From the Bookshelf of ~Can't Stop Reading~…

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

Start date: January 1, 2014

Finish date: January 31, 2014

Discussion: Past Reads

Why we're reading this: Our 1001 Books group read for January 2014.
[close] Our 1001 Books group read for January 2014.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 42 topics — 839 comments total

Past Reads

Sarah's key by Tatiana de Rosnay
By deleted member · 10 posts · 126 views

last updated Dec 10, 2021 01:22PM

The Fault in Our Stars
By Sunny · 11 posts · 50 views

last updated Aug 11, 2015 11:17AM

showing 4 of 4 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 19, 2013 Sofia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-read, fantasy-science-fiction, read-2013

*My reviews always contain spoilers* After I read this book, I had to just sit and process the journey that is Never Let Me Go. Usually, after I finish a book, I know exactly how I feel about it (or pretty close) and can accurately describe and articulate my feelings and thoughts about it - this book has thrown me for a fucking loop.

The first, I'd say 30% of the book, I felt like I was making a very conscious effort to stay engaged. It is told in the first person. Kathy H., the main character i *My reviews always contain spoilers* After I read this book, I had to just sit and process the journey that is Never Let Me Go. Usually, after I finish a book, I know exactly how I feel about it (or pretty close) and can accurately describe and articulate my feelings and thoughts about it - this book has thrown me for a fucking loop.

The first, I'd say 30% of the book, I felt like I was making a very conscious effort to stay engaged. It is told in the first person. Kathy H., the main character is telling her story as your grandmother may tell a story of her youth; recounting minute details where you would secretly roll your eyes wishing for her to get on with the story already, but being too respectful to not pay attention. Much of this story is told with that sort of detail that, at times, I did feel myself thinking it was painfully slow. But after "completing" it (pun intended lol), I realize that every small story, every minute detail had its very precise and proper place.

The books sleeve and online descriptions do not truly tell what this story is about and you really have to read it not knowing (or reading my review lol) to appreciate the magnitude of a novel like this. It is considered the sci-fi genre, and I understand why, but it felt like a genre of no other.

I have many questions ... why did Kathy consider Ruth such a close friend, because she really was not. Ruth was mean (to both Kathy and Tommy), fake, and not a very good friend or girlfriend for that matter. Why couldn't Tommy and Kathy just run away and escape? Why couldn't any of the donors run away? Was the fourth donation ALWAYS the last? And was the fourth donation the donation of the heart or some other irreplaceable organ? Was Kathy ever going to become a donor? How come they could not reproduce, were their reproductive organs removed when they were children? So many questions, yet I feel okay not having all the answers. Because this novel is a novel that makes it okay to just deal with what you got, as awful and unimaginable as it was. People being created for the sole purpose of organ donation. Pretty fucking crazy. Yet it is a mysterious story and lovingly told, albeit slow and rambling at times.

I would like to read more by this author and commend him on such an incredibly unique story. ...more

1 like · Like · see review