Kazuo Ishiguro?

[francopopfille]

I bought his new-ish one, "Never Let Me Go" recently. It was quite good, although by the end it left me a bit depressed, in a weird way.

I didn't put two and two together until maybe about halfway through and still I felt there were some pieces of the story missing- maybe I was just being a bit thick.
Has anyone else read it? I'm interested in case i missed something really obvious. Also, I'm trying to decide which of his books to buy nxt, "Remains of the Day" or When we were Orphans..any opinions?

[si]

I've got Never Let Me Go to read on holiday. It's hardly poolside, I know.

Remains Of The Day -- not a lot happens and I'm sure I wouldn't've gotten much out of it if I hadn't've read it for A level English. Try Orphans instead.

[scallywagxx1]

Glyn mentioned Remains of the Day on Big Brother t'other day, in relation to Suzie and the fact she was from Kent. I got the book the other week from the library after seeing its 'unloved' status but im only a few pages into it and now the new James Patterson one has caught my attention more. Anyway my question is is Remains of the Day worth persevering with? Ive only got to the bit where he's just set off on his journey and it feels like it might be more of a chore to read than something ill enjoy, but if anyone can recommend it then ill crack on with it.

[audrey notwhatsheusedtobe]

I've just finished Never Let Me Go. It was OK, but I'm unsure as to why I recieved so many evangelical recommendations about it. I was even sitting reading it in Starbucks and an old woman came over and said "I hope you don't mind me interrupting, but THAT is a wonderful book!"

I like the style of writing - not poncey and very authentic - and the story is intriguing, but I didn't find it THAT amazing. If someone who loved it can explain it to me, I'd be most grateful.

[Jen]

I would thoroughly recommend "Remanins of the day". It's very slow, but then this man is the most emotionally repressed being in the entire world, and you need to get to know him, so when the ending comes it will just kill you, like it did for me. A beautiful book, everyone should read it.

[doggie]

Love Ishiguro - agree with what Jen said about Remains of the Day. The only thing that can annoy me slighly about his books is the need to explain absolutely evverything at the end in quite a clumsy fashion. There's that bit in Never Let Me Go when she speaks to the her old teacher, and a similar section in When We were Orphans (annoyingly referred to as 'Orphans' above) where we find out exactly what happened to the character's parents. I prefer A Pale View Of The Hills, where things are left a lot more vague and the over-all effect is more enigmatic. His books leave me feeling nostalgic and seem like very much the real deal amongst a lot of the dross that gets published sometimes.

[SBaholic]

Remains of the Day is excellent - not a lot happens, and it's all very subtle and gradual, but it's a character study, and is a wonderful example of an unreliable narrator. I'd definitely recommend it. The film doesn't do it justice though - just read the book.