tldr; please suggest me books like it so that I can avoid them
I just finished Never Let Me Go and while I thought the prose was fine, the way the plot unfolded was so boring to me — my own personal opinion. I was waiting for something to happen and then it just never did ? Not a fan of the whole memory retelling, and I feel as though there was no real climax. (Which may be intentional, but it’s not my style.) Not in an offensive way, but if there are books that remind you of Never Let Me Go, please drop them down below so I know to avoid them. The opportunity cost of reading another book instead yk…
Alternatively, suggest me a book OPPOSITE of Never Let Me Go as well! One that is faster paced and engaging.
by twocupevy
5 Comments
I can’t decide whether I should recommend Scott Alexander Howard’s The Other Valley or tell you to avoid it – it reminds me of Never Let Me Go though I’m enjoying it more (I’m 2/3 of the way through). I wouldn’t call it fast-paced, but it’s still engaging to me.
I hated Never Let Me Go, Didn’t finish it.
Aw NLMG is one of my all time favorites – I love Ishiguro. Definitely avoid his Remains of the Day and The Buried Giant! While the “climax” in both of these is quietly gutting, I would not describe them as action packed lol! You might want to try Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun though, which to me felt a little more conventionally plotted than some of his others.
For books that cover similar themes as Never Let Me Go but are less contemplative try Margaret Atwood – Handmaids Tale or Oryx & Crake.
lol I like your view of things. Don’t worry, there are no others. I read the book myself a few weeks ago, and although I was absolutely certain I had read it before, I didn’t remember a thing about it. The author manipulates you in ways no other author can do, and some people (like me) don’t really enjoy that just for its own sake. But it’s an interesting talent, for sure.
> if there are books that remind you of Never Let Me Go, please drop them down below so I know to avoid them.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. Much shorter, but has that same “feeling like something should happen but then it never did” story structure
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Both involve retelling memories
>Alternatively, suggest me a book OPPOSITE of Never Let Me Go as well! One that is faster paced and engaging.
What people find engaging varies, so I’m not sure if you will like these:
Redsight by Meredith Mooring. Very good pacing.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. The author has a signature fast paced yet exposition heavy style. It isn’t for everyone, though.
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker