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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.
noeliadf's review against another edition
5.0
De esas novelas que entremezcla de forma magistral historia con sentimientos, presente con flashbacks que te trasportan al pasado envolviéndote en una atmósfera de cambios. No me puede gustar más el lenguaje y la manera en la que se utiliza para reflejar la expresión de sentimientos y pensamientos o un poco de la historia inglesa de principios del siglo XX.
nyxophilia's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
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
rordaz3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
scottcurtis10's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was a departure from my recent reading. Slower paced, an elderly main character who proves to have less-than-reliable insights into his experiences, this novel really explores a lot of interesting ground about what's truly important in life.
kshemani's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beritt's review against another edition
4.0
All of Ishiguro's books are so different from one another - I really admire that. I wasn't a big fan of Never Let Me Go, but Klara and the Sun was lovely.
The Remains of the Day falls squarely in the latter camp as well: I loved it. Such a wonderful, quiet read. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Stevens, a long-time butler, sets off on a road trip to visit his acquaintance Ms. Kenton, who used to be his colleague at Darlington Hall. During this trip, he is remembering his time as a butler for Lord Darlington, in the 1910s, 20s, and 30s. What starts out as a collection of random memories slowly starts to take shape as something much larger than that: a snapshot of a vanishing way of life, the painful, dawning realization that Lord Darlington was not, perhaps, perfect, and Mr. Stevens' grappling with those facts.
What really animates this novel, I feel, and makes it more than the story of a butler going on a trip, is Ishiguro's ability to show without telling. I know - that's the hallmark of any good writer. Still, I think he is particularly masterful at it. This novel is saying SO much without actually saying those things outright. Like a poem, Ishiguro weaves together recollections, experiences, and images that eventually add up to certain realizations - both on the part of Mr. Stevens and the reader. I love that so much.
I must admit that Mr. Stevens' dogged loyalty to Lord Darlington and the principles of "serving" sometimes made me want to yell out loud. The word 'obtuse' kept popping into my head, because that's exactly what he is: obtuse, especially when it comes to Ms. Kenton. As Ms. Kenton herself exclaims at some point: "Why, Mr. Stevens, why, why, why do you always have to pretend?" (154).
Of course, his attitude (and his grappling with memories in which that attitude played a key role) is part of the point.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Such a good read.
The Remains of the Day falls squarely in the latter camp as well: I loved it. Such a wonderful, quiet read. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Stevens, a long-time butler, sets off on a road trip to visit his acquaintance Ms. Kenton, who used to be his colleague at Darlington Hall. During this trip, he is remembering his time as a butler for Lord Darlington, in the 1910s, 20s, and 30s. What starts out as a collection of random memories slowly starts to take shape as something much larger than that: a snapshot of a vanishing way of life, the painful, dawning realization that Lord Darlington was not, perhaps, perfect, and Mr. Stevens' grappling with those facts.
What really animates this novel, I feel, and makes it more than the story of a butler going on a trip, is Ishiguro's ability to show without telling. I know - that's the hallmark of any good writer. Still, I think he is particularly masterful at it. This novel is saying SO much without actually saying those things outright. Like a poem, Ishiguro weaves together recollections, experiences, and images that eventually add up to certain realizations - both on the part of Mr. Stevens and the reader. I love that so much.
I must admit that Mr. Stevens' dogged loyalty to Lord Darlington and the principles of "serving" sometimes made me want to yell out loud. The word 'obtuse' kept popping into my head, because that's exactly what he is: obtuse, especially when it comes to Ms. Kenton. As Ms. Kenton herself exclaims at some point: "Why, Mr. Stevens, why, why, why do you always have to pretend?" (154).
Of course, his attitude (and his grappling with memories in which that attitude played a key role) is part of the point.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Such a good read.
tylermcgaughey's review against another edition
4.0
It's a story of love denied due to social constraints AND a subtle critique of the last vestiges of the British empire. Two for one! The sumptuous Merchant-Ivory film adaptation is well worth checking out, as well.