From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

Start date: May 1, 2014

Finish date: May 31, 2014

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 405 topics — 3,825 comments total

Group Reads Discussions

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Links to Group Read Discussions
By Diane , Armchair Tour Guide · 3 posts · 1370 views

last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

I've Been Waiting
By Carole · 1 post · 14 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 07:57PM

showing 10 of 40 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 01, 2013 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: literary-schmiterary, authors-i-don-t-ever-want-to-read-a, everyone-loved-it-except-me, audio, 1001-books

Recommended for fans of Everything I Never Told You, another slow rambling book that others found deeply emotional, but I just hated.

Everything about this book annoyed me. The funny thing is, I didn't think it was bad, exactly; it's well-written, and different enough to be memorable. But I hated it, hated every moment of it ... hated every character, hated all the endless details, hated the rambling style, hated the Britishisms and constant mentions of Hailsham. This was a hate read for me.

This Recommended for fans of Everything I Never Told You, another slow rambling book that others found deeply emotional, but I just hated.

Everything about this book annoyed me. The funny thing is, I didn't think it was bad, exactly; it's well-written, and different enough to be memorable. But I hated it, hated every moment of it ... hated every character, hated all the endless details, hated the rambling style, hated the Britishisms and constant mentions of Hailsham. This was a hate read for me.

This book is like going to someone's high school reunion as a first date: you don't know any of these people, and you don't give a crap about their reminiscing stories, you're just praying you have enough alcohol to make it to the end.

I admit to rolling my eyes every time she goes on about that stupid song, Never Let Me Go, and every time she goes on about her sexual urges and having sex, in the most ridiculously clinical detail.

I have questions: (view spoiler)

*********************************

Review from my first try, back in ~2014ish, when I DNF'ed - my opinion did not change this second time around, in 2017, when I finished it:
I'm having a hard time with the rambling style of this one - I find myself skimming and skipping. I keep hoping that eventually I'll get drawn into the story, but so far (and I'm not really very far in) I hate Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Kay rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, modern-fiction, fantasy_sci-fi, audiobooks

Ultimately I found this tale too languid and introspective to arouse much interest. Kathy, the central character, reminisces on her childhood at length, and the reader senses (or hopes) that something shattering will happen, but it never really does. At one point, Tommy, Kathy's lover, walks into a field and has a meltdown, but that's about it. I found myself wanting to take Kathy by the shoulders and shake her. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 09, 2012 Astrid Lim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bbi, literature, dystopian, british, 1001-books

So, I am a bit torn about this book. The premise is really great, about a mysterious school where a bunch of kids (aka clones) are studying and preparing themselves for the inevitable fate in their future: becoming donors for "real people". But the narration is soooo slow, the same problem I always faced when reading British books. It's dark and gloomy, sadly it lacks of that longing feeling I hoped to find when reading it. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2018 Erica rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Sep 13, 2010 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, british-literature, books-that-changed-me

This book is absolutely heart breaking and so subtly written. Characters rarely discuss their feelings up front and that's how the book progresses. There is obviously something different about the students of Hailsham but no one ever says what it is. Yet throughout the book the secrets between the characters and about who they are slowly unravel. To divulge anything would do the book a disservice. All I can say is that it's definitely worth a read and much of the last quarter of this book moved ...more

Like · see review

Feb 20, 2011 hannah rated it really liked it

Shelves: novel

Like the book better than the film. Like it much more than The Remains of the Day, which is the only other Ishiguro book I've read. There seem to be a recurring theme in his books about taking pride in one's job. I am impressed by the writer's imagination, as I would have never envisioned the life stories of the clones. The story is a bit saddening, about unalterable fate and all that. If I had read the story a few years back, I probably would have written a good paper for the bioethics course. ...more

Like · see review

Feb 16, 2025 AGB rated it liked it

I was definitely underwhelmed by this book. Based on the hype and reviews, I was expecting something much more; a denouement of some sort. It may have been there and I may have missed it. It is probably better geared for a “book club” group where people can discuss it and flesh it out.

Like · see review