I'm 55 pages in and on the verge of moving this book onto the DNF category on Goodreads. So far nothing has happened apart from someone recounting decades old, deeply dull, conversations or events. I'm worried that, at this stage, it's not going to get any more exciting than that.
People who've read the book, am I missing something?
by slowrevolutionary
29 Comments
At least get to the reveal and then you can quit
It’s all about the WHY – if you get to that point you will never forget it
You don’t read that book to be excited. You read that book to be gutted. Keep going. Reveals are coming soon.
Yes, this book is incredible. Keep reading.
The book is a contemplation on mortality and what it means to live a meaningful life done through the point of view of people living seemingly mundane lives. It is a bit of a slow burn but I especially found the ending to be quite impactful. All the stuff that seems uneventful and meaningless is what gives the ending its impact.
One of my favorite books of all time. Deeply moving and rich. That being said, if it’s not clicking for you, that’s fine. If you’re that far in and it’s not clicking, I doubt it will later on.
Maybe it’s not the book for you. If you haven’t found it intoxicating so far you’re not the right audience.
Some people like subtlety, and character development, and some like a more lively plot. It’s neither good or bad.
Reading is subjective obviously, and you shouldn’t force yourself to read a book that you’re not enjoying. That said, this book is one of my favorites of all time, beautifully written (IMO), and hauntingly poignant. It’s definitely not plot-driven, and is more about making the reader feel something.
Kaz has never disappointed me, even when it is a slow burn.
Can honestly say Never Let Me Go is my favorite book, and worthy of a re-read. I would say stick with it.
Maybe it’s just not for you
One of the most emotional books that has always stuck with me. It’s worth hanging on
Yes. You are missing the focus of the book. Here you don’t center on the action, but on who the characters are, what and how they think and the things they discover about themselves and about life. You discover their psychology, their reality and their humanity and you empathize with them.
Or not. That’s up to each individual reader.
One does not typically read a Nobel Prize winning writer for “what happens”.
Thinking about this story still gives me goosebumps.
A lot of people loved this book. I found it a bit boring myself.
I really detest this book. It’s boring and the “twist” isn’t great either. Just because other people like it doesn’t mean it’s a good book or that you’re not allowed to find it boring. I regularly read Shakespeare and Steinbeck for fun. I like a deep book. This ain’t it.
I felt the same and it never got better for me
Yeah that book was not for me and maybe it’s not for you.
Or maybe it’s not for you right now, but will be later.
You have my permission to read something else for a bit and then decide if you want to come back to it.
I personally quite liked the book. I don’t want to spoil, so in as non-spoilery a way as possibe:
It is very mundane in how it tells you what goes on, so I understand how a reader could get bored, but as you progress through the book you’ll start to see the bits and pieces of the science fiction elements of the worldbuilding. It’s all narrated in quite a mundane, understated way because that’s the character’s reality, but as it progresses you realize that the things they’ve normalized are quite chilling.
It’s an understated, slow-burn melancholic novel. Its goal is to wreck you or at least leave you feeling empty, not exciting you. If that does not sound like your thing, might be good to turn to something else
Have you felt like something is being hidden from the protagonist? Or considered why the story is being told through the eyes of a naive child that doesn’t yet understand the world? There are hints as early as page 29.
It’s a quietly devastating novel. If you’re not in for the quiet part, you might not feel the devastation later, in which case it makes sense to DNF.
I love this book but the beginning is slow. I would try a bit more before giving up
If you’re not into it yet, I would say you’re not going to suddenly become riveted. It’s a fine novel—I’ve studied it—but it’s not the book some people expect it to be.
Not every book is “exciting”. Doesn’t mean they’re not worth reading.
Plenty has happened in the book already, but if you characterise all of the understandings we’ve been given about who the characters are, what their relationships are like, and what’s happening in their school as “decades old, deeply dull, conversations or events”, then no, you’re probably not going to enjoy the book.
All of the books by this author are like that.
I can’t read this author either , it’s not for me
I went through the same thing when reading this, but am so glad that I finished it! It’s definitely not an exciting book, but the ending really stuck with me and made the it worth pushing through the boring bits. I actually found the same thing when reading Remains of the Day by the same author, for about 80% of the book I felt like I was just reading a mundane recollection, but then everything started to come together at the end and gave me that “aha” moment where I felt like I finally understood what it was all building toward.
I found this book deeply disturbing, and yes, that’s the point, but it goes into the category of “books I wish I’d never read.”
My brother loves this book, however, so YMMV.
But I think if you’re not enjoying the writing, you should DNF it, because it’s devastating thematically, too.
It’s one of my very favorites, but it is a quiet book.
I’m currently reading this book for my British literature class, I’m not really enjoying it so far, but I have to finish it. I trust my British literature, teacher’s taste (she has mostly assigned books I’ve really enjoyed, like Dracula and Lord of the flies,) so I assume it’s gonna get good
I really loved that book. It just might not be your thing and that’s ok. What is next up on your book list?
It wasn’t for me but I powered through and did appreciate it.
I think 50 pages in is enough to get a taste of what this book offers. If the somewhat strange, melancholic mystery hasn’t drawn you in yet, it probably won’t.
I didn’t hate the book but I didn’t love it either. IMO his Remains of the Day was the better book where “nothing happened apart from someone recounting decades old, deeply dull conversations or events.”