Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

EXPECTATIONS

A beloved subscriber catapulted winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature, Kazuo Ishiguro, onto my radar. This book is the first piece of literature I have consumed from the author, so I was stepping into this domain with a bit of hesitancy, scared how deeply this novel would impact me. With an open mind but nervous heart, I hoped that I would be able to hold this book near yet also at a distance, in preparation that this book and its purport might never let me go.

STORY

Kathy H. is one of the protagonists and our narrator, retelling events from her memory and perspective. The novel unfolds in England, late 1990s, revolving around the premise that, at a certain boarding school in Hailsham, the children there are “special.” The teachers, or guardians as they are referred to, guide and direct these children to navigate school and (a little bit of) society, and are really the only adults mentioned in the story. As anticipated as I was to immerse myself in Kathy’s life, her narration was difficult to persevere through, as it felt mostly monotone and disconnected, seldom genuine and realized, but perhaps that is a factor that supports the basis and notions of the story. This novel forces the cogitation of if you, the onlooker, were empathetic, understanding, and outraged enough, or if you were just as apathetic or desensitized to the children’s lamentable circumstances.

CHARACTERS

The story revolves around three friends: Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, with other characters introduced as the story proceeds. These three share a complicated relationship, and I find the first person point of view to be very limiting, and perhaps I would have appreciated the story further if there were other perspectives. Kathy’s interactions with the other characters do provide some clarity on their personalities and stances on their situations. I developed a stronger connection to Tommy compared to the other characters, as Kathy always portrayed him as someone with more emotions and experiences. Overall, I desperately yearned to feel something from Kathy, more emotion and reaction, and not like she was complacent to just be a product of her environment, and truthfully, that applies to the rest of the characters as well.

In depth review coming soon and will contain spoilers.