Susan Hated Literature

Nov 22 2008

When we were orphans

Published by Fence under Books

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 057120516x DDC: 823.914
See also: LibraryThing ; Other Reviews

It was the summer of 1923, the summer I came down from Cambridge, when despite my aunt’s wishes that I return to Shropshire, I decided my future lay in the capital and took up a small flat at Number 14b Bedford Gardens in Kensington.

The narrator of this book, Christopher Banks, is a renowned detective in the 1930’s. One of England’s most famous detectives. Yet one case has always troubled him; the disappearance of his parents from their home in Shanghai when he was a boy. So he returns to his old home in order to investigate this case.

Tags: 1930s, 6 Stars, 823.914, England - 1930s, Kazuo Ishiguro, Shanghai, Shanghai - 1930s, unreliable narrator, When we were orphans

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Jun 24 2008

The Remains of the Day

Published by Fence under Books

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 0571154913 DDC: 823.914
LibraryThing : More Reviews

It seems increasingly likely that I really will undertake the expedition that has been occupying my imagination now for some days.

The Remains of the Day is about Stevens, a butler in a “grand old English house”. He spent his life trying to be a “great” butler in the service of Lord Darlington. With the death of Darlington he remains in Darlington Hall working for the new owner a rich American, Mr Farraday. It is at Mr. Farraday’s suggestion that Stevens, our narrator, first begins thinking about taking a short trip out into the English countryside, and to see Miss Kenton. Now Mrs. Benn she recently sent him a letter, hinting, Stevens thinks, at her unhappy marriage and her wish to return to service in Darlington Hall. On his journey Stevens reflects over his life and the changes he has seen.

Tags: 10 Stars, 823.914, Booker Prize winner, Britain - 1900s, character study, England, English aristocracy, first person narrator, historical fiction, Interwar Britain, Kazuo Ishiguro, social history, The remains of the day

One response so far

Dec 30 2007

The Unconsoled

Published by Fence under Books

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 057122539X DDC: 823.914

Surreal and weird are terms that come to mind when I attempt to review this book. Or to be even more accurate, very weird and extremely surreal

The story revolves around a world famous pianist who travels to a city, in Europe somewhere but we’re never told where exactly, and then travels around meeting people and being late for other meetings with people. Ryder seems to be suffering from some sort of amnesia at first. We don’t really know anything about him, and he doesn’t really seem to know anything about himself either.

Tags: 823.914, 9 Stars, amnesia, Kazuo Ishiguro, pianist, surreal, The Unconsoled, weird

8 responses so far

Oct 09 2007

Never Let Me Go

Published by Fence under Books

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 0571224121 DDC: 823.914
See also: Wikipedia ; Slate review ; The Dish ; stop motion

My name is Kathy H. I’m thirty-one years old, and I’ve been a carer now for over eleven years. That sounds long enough, I know, but actually they want me to go on for another eight months, until the end of this year.

I picked this upon impulse. At home, looking for something for the train, I recognised the author’s name and thought that I may as well give it a go. And I’m so glad I did because I loved this book. The narrator is Kathy H., a 31 year old woman, and the book is her memories of life at boarding school. She and other students lived at Hailsham where they were taught by the “guardians” and brought up in a privileged manner. But all is not as it seems and throughout the novels there are hints at something darker.