I love YA novels (a guilty secret of mine) and I really like dystopian novels. So, this book had to be a big hit with me, right? Not so much.

This is the story of three children who grow up at the supposedly idyllic Hailsham School. It is narrated by Cathy, who is now 31, and it tells of her memories of school, and life beyond that.

The tragedy is these children are actually clones, who are reared for spare body parts for experiments. This is the only purpose of their lives.

This book has been made into a film, which I haven't seen. I'd heard, and read, a lot of good things about this book. There were parts of it that moved me greatly. But not so many.

I didn't like any of the characters, and (unlike popular opinion) I didn't think it was that well written. I really don’t understand the big deal that was made about this book, and that disappoints me.

Fans of dystopian novels, and also fans of YA fiction. Also, I think, people who enjoy to read prose that is quite verbose and descriptive. So, maybe, fans of literary fiction.

The premise. It is inventive and clever. It is also unique. I liked the way the book made me think about mortality, and consider the idea of knowing, from a child, you won't live much beyond thirty. It's a frightening story. I enjoyed reading the characters' struggles with this issue.

The characters. I think Cathy is meant to be sympathetic, but she is just as self-absorbed as Ruth. Tommy is meant to be sympathetic, I think, but he is infuriating and weak. Not liking the characters kind of ruined the book for me. I didn't enjoy Ishiguro's writing style, either. It's thick with massive paragraphs and lots of words. Heavy going. Definitely not an easy read (although, I don’t think it’s meant to be).

Celebrate I've made it all the way through.

Disappointed. I was looking forward to reading this. I also felt frustrated and a little annoyed at the characters.

Kazuo Ishiguro has won many accolades and is widely viewed as a genius writer. But, if this book is anything to go by, he is not for me. I didn't get the big deal.

It is thought provoking. It does poke at our consciousness and make us question the bigger picture in our lives.

It doesn't read easily, and the characters are self-absorbed brats.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Never Let Me Go   from Amazon.Com!

Created Sep 04, 2021 at 7:05am • Submit your own review...