“At first, Ishiguro’s English boarding school setting seems so familiar…”
This year is the 20th anniversary of the publication of Kazuo Ishiguro’s renowned novel Never Let Me Go and I have finally got round to reading it.
I can hardly believe that such a haunting story has been sitting on my shelf all that time, awaiting discovery. It is one of the best books I have ever read – and one of the most unnerving.
At first, Ishiguro’s English boarding school setting seems so familiar. Then, slowly and obliquely, the cruel reality facing the young protagonists, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, emerges.
But I’m not going to reveal any spoilers . For me, one of the most poignant aspects of turning the pages of this heartrending book was trying to work out what exactly was going on in this alternative, dystopian version of the 1990s.
Ishiguro’s book has stood the test of time, not least because its exploration of what it means to be human is as pertinent today as it was 20 years ago.
Topics:
About the Author
