Never Let Me Go Follow Up

[Dana]

Sorry if this is totally random or the wrong place to post. I just read this book and signed on to goodreads looking for a place to discuss it because I'm so frustrated.

There are a few things really bothering me after finishing this. First being, why didn't Tommy, Kathy, or any of the other adult clones try to do something about their fate?? They were seemingly free to walk about society without anyone watching over them. They looked like regular people. What was keeping them from jumping ship and starting a new life somewhere else? Start over with a new identity somewhere? I just can't get around this. I can't believe that people would have just rolled over and accepted this fate. Did people rebel? What happened if they tried (were there past consequences that kept people from rebelling? If so, what happened?)

Also, I would have liked the details of 'donation'. What organs did they take first? What and who decides this? Why did some people die after donation #2 but some people lasted to #4? But why did no one live past that (was donation 4 where they took your brain/heart?)

I just have a very unfinished, disturbed vibe after this book.

[Dana]

That's interesting. I do understand them not running away from the school. But at a point do they question why they don't have parents, etc. It seems like they go out and about in the world. Did they never meet or talk to people who enlighten them on these subjects even a little? Maybe somehow they are kept childlike or something is purposely left out in their development. But wouldn't a free thinker have snuck in there somewhere?

Also, did they ever say why Kathy was a carer so much longer then anyone else?

[Kyle]

I don't believe the details matter. The unfinished and disturbed feeling that the reader is left with, I believe, is intentional. The book is written in a very straightforward manner with just enough information to allow the reader to continue in this world, but only from the perspective of the students. We know running away wasn't a possibility ONLY because it never occurred to the students. Again, the why isn't relevant. What is relevant is feeling something is drastically off, wrong, but you're unable to put your finger on exactly what it is. You go into the novel reading about people, students. You are forced by Ishiguro to unlearn this basic fact. Because, in this world, they are not people; they are just a bag of organs...

[Dana]

I know what you're saying Kyle and understand your point. But for me it just bothered me to much that there was not a single free thinker among the bunch who didn't try for more. It's not like they weren't amoong 'regulars', and on the surface not a whole lot seperated them from regulars. I do agree that people are conditioned to act a certain way and most people do what they're told. I couldn't get past wondering what kept them from even trying. Especially Tommy, because he seemed to sense the unfairness with his fits of rage.

[Kyle]

DS-I agree. It was really frustrating. I wanted them (Tommy especially) to be more critical of their circumstances and have a desire to leave or fight. The only way I could wrap my head around the fact that they didn't was to begin to think of the students as farm-animals. And I think that was part of the brilliance of the novel. It really challenged me to think differently.