Outstanding book! I never thought listening to an old butler go on and on about fine silver and dignity and Miss Kenton could be so incredibly compelling.

The Remains of the Day is a story of romance that could have been and wasn't, of opportunities forever gone, and of emotion suppressed in favor of "dignity", all because of a man's blind dedication to things that he found out (too late) were ultimately unimportant. It's a rare love story; despite the fact that they never kiss or even touch as far as I can remember, I still felt that their love was deep.

And of course, Stevens character is very well fleshed-out through his narration, albeit it an unreliable one, but that's what makes it so great as you gradually come to realize more and more about Stevens despite what he tells you/himself. At points, I didn't realize that there was anything wrong with Stevens until another character asked him if he was alright or even offered him a handkerchief.

In sum: it's a freaking compelling narrative. One of the best books I've ever read. No exaggeration.