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Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go

by Kazuo Ishiguro
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  • First Published:
  • Apr 1, 2005, 320 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Mar 2006, 304 pages
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Reviews

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There are currently 18 reader reviews for Never Let Me Go
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Power Reviewer
Mal

Unconventional narrative
Unconventional story with themes of memory and dignity. The story leaves you reflecting on its emotional aftermath as well as memories of close friends and foes from past who left an impression and situations both finished and unfinished.

The three main characters' contrasting personalities captured my attention. Their differences made them compelling and authentic.

I found myself considering the possibilities of science/medicine with a new lens - undoubtedly thought provoking.
Isla

Never Let Me Go
A good book that is for teenagers but mainly adults. A different storyline then other books but one that you can easily follow.
Power Reviewer
Cloggie Downunder

rather tedious
Never Let Me Go is the sixth novel by Japanese author Kazuo Ishiguro. It is narrated in an almost conversational style by Kathy H., a thirty-one-year-old carer. Kathy reflects back on her life so far: her childhood at Hailsham School, a transitional period at The Cottages with her closest friends from Hailsham, and her working life caring for donors. In many ways, Hailsham resembles a typical English boarding school, giving its residents a sheltered upbringing, although it is soon apparent that this is no ordinary academic institution, and these students are, in fact, destined for a vastly different fate. Kathy’s narration concentrates on interactions between the students themselves and with their guardians, dwelling on incidents, conversations and reactions; it sounds, for a woman of her age, quite immature. It may have been shortlisted for the 2005 Man Booker Prize, and has been described as brilliant. Never the less, some readers will find the characters unappealing and the whole execution rather tedious.
Jacki

QUESTIONS
Although I liked the content of this book I feel we are left with many questions in the end. Where do the possibles come from? Will Kathy be a donor now? What happened to the children at Hailsham when it closed? These questions and more should have been answered in the book. Over all it was alright. A little hard to get into in the beginning but could have been worse.
Rob D

Rob
This book's greatest asset is the originality of its combination of the sacrifices required for scientific discovery and the lives of those making the sacrifices. My personal belief however is that the book focused too heavily on the well worn path of human relationship yet only scrapped the surface of the scientific theme. This in effect left numerous unanswered questions about the scientific topics raised and hence no closure for the reader.

In summary, a great concept that evolved well but didn't quite wrap up as well as could be expected.
Deb

Confusing story, disjointed
I am an avid reader of all types of books. This book sounded interesting. It took me 3 weeks to read this book! The story was fractured and hard to follow. I felt compelled to finish it, but would not recommend it.
Katy Booklover

Held out hope it'd get better. It didn't.
By the end of the first chapter, I seriously considered putting this book down for good. Snoozefest! However, based on all of the reviews and accolades, I believed it would get better. Unfortunately, it did not.

I felt as though I were having a conversation with a sing-songy teenager who is unable to complete any story she sets out to tell. The narrator, Kathy, constantly speaks in disjointed patterns. It seems in every chapter, she'd start with a thought and then have to "back-up" to the beginning. I could not identify with one character, or one situation throughout the novel.

Many reviewers tend to focus on the emotional themes within the book. I may be "daft" (a word completely overused within the book), but the narrative was so shallow and boring, I was unable to pull anything out of it.

Don't waste your time!
gene adair

boring
This is the most boring 'book' I have had the misfortune of trying to read... 67 pages in, I give up...I hope they all get their worst and take Mr. Ishiguro with them...

Let me go ...now...
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