I’ve been putting off reading this book for years because the premise alone sounded like a snoozefest to me. But Never Let Me Go is my favorite book of all time. Klara and the Sun is another book I really love. So I’m trying to finally read RotD.
I’m STRUGGLING! The narrator’s concerns about polishing silverware and his stories are something I absolutely can’t bring myself to be interested in, broken by weird assertions of “my employer isn’t a Nazi, I swear.” But since everyone raves about this book and I’m fond of this author, I wanted to give it a try.
I’m halfway through but I’m really having to force myself to continue and fighting through boredom. I’ve heard it hinted that this book has some big revelation at the end that changes everything but is that really true?
(Feel free to tell me “just keep reading, trust me” if that really is the case I’ll stick it out lol)
by panini_bellini
7 Comments
The butler in Remains of the Day is another kind of Klara- someone with limited insight, trying to understand the world. The seeing-through-a-narrow-tube perspective is what makes me love both books. The narrow perspective is the point- a character study told indirectly through what the character observes about the world.
There are millions of books out there asking to be read. If you don’t like this one, put it down.
OTOH I thought it was a masterpiece, but to each their own.
Couldn’t finish it myself a few years ago. Recently read The Buried Giant and I liked it, so I may revisit and see if it hits different this time around
I found it fairly easy to get through but I was also pretty bored by it all the majority of the time
The Remains of the Day is quite possibly my favourite novel of all time and, in my opinion, the only genuinely exceptional thing Ishiguro has ever written but it’s one of those books that’s all about the journey not the destination. If you’re finding it hopelessly tedious half way through there’s nothing in the second half that will transform your opinion, if you’re not engaged by the character of Stevens, his view and his telling of his own life and career by now I don’t expect you’d find anything in the second half to change your mind.
I just finished it a few weeks ago and told my husband I think it might be a perfect novel. I also told him I wasn’t sure if he’d like it so … haha
The narrator’s concerns about things like polishing silver are crucial to his self reflection at the end of the book, so if you aren’t interested in his thoughts and the character study more generally, it might just not be for you. And that’s ok!
I do agree that it’s a masterpiece, I have read the book several times and I cry every time. I think its themes of mortality and misplaced duty resonate more and more with me as I get older.
I loved both of his books you mentioned too though. I think all three are probably the most affecting works I’ve ever read.