January 2012 - Never Let Me Go

[Michael, Mod Prometheus]

January's book and the winner of the Coming of Age poll is Never Let Me Go. This is the third dystopian novel for our bookclub in the past four months; a bit of a theme that we will need to break out of. Never Let Me Go is by Japanese-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro and was shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize (an award Ishiguro had won in 1989 for The Remains of the Day). The book was recently turned into a major motion picture.

[Sarah]

I'm looking forward to this discussion. I read this book a few years ago and loved it. I will skim through again as the discussion rolls along.

[Lawyer]

Ah, Hailsham. No mirrors on the ceilings, no champagne on ice, but all the people there are very, very nice. The place is reminding me a little of Hotel California. Wondering if there's a waiting list for enrollment. Such a lovely place for artistic and creative children.

[Sarah]

Quick question, triggered by Everitt - what's the story on "spoilers" in the discussion? Do we assume most folks haven't finished yet, or are just beginning? This is a book that unfolds kind of slowly - I wouldn't want to spoil anything either. thanks.

[Kim]

To be honest I'm not looking forward to yet another bleak dystopian novel but I will give it a try.

[Marlene]

Same here.

[Logophile]

I read this a few years back. I'll be interested to see the discussion unfold, particularly Everitt's "spoiler" question. Overall, although elements of the book were stunning, I didn't care for it much.

[Michael, Mod Prometheus]

I think assume no one has read the book and use the spoiler option to avoid destroying anyone's reading experience

[Lawyer]

Kim wrote: "To be honest I'm not looking forward to yet another bleak dystopian novel but I will give it a try."

Warning: It's BLEAK. But, from Wiki:

ANOTHER WARNING: THE WIKI ARTICLE GIVE THE ENTIRE PLOT OF THIS NOVEL!

It was shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize (an award Ishiguro had previously won in 1989 for The Remains of the Day), for the 2006 Arthur C. Clarke Award and for the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award. TIME magazine named it the best novel of 2005 and included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.[1] It also received an ALA Alex Award in 2006.

[1] http://entertainment.time.com/2005/10...

[Lawyer]

And, folks, remember...we voted to read this. *grin* Hmmm, can't remember what I voted for.

[Michael, Mod Prometheus]

Don't worry, we probably won't have a dystopian book for a while now.

[Lawyer]

Knowledge Lost wrote: "Don't worry, we probably won't have a dystopian book for a while now."

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This one's bringing me down man. "Such negative waves, Moriarity!...It's a beautiful day, Man. Why can't you say something righteous."--From "Kelley's Heroes." Man, I'm looking forward to something that's LIGHT. I'll do YA. I'll read "Peter Pan," "The Wind in the Willows," I'll paint the fence for Tom Sawyer and be happy to do it. I would read P.J. Funnybunny's, "It not easy being a bunny." Honest Injun.

Having said that, it is extremely well written, deceptively simple in the telling of the story. And that is what makes it so...diabolical, downright evil.

The growing discovery of the children regarding what is intended for them is a punch to the solar plexus.

[Michael, Mod Prometheus]

I try to mix it up, but we can steer people a way from dystopian novels for a few months at least :D

[Lawyer]

Knowledge Lost wrote: "I try to mix it up, but we can steer people a way from dystopian novels for a few months at least :D"

Pack up all my care and woe,
Here I go,
Singing low,
Bye bye blackbird,
Where somebody waits for me,
Sugar's sweet, so is she,
Bye bye
Blackbird!

No one here can love or understand me,
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me,
Make my bed and light the light,
I'll be home late tonight,
Blackbird bye bye.

(tchoo, tchoo, tchoo, tchoo, tchoo!)

Composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon,1926

Woooo-hooooo!

[M.L.]

I'm planning on read it.

[M.L.]

Have now gone from "planning" to read to reading ... early thoughts ... I already like it much better than Handmaid's Tale which I found totally monotonous for the first half of the book :)

[Philippa]

I have to say the writing is excellent. Very easy to get drawn in to the plot and the characters.

[Sarah]

Ishiguro is one of my favorite contemporary writers. My favorite of his is When We Were Orphans, although I suspect that from a literary point of view The Remains of the Day is probably a superior book. I enjoy him because his work deals with memory and the past.

