Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Non lasciarmi by Kazuo Ishiguro

48 reviews

sarabookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective

3.5

I really really really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't do it for me. The premise was fascinating, but the execution was lacking in my opinion, and I just can't figure out why. The characters were not that captivating, the

love triangle

felt a tiny bit forced, and I didn't really enjoy all the jumping around in Kathy's narration. But the message is there, the story is deep, sad and bleak, emotional, and heartbreaking. I just wish there was more world building and explanation, rather than so much focus on minor arguments that ulimately led to nothing. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

3.5

I had a hard time feeling sympathy for any of the characters, even though they probably deserve more sympathy than most people. I could also see a future where this kind of ethical technology actually comes to fruition. As it is today, part of my job is to help assess the digital ethics of some of our more advanced tech projects for potentially unintended consequences. Would’ve rated this book higher given the subject matter could be so gripping, but it wasn’t quite, and I think it was because the characters lacked depth. However, that’s part of the genius of this book. After all, it’s hard to develop character when they have a very finite future. Actually, based on this little aha I just had, I’ll readjust to a 4.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

mvegag's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

They let each other go

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

kers_tin's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

imaginefishes's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The style of writing is simple and straightforward as the narrator tells you about her life growing up, then as a medical care worker. It's a dystopia, yes, but the overall story feels not so much disturbing as it does mildly nostalgic and tinged with bittersweetness. It's well-written, and tells the story of an exploited clone girl growing up, managing her (complex and honestly, somewhat toxic) relationships, finding her place in the world, and how she faces the indeliable truth that her life was created solely for the purpose of serving others, be it as a donor or a care worker for the donors.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

chrisstibbs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Moderate: Infertility

maiahhtratchh's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I wouldn’t say this book is plot or character driven as much as it is thematically driven. The book is so mysterious throughout but I still feel at the end that there were no real insights made and nothing was resolved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse and Terminal illness

Minor: Infertility

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

eva_vva's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

mishaalalala's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Ishiguro's tale is reflective and does an excellent job at examining what gives our lives substance, as human beings. Through the narration of Kathy H, we get an insight into love, loss and the value of memories. 
The novel did fall a bit flat for me in terms of world building - the reader is pretty much in the dark the entire time, despite many hints being dropped throughout the novel. We're never fully aware of what's going on. 
I also wasn't the biggest fan of Kathy herself, her character was flawed and while I understand that it was crucial to the plot. I did find myself incredibly irritated with her.
Overall, it is a novel that does make you think for a while, despite it being challenging to get through.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship