Never Let Me Go

This is my first Kazuo Ishiguro book, but it probably will not be my last. The writing is exceptional, and the topics and themes explored are thought provoking and relevant. This dystopian fiction definitely left me feeling uncomfortable and questioning some of societies ideas, which is exactly what good dystopian literature should do.

The story is told from the perspective of Kathy, who grew up in a idyllic school with a special group of students. The book hints right from the start at what makes these students special when Kathy references “carers” and “donors,” but it does not fully reveal their situation until later in the book. The students are only partially aware of their purpose because the teachers at the school shelter them from the full truth. When Kathy and her friends leave the school, the full reality of their situation threatens their relationships and their hopes for their futures.

The plot of this book is not action-packed and moves slowly. It is more character-driven, which I enjoy. Witnessing the feelings and revelations that Kathy experiences engulfs the reader into the situation and allows for greater sympathy towards the characters.

The commentary this book provides on society's decisions is still relevant today more than 15 years after its publication. To comment on them here would mean spoiling the book, so I will refrain. Suffice it say, the actions of society in this book are disturbing, yet somewhat understandable. It's definitely a debatable form of progress.

I have always enjoyed dystopian novels, and this one did not disappoint. I would recommend it to any fans of the genre.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is a melancholy yet moving dystopian story about the value of a human life, and indeed what it means to be human. I don't know how to meaningfully discuss this work without spoiling some significant parts of it, so stop reading this review now if you haven't read the book and don't want some plot points spoiled. In Never Let Me Go people are cloned and these clones are raised from childhood to adulthood, going through special schools and training programs, until finally as adults they are called upon to make “donations” (or have their organs harvested to give to regular non-clone people). The “donors” know what they are and what their ultimate destiny is from a fairly young age. It's heartbreaking to see these characters grow up, discover what they are, and simply live with it as if it were normal. It also strained my suspension of disbelief. As adults the donors drove cars and enjoyed some freedom of movement, yet the protagonists never really made meaningful attempts to run away. There wasn't really mention of anyone protesting the practice of raising these donors and then slowly killing them for organs. Based on the way people in real life protest abortion, animal testing, and even eating meat I thought it was pretty unrealistic that everything could simply be so calm, so accepted, and so inevitable. Perhaps this is my American sensibilities running up against the British setting of the novel, but I just couldn't understand why all this went on without a fight or even much of a complaint? Despite this, the book features excellent character development, relationships, and slow-burn world building. I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think you can summarize this novel in a honestly really simple way: Ruth is such a bitch. I caught myself saying the phrase “that bitch” too many times to count. Other than that feeling of pure hatred toward this character (not really hatred but maybe like annoyance?) I felt myself feeling very little. 

Tbh I don't really know what this novel was trying to get at. I felt the heartwarming moments to be mild and the character development to be as flat as the Saskatchewan plans. I thought there would honestly be more, be more plot, be more characterization of the characters, just simple be more. But instead I was kind of hit with a super cold and boring novel. One where it said something but I felt nothing from it. I don't think I disliked this book that's for sure (this was acc my first audio book btw) but I just thought that there was nothing to be gained from reading it. 

I think that this thing would've been a cool cool thing where it depicted this amazing and interesting group of friends, their struggle in the real world after being sheltered by this pretty sheltered school, and then there was always some weird thing about them, some mystery regarding the group of friends. They meet later and boom u see how the years have affected them, how the act of becoming an adult changed them. And then at the end, boom, u get exposed to the thingy at the end and whatever. idk the ending part where its supposed to be a surprise ig didn't really feel like anything important it was just kinda like, damn sucks man. 

Characters: 
Kathy - some girl who tbh I dint give two shits about. Like she felt so inhuman. Ig that's the point with them being clones or whatever. But there was acc like no emotion coming out of anything this girl did. The main part of this book was ig the little song she liked and the fact that they couldn't have babies ig? but tbh I thought like bruh this girl is not that girl.

Ruth - Bitch. She was just honestly such an awful friend and I think she was the most real part of this book. This idea that this bitch girl who was such a bitch when she was younger, but only realized when you grew older, reconciles with her friends ig and is not so much of a bitch when she's dying is interesting ig. But yeah pretty realistic of this bitch ass friend ig, shows how friendship is more blah blah and sometimes it's blind or whatever. 

Tommy - bro this guy. What was he even supposed to be. Ig some things happened to him but like idk it just bro this guy encapsulates what is wrong with this novel. Just random things thrown on to the character to make them feel like a human when in reality they just feel hallow and empty and idk. 

Adding on to the characters I felt that this whole true love thing between Tommy and Kathy that ruth said they had was just silly. I don't know what true love is but I don't think those two were a good depiction at all. I felt they were just two chummy friends who kinda knew each others secrets. Could be very easily substituted by others. So def not true love. 

Yeah but honestly I just don't think it was that great of a book. Tbh just something to listen to in the background and it's not that sigh what I was expecting. Tbh I only read this book because some really really pretty girl said it was her fav book and I thought wow I better check it out, but maybe that girl's personality is just as dull as this book. Who knows? 

