Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (book review) – a dystopian story about fate and friendship

Let me start with this: “Never Let Me Go” is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Maybe this is why it was so difficult for me to write this review and find the right balance between showing my excitement and not spoiling your future reading experience. It’s funny now when I think that I bought this book without having a clue about it!

“The only other thing you need to know is that the book is a page turner and a heartbreaker, a tour de force of knotted tension and buried anguish.” (Lev Grossman, 2005)

Never Let Me Go in a nutshell

The story takes place in an imaginary version of England and it is told from Kathy’s point of view. Now 31, Kathy recalls her childhood and teenage years spent at Hailsham School, a place similar to a boarding school. Her memories are beautifully interwoven with events happening in the present, making the episodic structure immersive and very easy to follow.

Themes of Never Let Me Go

The story illustrates complex themes such as the fate of human beings, the impact of childhood, and the complexities of friendships. The writer, Nobel-winner Kazuo Ishiguro, stated that “growing up in England in a Japanese household was crucial to his writing, enabling him to see things from a different perspective to many of his British peers” (BBC, 2017).

Key features that will keep you hooked on

From my point of view, there are 3 main features that make “Never Let Me Go” such an exciting and unputdownable read:

• Important details of the story are revealed one by one as you read the book, casually mentioned when you expect the least. So you don’t know from the start exactly what’s going on in this dystopian world, but you slowly discover its intricacies
• In the same time, you are fully dependent on what Kathy chooses to disclose or not (based on her feelings and what she thinks is appropriate to share). This situation gives birth to that mix of frustration and excitement that is so addictive when reading a very good book!
• While the book has a closed end, there are still many issues left unexplained. So at the same time you have the false impression of understanding how that universe looked like, followed by a post-reading feeling of emptiness because of all unanswered questions … again, a sign that you read a very good book!

Wrap-up

“Never Let Me Go” is a moving story which will surely make you grow fond (at least) of the three main characters. Just so you know, you might shed a tear (or more) by the end of the book. It’s needless to say that I highly recommend reading this book, it’s a must-read for sure!

I’m curious – have you read any books written by Ishiguro? If yes, which one(s) do you recommend?

If you would like to buy books or other (non)bookish things, please consider using one of these links: Amazon | Waterstones | Carturesti. Thank you!

‘Till next time … happy reading!

Georgiana

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PS: There’s also a movie based on Ishiguro’s book, but is it not nearly as good as the book. I highly recommend reading the book before watching the movie.

Images from FullStop.net