[BWF] A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro rounded up to 1 star

[Karin]

Yes, I'm an outlier among my GR friends who have read this! I have liked other books by Ishiguro (4 stars to Remains of the Day and 3 stars to each of the other two I've read by him), and didn't hate this right away, but in its 183 pages it manages to incorporate a number of things I've come to loathe in literary novels. Had I read this book as a teen, I may have liked it.

I wasn't impressed with the writing, and I am so sick and tired of books about characters who disassociate, plus there is no real ending. It wasn't 1 star all the time, but when it was suddenly done I realized it really was. In addition, there are things that are never really answered. The protagonist is unlikable as well. I have just moved the other books of his marked want to read to my delete shelf since I suspect that 4 novels by him are enough for me. The book left me feeling horrible, which is not why I read fiction at this point in my life.

[Robin P]

Interesting, I've read most of his other books and liked them but put this one off, I think I'll continue to do so.

All his other books that I've read have unreliable or uninformed narrators, which is something I like.

[Joy D]

Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my favorite authors. I've read all of his books.

I agree that they are not for anyone who does not enjoy literary fiction, but Pale View of Hills is definitely not his best. In fact, it was his debut.

I hate to see people give up on an author they might enjoy due to one bad review. Here are my reviews (in order of personal preference) in case they are helpful.

1. The Remains of the Day - 5* - My Review
2. Klara and the Sun - 5* - My Review
3. An Artist of the Floating World - 5* - My Review
4. Never Let Me Go - 4* - My Review
5. The Buried Giant - 4* - My Review
6. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nighfall - 4* - My Review
7. When We Were Orphans - 4* - My Review
8. A Pale View of Hills - 3.5* - My Review
9. The Unconsoled - 3* - My Review