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phantomgecko's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
This book really takes a very sci-fi idea and delivers an entirely un-sci-fi book. It's a novel about humans and relationships and emotions and only marginally breaches the ethics of things.
The dynamics and feelings captured between Cathy and Ruth resonated a lot with my personal experiences in adolescence. Cathy was a lot more kindhearted than I would be though. I couldn't stand Ruth as a character. Wanting so badly to be liked and important, lying about dumb things, purposely manipulating those around her. I know those people and dislike them, so it was kinda hard to see Cathy giving in over and over.
Perhaps the lack of emotional response stems from the closure offered. Yes, for real, the doomed lives of these children was sad. It's a depressing setting. But by the end of things, things had basically gone as well as they could have. There wasn't a heavy "if only" looming over them. So kinda a happy ending, tbh.
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Medical content
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I usually like literary fiction with speculative elements, but I was really bored here. I liked the school setting at the beginning, and I was intrigued by the premise (never surprised, though. I think this was all obvious and predictable) and some details and questions. But I really didn't like the characters, their toxic friendships and relationships, their boring everyday problems when there was such a huge thing looming over everything. The writing style was fitting but didn't contribute much to my enjoyment of the book, same as the bleak and depressing atmosphere.
I'm really glad I read it, though, and I'm still interested in the author's other works.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infertility and Grief
eve_o's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma
jodieworton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was recommended by a good friend and have had it on my TBR for a few months. This is an adult dystopian sci-fi novel.
How this book starts is an interesting one, the narrator speaks as if the reader knows who they are and about the world they live in. You are expected to catch up. Through the first half of the book I was guessing for the plot and what was happening in their lives and how was it different to our world.
When its revealed, there is no big ta-da moment, it’s just this is the world we live in and this is normal. I don’t want to ruin the plot for those of you who will read this book, which is why I am skirting round the point.
The book was an easy read and written beautifully, I enjoyed how the story unfolded and at times really felt for one of the main characters. This book is complex and emotional and does raise a few questions, there was some elements that I would have liked answered in the ending, but I don’t think we are meant to know and I’m ok with that.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
rzh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
elefantino's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Blood, and Vomit
wellfedpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
How do you know you are real?
What makes someone human?
What is humanity?
Consciousness?
Soul?
If you can raise animals to slaughter, why not humans?
If not to slaughter, to use in other ways
Where is the line?
Dystopias just take reality one step further
A step we are heading towards
Perhaps a step we have already half taken
Like here
But what has that got to do with Tommy?
Well other than exploring the above dilemmas, it also shows how an unreliable narrator leads to a tinted truth
SPOILERS
We only see things through Kathy's eyes
Tommy is the good guy, even though he seeks constant validation
Ruth is the villain, because she does not care about his ego
But is that the truth?
Ruth does many careless & hurtful things
But Kathy is mean to Ruth too
So is Tommy and he hurts Ruth in his own way
But we never hear from Ruth
Or Tommy for that matter
Kathy is clearly in love with Tommy and feels Ruth came between them
Ruth admits this eventually, tries to undo the harm
But Tommy says nothing
Nobody forces someone to be with another person
Even if Ruth did come between them, why did Tommy choose to be with her? Twice
Because she is more attractive?
Or because he felt something for her?
Why does Tommy only choose Kathy after Ruth is almost dying?
And even then why are certain things amiss in their relationship?
Are they simply beaten down by life?
Or is he not attracted to her in the same way?
Does he still feel something for Ruth?
Is it guilt?
Does he choose Kathy because there is no future with Ruth?
Is Kathy his ticket to a few more years?
Does he like Kathy more because she validates him?
Or does he just like the validation and not Kathy at all?
Does he hate Ruth because she does not validate him?
Or does he hate himself because he doesn't know what he wants?
Is he just a selfish piece of shit, or is it more complicated than that?
Isn't he really the person who came between Kathy and Ruth?
Is Ruth a better person because she ultimately chooses her friend?
Or is it too little too late?
The mess that they make of their lives is what makes them human
Kazuo Ishiguro simply raises the questions
The answers are all ours
But perhaps women in real life rarely do that, and Ishiguro simply shows us the mirror
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
jfield351's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Infertility and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
ekcd_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Drug use
Minor: Body horror
skelliecrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
The type of forced institutionalization is not what one would consider typical but it's difficult to explain what that content warning means without spoiling the whole thing so just tread cautiously.