[M.L.]

I got a sample of The Remains of the Day on Kindle and plan on reading it as well - really love his writing. What I find fascinating too since both stories are in 1st person is that Never Let Me Go sounds like a woman - and Remains of the Day, from the sample, sounds like a man, at least to me :) which is really nuanced writing.

[Jessa]

How do we post about spoilers??

I also want to say that early on in the book I wrote a note about this being another Handmaid's Tale. Low and behold, it turned out to be pretty damn true. I'll post more once everyone has finished.

[Janice]

I started the book last night and I am actually fascinated with Ishiguro´s style of writing, I am also looking forward to the discussion once we are finnished reading it.

[Sarah]

Flash Beagle wrote: "I got a sample of The Remains of the Day on Kindle and plan on reading it as well - really love his writing. What I find fascinating too since both stories are in 1st person is that N..."

I agree - I think Ishiguro is an excellent writer, and does the female voice very well.

[Booksy]

S. wrote: "Ishiguro is one of my favorite contemporary writers. My favorite of his is When We Were Orphans, although I suspect that from a literary point of view [book:The Remains of the Day|2892..."

Same for me, Ishiguro is one of the finest Japanese writers. Although, he has been living in the UK since when he was 6 years old and is actually a UK citizen. And yet, his prose carries this feature of bleakness and light at the same time, so common to many works of Japanese writers. To me, though, "The Remains of the Day" is probably the mos "English" ofhis novels.
Asfor the "Orphans...", when I was reading it ( a few years ago) I remmber I felt I couldn't quite comprehend what actually was going on with the characters and then I just couldn't believe it was even possible, so surreal and sinister it was. I loved the passivity of characters and the bleakness of the atmosphere, it seemed to me that the novel had certain lyricism about it making it almost like poetry.

[Philippa]

Booksy wrote: "S. wrote: "Ishiguro is one of my favorite contemporary writers. My favorite of his is When We Were Orphans, although I suspect that from a literary point of view [book:The Remains of t..."

It's interesting you observed that Booksy. I'm finding the writing here almost lyrical. It's very easy to get swept away it how beautiful the prose is. It very deceptively hides almost the underlying darkness, which in someways makes it worse.
I can deifinately see me reading more of his works after this one.

[Viktor]

What can I say? This hasn’t been the best book to read while having a hangover; when your vital organs are still processing all the toxins accumulated over the festive season and your mild depression starts to develop momentum:). My perception is that this story apart from being frustratingly sad and gloomy has characters that are somewhat incomplete or underdeveloped. I suppose the author wanted to portray them in that way to signify their “specialness”. Throughout the novel I felt that there was something massive and very important missing, something these doomed individuals didn’t have an understanding of or weren’t aware of its existence until it occurred to me that they didn’t have a perception of freedom in a sense most of us do. This has puzzled me a lot but, hey, what isn’t possible in a hypothetical world? Lately, we tend to read more books about hypothetical worlds (1/3 of all reads last year and already one this year). I’m glad the moderators noticed the same trend:). Hopefully we’ll mix it up a bit more this year.

[Sonali]

I have not yet started this book. But I like Ishiguro's lightness of touch. His collection of short stories 'Nocturnes'I found it to be fascinating.And another- I cant recall the name clearly..probably"a pale view of the hills' or something, it was so different from anything I had ever read..a peep into the traditional japanese world.. but touched upon like a japanese painting.

[Booksy]

Hi Sonali, I liked "Nocturnes" as well, allthough I found some stories to be very strong ( the one about the musician), and some not memorable at all. I guess it is a common case with short stories collections.

[M.L.]

I just finished it and thought it was stunning, the subtlety gives it so much impact - this bucolic setting and the insidious practice that's become entrenched. Thought provoking in a whole new way for me. Definitely will read more by Ishiguro!

[Lawyer]

Although we've had our share of dystopian novels, Never Let Me Go is without a doubt the finest novel I have read in 2011 and in infant 2012.

Is it bleak? Absolutely. In someways, I had the same experience with Michael Cunningham's The Hours. Basically, I felt I might turn the last page and shoot myself. Feel good novel of the year? Definitely not. Brilliant? Definitely so.

