"Dystopian Tuesday": Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Book Review)

Synopsis: 

During the late 1990s in England, protagonist Kathy H. takes us through her life growing up in a secretive boarding school that she holds close to her heart and carved into her memory. We obtain glimpses of her childhood, friendships, and love life as the society she inhabits has provided her with an ephemeral life. 

 

Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️):

 

-Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The book runs slow all throughout. The build-up is subtle but gut-wrenching nonetheless)

-Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  (The story can be seen from the perspective of mortality and the fleetingness of human existence, along with how our relationships affect our lives)

-Emotional Impact/Attachment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Ruth and Tommy are characters that one can sympathize with even through the eyes of Kathy alone, who is also memorable.)

-Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(This book was comforting, relatable, and destructive all at once.)

 

Book Insights (mild spoilers):

 

When I first opened this book a few months ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Of course, with a fresh book, you rarely do, but the descriptions of dystopia and betrayal I was exposed to beforehand gave me a very distorted impression. I actually decided to put the book down and watch the movie instead. It wasn’t until this week that I decided to finally give it a go, which I don’t regret one bit.

 

The way Ishiguro writes immerses you in the story to the point where the climax creeps up on you slowly yet heartbreakingly. I adored the characters and wanted to know more about them through Kathy’s flashbacks. Even Ruth, who one can perceive as being an obstacle in Kathy’s and Tommy’s relationship, was entertaining to read about, and at times I valued her and Kathy’s friendship more overall. It was hard for me to agree or disagree with Kathy’s lens given that she is truly a product of her society, and as we learn more about the dystopia, we can see that she was just existing within the constraints of a short life. 

 

I recommend going into this story for the characters as opposed to the dystopian narrative. Additionally, being satisfied with the, at times, brief insight into pieces of life can make the story more enjoyable. I sometimes fell into the trap of wanting to learn more about the events that shaped Kathy’s and Tommy’s love story instead of viewing everything as a part of the broader and more complex subject of human life.

 

I look forward to rereading this book and seeing how my mindset impacts my opinions on the story as I grow up and experience more. 

 

In short, go read it. Go live through it.




 

 

 



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