Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro REVIEW

Summary

In this nuanced review of *Never Let Me Go* by Kazuo Ishiguro, the reviewer shares their mixed feelings about the novel. While appreciating its poignant reflections on childhood and the complexities of human relationships, they express frustration with the digressive narrative style, which they found somewhat verbose. The book's exploration of societal injustices, using metaphors like battery farming and the prison system, resonates deeply with the reviewer. Despite some emotional manipulation in the story's conclusion, the reviewer acknowledges the novel's emotional impact and its subtle critique of modern life, leaving them both moved and conflicted about its overall execution.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer has mixed feelings about *Never Let Me Go* by Kazuo Ishiguro, feeling conflicted after reading it.
• 😀 The plot was spoiled for the reviewer prior to reading, which affected their experience and emotional impact.
• 😀 The novel's narrative style is described as digressive, with the protagonist frequently shifting between past and present events.
• 😀 While the digressive style could be compelling, the reviewer found it to be verbose and at times somewhat pointless.
• 😀 The portrayal of childhood friendships in the novel, with its complex dynamics, is one of its most commendable aspects.
• 😀 The reviewer reflects on how the novel's depiction of injustice, such as factory farming and the prison system, mirrors real societal issues.
• 😀 The reviewer struggled with the lack of resistance to the protagonists' grim fate, which left them questioning the world's indifference.
• 😀 The book is appreciated for using the plight of its characters as a metaphor for societal inequities, drawing parallels to real-world injustices.
• 😀 Although the reviewer brought a political reflection to the book, they felt that the novel itself didn’t heavily emphasize political themes.
• 😀 The emotional impact of the book, particularly its ending, was strong, yet the reviewer found the sadness to be somewhat superficial and easy to evoke.
• 😀 Despite criticism, the reviewer expresses an overall positive view of the book, finding it emotionally resonant and thought-provoking, even if mixed in their opinion.

Q & A

What is the speaker's overall reaction to *Never Let Me Go*?

The speaker expresses mixed feelings about the novel. They acknowledge its emotional depth and the compelling themes but also criticize its narrative style and character development, ultimately feeling torn about the book.

How does the speaker feel about the impact of spoilers on their reading experience?

The speaker regrets having prior knowledge of the plot, as they believe it would have been a different, more immersive experience if they had approached the book without any spoilers.

What is the speaker's criticism of the novel's narrative structure?

The speaker finds the digressive style of the novel, where the protagonist frequently reflects on past events, to be verbose and at times pointless. They feel it flattens the emotional impact of the story.

What does the speaker appreciate about the book's portrayal of childhood?

The speaker commends the novel's exploration of childhood, particularly its depiction of childhood friendships, the fluid nature of relationships, and the sometimes irrational concerns that take on great importance during youth.

How does the speaker relate the novel's themes to real-world issues?

The speaker draws parallels between the novel's depiction of children raised for organ donations and real-world societal injustices, such as the exploitation within the food industry and the prison system, where suffering is often accepted without question.

Does the speaker believe the novel has a political message?

While the speaker acknowledges the novel's metaphorical commentary on societal injustice, they feel that the political message is not strongly conveyed by Ishiguro. Instead, they believe they imposed their own reflections on the text.

What does the speaker think about the emotionality of the novel's ending?

The speaker finds the emotional impact of the ending to be effective but somewhat superficial. They describe the sadness as 'facile,' driven by young love and missed opportunities rather than deeper, existential exploration.

How does the speaker feel about the characters in the novel?

The speaker feels that the characters, while sympathetic, lack depth. They describe the characters as somewhat one-dimensional, even the more scheming ones, who ultimately seem unremarkable and lacking in complexity.

What is the speaker's overall assessment of *Never Let Me Go*?

The speaker concludes that while they had issues with the book, particularly with its structure and character development, they did enjoy it overall. They emphasize that their review is not an attack on Ishiguro but a personal reflection on their reading experience.

What does the speaker invite viewers to do at the end of the review?

The speaker invites viewers to share their own opinions about the novel, particularly if they had a similar or different experience with the book. They express interest in hearing the thoughts of others and promise to read the comments, even if it takes a while to respond.