and more than enough.

Read via audiobook. Great reading voice.