Never Let Me Go in Classics Without All the Class

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Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

Start date: June 1, 2016

Finish date: June 30, 2016

Discussion: June 2016- Never Let Me Go

Discussion leader: Marnie

Why we're reading this: This is a tale of deceptive simplicity that slowly reveals an extraordinary exceptional depth and resonan…more
[close] This is a tale of deceptive simplicity that slowly reveals an extraordinary exceptional depth and resonance.

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June 2016- Never Let Me Go

June 2016- Never Let Me Go
By Candice · 59 posts · 119 views

last updated Jul 04, 2016 02:39PM

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What Members Thought

Oct 02, 2011 Cecily rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: bildungsroman, overrated, film-good-or-better-than-book, dystopian-apocalyptic, school-location, miscellaneous-fiction

Very disappointing, despite a promising opening. It is a ridiculous story that is increasingly badly told. If you don't want to know the key plot point, beware of reading the back cover of some editions. :(

GENRE
Although often classed as sci-fi, I think that's more because dystopian fiction is often categorised that way, rather than anything inherently sci-fi in the book itself. In fact, it doesn't even feel dystopian for a while. In many ways, it's more of coming-of-age novel: coping with loss o ...more

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May 01, 2010 Corey rated it liked it · review of another edition

"Never Let Me Go" was a well written book with a great premise. The book in my opinion could have been so much better. After getting through 150 pages of bland character developement, and plots that were low key that seemed to go on forever. The writing was the only reason I stuck with it and plus you do have a sense of wonder that something interesting will happen eventually (it did but too late in book). I get what the author was trying to prevail in this book but for me my vested interest wen ...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Ryan rated it liked it

While this story will not go down as my all-time favorite, I did enjoy the book. What frustrated me the most was how difficult it was to actually figure out what was going on in the story. I think waiting as long as I did is ridiculous. The only reason I even figured things out was becuase it started to remind me of that movie, The Island, where the clones all live in a futuristic place waiting to go the "the island" which means they will be used for parts by their double. Never Let Me Go was sa ...more

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Jul 09, 2023 Katherine rated it liked it

Whenever I'm asked, "is it better to read the book before or after a movie?" that answer for me is always to read the book before the movie.

I remember knowing this movie was based on a book, when it came out back in 2010. But given the great repertoire of actors, and not having the book accessible at the time, I went ahead and watched the movie before reading the book. After watching the movie, I probably knew right away that I should have read the book first.

Over a decade later, I finally hav Whenever I'm asked, "is it better to read the book before or after a movie?" that answer for me is always to read the book before the movie.

I remember knowing this movie was based on a book, when it came out back in 2010. But given the great repertoire of actors, and not having the book accessible at the time, I went ahead and watched the movie before reading the book. After watching the movie, I probably knew right away that I should have read the book first.

Over a decade later, I finally have read the book, and I will probably always wonder if I would have rated it higher if I hadn't know its ending from the start. At the same time, I am a believer that it's still worth reading a book after watching the film, as a way to compare notes, and see which details were kept and which ones were removed.

Kazuo Ishiguro is becoming for me a writer who offers a smooth yet rich descriptive narrative that invites you into a storyline that always feels unique and humanizing. This is only my second book, but this might be the marker for me to intentionally read his other books.

Having a good memory of the movie, it was a beautiful ride to see how many similarities there were with the book, and if i had read this book first, I probably would've been impressed by the respectful and genuine adaptation of this story to a film production.

The story had such an innocent narrator in Kathy H, and she represented how these "students" were being formed with an unusual education program with lack of examples of adults inspirations, relationship building and how to get prepared for the outside world. As I write this, I wonder how that is different from every day students going to school. I will say the notable difference for me is that I personally did have examples of adult inspirations that gave me a glimpse of something to look forward to after school.

The theme of friendship in this book is an interesting one for me, as Ruby and Tommy represent how friends can appear to you in life, in either superficial or in ways that connections are inexplicable. It was about given the choices you have, the need for connection is such that you build the relationships with who you have around you.

Admittedly the love story here was a hard to engage with. However, I think the way it played out was essentially the right choice, as it helped that the focus would be on our choices vs a love story developing without the privilege of time.

I remember feeling haunted and pensive after watching the movie. Would I have easily accepted that fate? Knowing the ending when reading the book meant the fate was already accepted for me, and it was more about how time was focused on exploring who you are and how you wanted to spend time with your life.

This book would be great one for a book club discussion. ...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Shea rated it liked it

Shelves: manchester-district-library

This is a very thought provoking novel told in the first person. For the most part I enjoyed the narrative although, at times, it seemed to jump around unnecessarily. Ishiguro brings up questions of medical progress vs. ethical actions without being preachy. Reading this novel only reaffirms my belief that all life must be held in the highest regard and souls cannot be deemed expendable in the name of progress.

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