Heartbroken.

This book made me want to cry but infuriated me so much that I literally couldn't cry. This is a good story, but I can't deny that it is a hopeless story. I wanted to reach inside of this book and yank the characters right out of it, that's how much I felt for them.

I'm not gonna lie and say that I didn't want to throw up for probably the last 200 pages. I was impressed that none of the closure I wanted was given to me–it's like falling and falling and never having the impact you've been desperately waiting for.

Kathy, Ruth und Tommy wachsen auf einer abgeschirmten Internatsschule Hailsham in England auf. Sie sind Klone die als Organspender fungieren werden. Ihre Schule ist ein Versuch den Klonen eine Chance auf ein richtiges Leben zu geben. Ihre kuenstlerischen Faehigkeiten sollen ihre Seele bezeugen. Die Kinder wachsen auf ohne dass man ihnen offiziell die Wahrheit verraet. Es ist ein Tabuthema, aber irgendwie wissen alle bescheid. Spaeter ausserhalb der Schule fuehren alle Organspender ein isoliertes Leben, andere Klone pflegend bevor sie selbst 2-4 Organe spenden, bis sie ihre Aufgabe 'vollendet' haben. Kathy und Tommy haben eine dicke Freundschaft von klein auf, Tommy und Ruth sind ein Paar. Kathy und Tommy finden erst spaet nach Ruths Tot zueinander, koennen allerdings auf nicht ihr Schicksal aufschieben.

Очень грустная книга о клонах. Проблема книги именно в том, что её основная идея и есть самое интересное. Сам же слог и повествование показались несколько затянутыми. Поэтому, если вы посмотрите потрясающий фильм, снятый по книге (ещё до начала её продаж), то нисколько не потеряете от того, что не стали читать книгу, а решили посмотреть фильм.

Наиболее интересной представляется концовка произведения, потому что в ней читатель получает ответы на многие, хотя и не все, вопросы и именно там нагнетается драма. В процессе чтения сложно принять одиночество клонов и несправедливость жизни и общества к ним и только под конец ты это ощущаешь. Поэтому, кажется, что прочитав книгу, нужно вернуться в начало и имея уже те знания и эмоции, которые ты получил в конце, с новым взглядом перечитать её, что не есть гуд. В фильме же нужный настрой задается сразу и к концу из тебя вытекает шесть литров слёз. Это, как мне кажется, более правильный подход.

I'm thinking I'm maybe not the biggest Kazuo Ishiguro fan. I didn't really enjoy the way this was written, the character's voice, that's always a bit of a risk with a first person - are you invested? I wasn't, not in Kathy or Tommy or Ruth.

I don't want to say to much because it could be construed as spoilers - but there's nothing to spoil! As the last few pages came closer I realised that I'd never get to know what I wanted. This whole novel was a back-story to what actually wanted to read.

It definitely has points to make and themes to explore. I'm sure it will stay with me on some level, as Klara has.

This book has an interesting concept and poses a lot of intriguing questions about life and creativity. I only wish I'd latched onto it more.

The story follows Kathy as she reflects on her life and relationships at the Hailsham boarding school. In this ultimate universe, people like Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are lumped in these ‘schools' as they were created with one purpose in mind — to be organ donors.

I'd call this light sci-fi, which I do like, I just found the pacing to be too slow (a similar issue I had with The Remains of the Day). There was also a glaring lack of world-building. Without a lot of context, I struggled to connect to the characters and the universe.

Absolutely loved Kazuo Ishiguro's Remains of the Day and knowing that Never Let Me Go was slated to become a movie meant I had to pick it up. I'm glad I didn't read any reviews prior to reading as Kazuo is a master of unfolding subtle little details. Far too many books tend to beat you over the head as they make their point, telegraphing all the important bits and practically screaming “this is important!”
Read the book not the reviews.

Left slightly confused by some inconsistencies - seems like the donors at the hospital / recovery centres weren't treated as poorly as you would expect, considering that the Madame / Miss Emily mentioned how badly the students at other schools were being treated. Wonder if each patient getting their own room, carer etc. is cost-effective. Is raising the children in schools really cost-effective either? Allowing the donor adults to live alone after high school also runs the risk of them getting into drugs etc. that could ruin their organs too.

This was a very slow burn read. It was as slow as it could get, and you might think it would bore you to death! Well, what luck that Ishiguro wrote it. He could literally write a thousand pages about one unimportant event, and I would still read it because of how grippingly he writes.
You might think that all the details seemed unnecessary for the plot or character development, but after the big secret is revealed at the end, you'll understand what it was really about, and those unimportant events will suddenly feel very important.
I loved how the author teased you about the secret, like ‘you'll know it in the right time,' and always revealed just enough to keep you reading.

As a sci-fi fan, I found the sci-fi elements in this book to be very subtle—really just a dash of it. It could also be a good starting point for readers who want to get more into this genre.