Have you Read this? Book Review
Never Let Me Go
By Kazou Ishiguro
Have you Read this book? Like actually? This book is crazy. Deep down my boi Tommy always knew. There was something not right with the world, but we just accepted it anyways. Even as a reader, I was like “Yea, there’s donors and caretakers. Heck, I’m a donor myself. It says it on my drivers license.” In the book I had no idea what they were talking about. We start off really young. The teachers, facilitators, advisors, are telling us this is how the world works. We nod our heads in agreement and are like “yea, yea that makes sense. “ but you’re still wondering- you’re still curious - Why am I at this boarding school? Why is it such a prestigious boarding school? You’re having fun building relationships, discovering love, making art, it all sounds like a good time, but you know now that your destiny is set. I mean yea, we always knew that. They told us a long time ago. Then you start to think, “when did they actually tell me?? When did they tell me that? Or that part?” Throughout my childhood they fed me bits and bits of information and now that I think about it, I don’t really remember when they told me all this. I have to go back and read it honestly. The world building was probably my favorite part, if you couldn’t tell. And Tommy. Tommy was just misunderstood. We love a misunderstood character. His rage at the end was much felt .
I found this book because Victoria.thereese_ (instagram and TikTok handle) had recommended it on a TikTok live once. She also introduced me to The Heart Of The Buddha’s Teaching, so s/o to her!
After diving deep into Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go,' I can honestly say it's one of those rare reads that truly stays with you long after you've turned the last page. When I first saw the book cover – often featuring those haunting, contemplative eyes and mouth, much like the one on my copy – I knew I was in for something profound, but nothing truly prepared me for the emotional journey within these pages. It's not just a story; it's an experience. Ishiguro, a Nobel Prize winner, has a unique way of crafting worlds that feel subtly off-kilter, and 'Never Let Me Go' is a prime example of his genius. If you’ve had the pleasure of reading 'The Remains of the Day,' you’ll recognize his masterful ability to build tension through understatement and reveal profound truths through seemingly ordinary lives. This isn’t a flashy dystopian novel with explosions and rebellions; it’s a quiet, introspective exploration of destiny, humanity, and acceptance that slowly creeps under your skin and refuses to leave. The setting at Hailsham, this seemingly idyllic boarding school, is where the story truly grips you. The characters, especially Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, navigate their childhoods and young adulthoods with an undercurrent of unspoken truths and a preordained future. What really struck me was how the characters, much like the reader, grapple with fragmented memories and half-understood realities. It makes you question what you would accept if it was presented as 'just the way things are,' and how much of our identity is shaped by what we’re told versus what we discover for ourselves. The sheer brilliance of the world-building lies in its ability to make the extraordinary feel utterly normal to its inhabitants, amplifying the reader’s sense of unease. The emotional punch of this novel comes from its ability to make you care deeply for these characters, even as their heartbreaking reality slowly unfurls. The quiet melancholy that permeates the narrative, often reflected in the book’s aesthetic and cover art, perfectly mirrors the poignant journey of its protagonists. For me, that’s why it earned a solid 9/10 rating – it’s not just a story; it’s an experience that forces introspection on the nature of existence, love, and sacrifice. The slow, deliberate unveiling of information keeps you hooked, desperate to understand their world even as you dread what that understanding might entail. If you're looking for a book that challenges your perceptions, evokes deep emotion, and leaves a lasting, thought-provoking impression, 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro is an absolute must-read. It’s more than just a dystopian tale; it’s a profound meditation on what it means to be human, wrapped in Ishiguro's exquisite prose that will linger in your mind long after you've finished.
Having studied in a prestigious British school, now being broke and released into the rear world, I really sympathise with this book's protagonist 🥺