Having completed my read this afternoon, I'm going to pour a Gentleman Jack over ice, blow smoke rings at the ceiling fan on the screened porch and read Pat the Bunny, perhaps twice. Ishiguro put me through the emotional wringer. But it is worth the pain for its plea for morality and the indifferent nature of society.

Looking forward to The Night Circus. I caved and sprung for a signed first printing. Waiting for the postman to ring twice.

Cheers to all.

[Melki]

I was rather dismayed when this title won the poll for January's read. I tried reading "Never Let Me Go" when a friend loaned it to me early last year. I made it to page 8. I sat down with it again today (the library's copy, not my friend's - I returned her copy, of course). I gave it 30 pages this time.
It is just not grabbing me. I don't like any of the characters or the writing style. I feel like I've been plunked down in the middle of a story and I need to struggle to catch up. And, since my friend already blabbed the "big secret", I don't feel compelled to read it out of curiousity. There are two more weeks before I need to return it, so maybe a third attempt will be the charm. If not, my to-be-read stacks offer plenty of other grand escapes to choose from.

[Sarah]

Flash Beagle wrote: "I just finished it and thought it was stunning, the subtlety gives it so much impact - this bucolic setting and the insidious practice that's become entrenched. Thought provoking in a whole new wa..."

For me it's also the subtlety that gives this book its power. It presents you with such a horrendsous situation and yet the writing is so fluent and low-key, it's like giving poison a delicious flavor.

[Lawyer]

S. wrote: "...it's like giving poison a delicious flavor. "

"Lucrezia, my darling, the liqueur is nectar. Exquisite! A bouquet of peach and almond..."

"A gift from Cesare, Husband."

August 18, 1500

Yes, I know Alfonso was strangled in his bed, but it makes for a good story.

[M.L.]

It's funny, I wasn't too excited about another dark read either (even though I voted for it because it sounded okay at the time), but then thought, oh, I'll just fly through it and be done with it (justify my not wanting to read it in the first place). Surprised myself - ended up doing a 180! (you just never know, which is a fun thing)

Speaking of poison :) - to go off on a bit of a tangent - a bright young protagonist, 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, a chemist with her own lab. Flavia is fascinated with poison (and you learn a lot about it in the books). Flavia "helps" the inspector (who I picture as looking like Arthur Conan Doyle) solve murders. I've read 3 of the series - my favorite is The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley. It's set in post World War II English countryside - village, mansion, church, vicar, the works. Flavia is funny - eccentric and a drama queen - book #2 starts out with her fantasizing about her death - "poor dead Flavia" - and how sorry her uppity sisters will be for treating her so badly. (But Flavia can definitely take care of herself.) After Never Let Me Go, I was thinking maybe it's time for #4 and more Flavia.

Looking forward to more reads!

[Jessa]

Everitt wrote: "Jessa wrote: "How do we post about spoilers??

I also want to say that early on in the book I wrote a note about this being another Handmaid's Tale. Low and behold, it turned out to be pretty damn..."

Thank you, Everitt!

[Jessa]

Flash Beagle wrote: "I just finished it and thought it was stunning, the subtlety gives it so much impact - this bucolic setting and the insidious practice that's become entrenched. Thought provoking in a whole new wa..."

I think I have to agree. I've been mesmerized by this book. I think the world they are living in is one of acceptance. They've never known any different and they just accept their fate. There has never been any movement for their situation so their has not been any precedent to rebel; their acceptance seems natural.

[Booksy]

Flash Beagle wrote: "It's funny, I wasn't too excited about another dark read either (even though I voted for it because it sounded okay at the time), but then thought, oh, I'll just fly through it and be done with it ..."

Thanks for the tip Flash Beagle, Alan Bradley and his Flavia series indeed sounds like a literary gem, will look for his books in our library. Willl indeed be a great distraction from alll our recent dystopian/ gloomy reads.

[Maree]

This is definitely one of my favorite books. I picked it up for a seminar not knowing a thing about it, and the gradual reveal was amazing. I also agree that his writing is very lyrical and it flowed and captured me right from the beginning.

There's just so much to talk about with the story! I'll try and wait until more people have finished, though. I definitely encourage those who aren't sure about picking it up to give it a try--I definitely enjoyed it more than Handmaid's Tale as well.

