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A review by vaishnavi_jadhav
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
First and foremost, I must say that this is the one book you should read without knowing absolutely anything about its plot or encountering the slightest spoilers. That's the reason why I enjoyed it better, going into it with a clean slate. Secondly, the writing style might be a bit of a struggle and may confuse some readers, as the narrator (Kathy) keeps going back and forth in time and referencing different anecdotes and instances. However, I personally enjoyed the book a bit more because of the way it's structured; it seemed like the main character is actually narrating the story to me in person. It kept me engaged in the progression of the plot and made me curious to know more details.
Okay, so if you're willing to read it, then you must not read this review any further...
The book develops as the three main characters and their friendship evolve from childhood to teenage years to adulthood. It beautifully reflects on the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships among humans. The relatability of the characters comes from the small details that the author has mentioned: habits, fantasies, behaviors, secrets.
The main themes of the book are 'fate' and 'nostalgia' and how we can easily find parallels to these in the real world. How we tend to accept our fate as it is and hardly ever question it or show any resistance; or how we keep reminiscing about old memories and find comfort in knowing that even if we lose our loved ones, we'll always cherish the memories of them. It's a philosophical tragedy that revolves around what it means to be alive as a human, love and friendships, our purpose and destiny, and finally, death. The idea of death is presented as being 'complete,' in a similar way to how in many cultures, we tend to assume death as a final destiny for our soul.
Although it barely scratches the surface of being a proper dystopian sci-fi novel, I was moved by the way it delves into society's ignorance towards disadvantaged people and the contrast between them and the affluent. Overall, a must-read !!
Okay, so if you're willing to read it, then you must not read this review any further...
The book develops as the three main characters and their friendship evolve from childhood to teenage years to adulthood. It beautifully reflects on the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships among humans. The relatability of the characters comes from the small details that the author has mentioned: habits, fantasies, behaviors, secrets.
The main themes of the book are 'fate' and 'nostalgia' and how we can easily find parallels to these in the real world. How we tend to accept our fate as it is and hardly ever question it or show any resistance; or how we keep reminiscing about old memories and find comfort in knowing that even if we lose our loved ones, we'll always cherish the memories of them. It's a philosophical tragedy that revolves around what it means to be alive as a human, love and friendships, our purpose and destiny, and finally, death. The idea of death is presented as being 'complete,' in a similar way to how in many cultures, we tend to assume death as a final destiny for our soul.
Although it barely scratches the surface of being a proper dystopian sci-fi novel, I was moved by the way it delves into society's ignorance towards disadvantaged people and the contrast between them and the affluent. Overall, a must-read !!