Never Let Me Go Discussion Part One

[Litsplaining]

On this discussion board, please leave comments about Part one of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Make sure to use the (view spoiler)[ brackets to keep from ruining anyone's experience. (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

I love the way this story is told with Kathy looking back on events and situations from her childhood and teenage years. The way she analyzes them feels similar to my own process of growing up even though obviously the circumstances don't have anything in common. I definitely like her as a narrator.

I like Tommy a lot. I feel his character has potential to become really interesting and I'm eager to follow how his and Kathy's relationship develop. As for Ruth I just truly don't like her. I feel that she's very manipulative and attention-seeking. I do however think that she's a very real and lifelike character. I bet you could find a version of her in any classroom. Maybe as a reader you're not supposed to like Ruth (at least not in part one) but I'm intrigued as to why Kathy seems to stay close to her through adulthood.

One negative thing is that I feel the dialogue is stiff and unrealistic. But I'm contemplating if that's due to the Swedish translation I'm reading (the original was not available at my library). A lot of the expressions and words just don't feel natural in an actual conversation.

So far I'm enjoying this story in the sense of reading it as a coming of age story. The sci-fi elements don't really interest me that much (yet).

[Antonia]

I'm not really enjoying this book so far. I'm considering the possibility of putting it down :-(

[Antonia]

Stephen wrote: "Antonia wrote: "I'm not really enjoying this book so far. I'm considering the possibility of putting it down :-("

i'm sorry to read that. is there anything particular that's bothering you?"


I don't really like the writing and the characters don't interest me at all :(

[Louise]

I'm really enjoying it so far! I think the writing style really adds something to the suspense aspect, which is what's keeping me really compelled at the moment.

[Antonia]

Stephen wrote: " I'm considering the possibility of putting it down :-("

i'm sorry to read that. is there anything particular that's bother..."

well certainly don't force yourself!"

I'm sorry I can't participate this month. I was really excited about the book :(

[Lynecia]

Yay! Book just came in the mail today. Can't wait to dive in.

[Lynecia]

My first instinct is that something is off-kilter here. Kathy is telling the story, reminiscing on her youth, but there feels like something dark is underpinning everything. It seems like (view spoiler)[they are being primed to be organ donors??? (hide spoiler)]

[Lynecia]

Stephen wrote: "Lynecia wrote: "My first instinct is that something is off-kilter here. Kathy is telling the story, reminiscing on her youth, but there feels like something dark is underpinning everything. It seem..."

Well I am LOVING this novel so far.

[Lynecia]

The question that comes to mind as I'm reading is "why is Kathy writing this"? For what purpose? And to whom? Any ideas?

[Lynecia]

The question that comes to mind as I'm reading is "why is Kathy writing this"? For what purpose? And to whom? Any ideas?

[Litsplaining]

I just finished part one and I agree with the others who dislike Ruth's character. She seems very manipulative and seems to be a character who is being set up to be distant from the reader in terms of the way that Kathy speaks of her. On one hand, it seems like Kathy wants the audience to be fond of Ruth, but on the other, she also seems to let her resentment of Ruth force it's way into her narrative. Regardless, Ruth's knack for forcing her beliefs and ideas on others rubs me the wrong way.

I do love Tommy and Kathy though. I love how they have these deep conversations about things that are going on at Hailsham and how they try to look out for one another. (view spoiler)[Tommy's frustration at not being creative is odd to me because I can't connect it with the children in the story being organ donors. (hide spoiler)]

I find it interesting that this story has so many echoes of other books like Scott Westerfields' Uglies series, My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult, and even The Notebook to a degree. I feel a budding love triangle coming on and even a societal revolt in the making with Tommy and Kathy's continuous discussions. I'm surprised by just how accessible Ishiguro's work is though since I've always thought his books were these things that I could only enjoy and understand from afar. I really went into this book thinking it'd be teeming with philosophical musings that were aimed at only a high brow audience. Thankfully, Ishiguro hits in the middle.

[Alexandra]

I finished the first part this morning — I'm a bit late, sorry. So far, I don't know what to think. It's not that I don't like it, but I don't care for the characters... I'm curious to know more about the world they live in, though, which may be the only that will make me keep on reading the novel.