[The Bamboo Traveler]

What do you think the central theme of the book is? What do you think Ishiguro was trying to say about life?

Everitt wrote: "I've read this book before as well. It is one of my favorite modern novels. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I also remember that the people who didn't like the book complained that the characters were too passive ("why didn't they just run away!"). It never occurred to me that they would think of running away. I thought not running away was an example of their humanness as in their vulnerability. I kept on thinking that these people were no different from a lot of people in abusive relationships or who live under oppressive conditions (the Jewish people during the Holocaust) and just stay and accept the condition. (hide spoiler)]

[Andreas]

I would like to add that should anyone be contemplating seeing the film version after reading the book, do it. It is definitely one of the best novel to film adaptations I have seen. The acting is absolutely superb. Kathy and Tommy are exactly the people I saw in my head when I read the novel.

[Sarah]

Thanks, Andreas. I've been thinking about skipping the film, so good to know you liked it.

[Booksy]

Joining S to thank Andreas, I was also not too keen on wtching the movie not wanting to spoil the great book impression, but will watch it now.

[Philippa]

I've heard good things about the movie too.

Pupukat (view spoiler)[ I think also in some ways the characters 'passivity' is also a part of the British way of life. Not so much in that we're passive but in that we can have a tendancy to be accepting of the situation. It did also seem a bit odd to expect them to run away, especially considering the way in which they were raised. They were raised after all in complete segregation and isolation from the rest of society and informed that they had a very specific purpose. How could they think of running away when they were told that they were living their lives as they were meant to do and fulfilling their societal role? I did wonder, what would happen were one of them to meet and begin a serious relationship with a non-donor. I didn't get the sense that this was forbidden but it would surely raise complications that weren't addressed? In some ways because Kathy and Tommy fell for each other it almost gauranteed that they wouldn't run away, because it wasn't an option to either of them, they both believed that they were doing what they were meant to be. The only alternative they saw to their respective carer/donor roles was the possibility of having their donations temporarily deferred. To them, being a donor was a normal and natural thing. Which really in many ways is the horific thing about the entire situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Maree]

Pupukat wrote: "What do you think the central theme of the book is? What do you think Ishiguro was trying to say about life?"

(view spoiler)[I definitely think that the center question to the novel is about what it means to be human, and if Kathy and Tommy and Ruth are. The way that Ishiguro wrote the novel, with the gradual reveal that these characters we're relating to are clones, is obviously meant to impact us. I had to wonder at the society they lived in. No one in the real world could tell they were clones unless they said something, but they're okay with raising them for the parts they need, because they aren't "human".

It's a great question. Are they feeling all the emotions they feel because that's how their original would feel? Or are they different because they've been raised in a different environment, making them something new? (hide spoiler)]

[Kieren]

I read the book because I enjoyed the movie so much. The writing style was a bit of getting used to at first but after a while I found it somewhat comforting. Especially when you get into the nitty gritty of it all

[Deborah]

I'm about 10% in. I am curious about the plot, but I'm having some trouble. I don't like the narration. I find the chatty casual tone a little off-putting. I don't mind casual. I don't like cute.

[Melki]

High five, Deborah! You managed to sum up exactly why I chose NOT to read this book!

[Deborah]

I'm going to keep trying. Maybe something good will happen. Maybe. I'll give it another 10% then I'm moving on to something awesome.

[Maree]

Cute? That's definitely not how I'd describe the tone, but to each their own. I could agree that it's definitely slower paced, though. It's about the characters, not about the action.

[Deborah]

No, I like things character driven and I don't mind slow. The tone is chatty. I'm not charmed.

[Jessa]

Philippa wrote: "I've heard good things about the movie too.

Pupukat [spoilers removed]"

Philippa, this was so well put. I definitely agree with you. (view spoiler)[ It does some that a relationship with a non-donor is not strictly forbid but when all you know is non-donors, I wonder if you would ever stray. It seems as if they have been raised in solitary confinement, even from other donors. They are split up after schooling then are sent to live alone as carers or with only other donors as donors. They never really interact with anyone else. Even their identities are not their own, they're clones. I think this has to be a huge reason why they never revolt. Their is no community or sense of something better. (hide spoiler)]