Never Let Me Go
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| Length: | 9 hours | ||||||||||
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Overview
From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day and When We Were Orphans, comes an unforgettable edge-of-your-seat mystery that is at once heartbreakingly tender and morally courageous about what it means to be human.
Hailsham seems like a pleasant English boarding school, far from the influences of the city. Its students are well tended and supported, trained in art and literature, and become just the sort of people the world wants them to be. But, curiously, they are taught nothing of the outside world and are allowed little contact with it.
Within the grounds of Hailsham, Kathy grows from schoolgirl to young woman, but it's only when she and her friends Ruth and Tommy leave the safe grounds of the school (as they always knew they would) that they realize the full truth of what Hailsham is.
Never Let Me Go breaks through the boundaries of the literary novel. It is a gripping mystery, a beautiful love story, and also a scathing critique of human arrogance and a moral examination of how we treat the vulnerable and different in our society. In exploring the themes of memory and the impact of the past, Ishiguro takes on the idea of a possible future to create his most moving and powerful book to date.
"From the Hardcover edition.
Hailsham seems like a pleasant English boarding school, far from the influences of the city. Its students are well tended and supported, trained in art and literature, and become just the sort of people the world wants them to be. But, curiously, they are taught nothing of the outside world and are allowed little contact with it.
Within the grounds of Hailsham, Kathy grows from schoolgirl to young woman, but it's only when she and her friends Ruth and Tommy leave the safe grounds of the school (as they always knew they would) that they realize the full truth of what Hailsham is.
Never Let Me Go breaks through the boundaries of the literary novel. It is a gripping mystery, a beautiful love story, and also a scathing critique of human arrogance and a moral examination of how we treat the vulnerable and different in our society. In exploring the themes of memory and the impact of the past, Ishiguro takes on the idea of a possible future to create his most moving and powerful book to date.
"From the Hardcover edition.
Reviews (8)
Mesmerizing tale
Written by Peggy Stortz on March 21st, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Rarely do I award a book five stars, but this one deserves it. Ishiguro lets his story unfold so gently, a hint here, a suggestion there as the earthshaking secrets are illuminated. This tale is so thought provoking and so authentic, it will stay with me for a long, long time.
Disturbing in a quiet way and sad
Written by Angelika Teal from Northfield, NH on October 17th, 2007
- Book Rating: 4/5
The book content and story line was very disturbing, but not in a gross or obvious way. It starts out almost boring and the very horrifying and inhumane truth about that special government program trickles in very slowly until it takes over the whole book. I liked the reader who did an excellent performance. I was shocked by how passively these students accepted their cruel and pre-determined destiny without questioning or open rebellion. But was moved by the very tastefully delivered love story between Kathy and Tommy. A lot of readers found the ending anti-climatic, but I liked it, it fit in well with the sad and quiet resignation that runs througout the book. Readers who look for instant gratification and thrill will not like the book, they will find it boring. You have to work at this book and 'earn' it to fully appreciate it. I did give it only 4 stars, because it can be slow at times and it takes a while to get into the story line.
Riveting, haunting, and relevant
Written by Helen Luey on September 5th, 2007
- Book Rating: 5/5
I found this book riveting throughout and haunting after I finished it. It has many levels. First, it is a touching coming of age story about a very sensitive, observant woman. Second, it is a mystery about the nature and meaning of the science fiction environment the characters live in. Third, as the story progresses, it becomes social commentary about the relationship between mainstream society and those it exploits. Finally, it becomes a penetrating allegory depicting the human condition in late life. Altogether, it is an exceptionally fascinating and memorable book.
Never Let Me Go
Written by Mark Prebilic on June 19th, 2007
- Book Rating: 4/5
I found this story to be both intriguing and disturbing. I didn't realize before reading it that it would be as much science fiction as a literary novel. I found myself really caring for the main character (Kathy) and I think Ishiguro does a masterful job of revealing her character and the truth of the meaning of her life.
Slowly surprising
Written by Laurel Ralston on November 21st, 2006
- Book Rating: 4/5
This is a story that slowly unfolds as you begin to understand what is happening and just who these kids are. It was a wonderfully unique story and timely with all the stem cell research talk. I do wish, however, that the characters had not submitted to their destiny and had tried to escape to America like they talked about when they were younger. The narrator is not bad, sometimes a little too mellow, but never quite falling into boring.
Boring to the last drop....
Written by Dan Pressley from Fort Worth, TX on August 24th, 2006
- Book Rating: 2/5
This book took 7 hours to ever get to the point. And even then, the revelations were anti-climactic. It was slow, slow and even slower. At no point in the entire book did it ever pick up or get really interesting. I held out hoping for something to happen but it never did. The story was memorable and sad and it was my goal to try to finish it as quickly as possible in order to move onto something else more exciting.
A little slow
Written by Anonymous from Portland, OR on August 21st, 2006
- Book Rating: 3/5
Good premise, but slow at times. Anti-climatic conclusion.
"Never Let Me Go"
Written by Anna Shirey on March 25th, 2006
- Book Rating: 5/5
Really neat story - and the narrator was amazing! Somehow it manages to be sedate and "civilized" while describing a government policy which borders on barbarism. It really creates a lot of tension, as you try to get to the center of the plot -only to close with a gentle sigh. Highly recommend!