Never Let Me Go
What is it with me and not liking Brit authors? I have read some really great reviews of this book and was excited about checking it out.Ishiguro became famous when he wrote Remain of the Day, turned into the movie. And this book is a departure from that. It is the story of a group of kids who are raised in a boarding school, but telling you much beyond that sort of takes the surprises away. You find out quickly, these aren't normal kids, and they are there for a purpose. The story is really fascinating, and in the hands of a different author, I could have loved it.
But, the writing style was a tad dry. The way these secrets were revealed seems understated, and it just seemed sort of drab and well, British.
I wouldn't recommend the book unless you are a big reader and always looking for something new to check out, otherwise, skip it.
Grade: C+
Labels: book
posted by Chargenda at 9:26 AM
7 Comments:
Oh, and I forgot to mention just how much I LOVE the cover of this book.
Ya, that cover is neat. I'm currently reading 'The line of Beauty' by Alan Hollinghurst. It actually WON the Booker Prize (as opposed to just being nominated for it). There's a good deal of gay sex in it so far (both real and fantasy-based), so I'm enjoying it quite a bit. You should read it next so we can talk about it.
What are you doing this weekend? I'm going on a date tonight to x/o. It's funny because that's the second place I've taken this boy to that I at least partially found out about through your blog (the other place being Duke's, which was nice). Later!
pass...thank you for saving me time.
You read books at a meteoric speed, C-genda. Sounds like you're not a big fan of Ishiguro's voice, though I wonder if the author is trying to accomplish something with his dry writing style and / or if that's just how he perceives the world. I also wonder, since you said the secrets revealed seemed 'understated' if he provided enough external manifestations for their to be a pay off with this aspect of the novel. It's not a book I would read either (though I'm always persuaded if the theme is attractive enough). Oh, and literary prizes. What a horrible invention. Pynchon refused one or two and even won the Pulitzer Prize for Gravity's Rainbow (the board later rescinded because they felt the content was too controversial, assholes). There was no prize given out that year.
'there,' not 'their.' i'm an asshole.
Recommendations of British authors:
A.S. Byatt: Angels and Insects, Possession
Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange
Graham Greene: The Quiet American, The Third Man (adapted into film, The End of the Affair)
Worth checking out Salman Rushdie (considered British, though Indian native).
And why stick to novels? David Hare is one of the most amazing playwrights today (The Blue Room, based on Arthur Schnitzler's scandalous and banned La Ronde... it's the play that Nicole Kidman went all nude). His play The Vertical Hour is set for Broadway this November starring Julianne Moore, directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty). Anyone wanna go with me???
Ok, I'm way late commenting on this... but this is my mom's fav. book in recent years. She left me a copy a couple months back, and asks me every time I talk to her if I've read it, or know anyone who has. I'll let her know you did.
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