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Kevin Ansbro's Reviews > Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go
by
by
Kevin Ansbro's review
bookshelves: contemporary-fantasy, dystopian, parable, repetitive-yawnfest, don-t-feel-u-have-to-like-it, abandoned
Aug 16, 2016
bookshelves: contemporary-fantasy, dystopian, parable, repetitive-yawnfest, don-t-feel-u-have-to-like-it, abandoned
You know those irritating people who talk to children and old people as if they were babies, in a puerile, singsong voice?
Well, those idiots sprang to mind as I endured the narrative voice of this glacially slow yawnfest of a novel.
This is a book so plodding, so dreary and so pretentious that I gave up on it halfway through.
With a less-than-pleased harrumph, I shoved it into a slot on my bookshelf alongside The Remains of the Day, which I'd bought at the same time, anticipating dual sublimity.
So for the past few years there they both sat, on the bookcase equivalent of a naughty step, sulking like teenagers and glaring at me each time I passed.
"Oh, get over yourselves!" I berated, turning them around so that only their pages were on show. Ha! That taught them a lesson they'll never forget!
But right now, I'm giving The Remains of the Day its day in the sun. It's highly spoken of by numerous Goodreaders, so I'm hoping that Ishiguro can belatedly turn my frown upside down.
As for Never Let Me Go, the only thing that I have in common with its improbable story line is that (view spoiler) : )
I remember someone describing this as being somewhere between Kafka and Enid Blyton, which is most apt.
Read this book by all means, but don't say that I didn't warn you.
UPDATE: The Remains of the Day was a triumph, in my view!
: )
Well, those idiots sprang to mind as I endured the narrative voice of this glacially slow yawnfest of a novel.
This is a book so plodding, so dreary and so pretentious that I gave up on it halfway through.
With a less-than-pleased harrumph, I shoved it into a slot on my bookshelf alongside The Remains of the Day, which I'd bought at the same time, anticipating dual sublimity.
So for the past few years there they both sat, on the bookcase equivalent of a naughty step, sulking like teenagers and glaring at me each time I passed.
"Oh, get over yourselves!" I berated, turning them around so that only their pages were on show. Ha! That taught them a lesson they'll never forget!
But right now, I'm giving The Remains of the Day its day in the sun. It's highly spoken of by numerous Goodreaders, so I'm hoping that Ishiguro can belatedly turn my frown upside down.
As for Never Let Me Go, the only thing that I have in common with its improbable story line is that (view spoiler) : )
I remember someone describing this as being somewhere between Kafka and Enid Blyton, which is most apt.
Read this book by all means, but don't say that I didn't warn you.
UPDATE: The Remains of the Day was a triumph, in my view!
: )
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
August 16, 2016
– Shelved
August 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
contemporary-fantasy
August 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
dystopian
August 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
parable
August 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
repetitive-yawnfest
August 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
don-t-feel-u-have-to-like-it
August 20, 2016
– Shelved as:
abandoned
Comments Showing 1-50 of 153 (153 new)
Cecily wrote: "Ouch and ha ha. Harsh but fair, and yes I know those annoying people. I even have the same spoiler as you. Very important.As for being between Kafka and Enid Blyton, no, not imo. Nothing Kafkaesq..."
Methinks I've done a huge disservice to Enid Blyton too, Cecily!
Hahah, Kevin, what a damnation! I saw the film adaptation of this and it's frustrating because the premise is really interesting and so much could have been done with it. Can't speak to the novel but if it's anything like the film, I can agree with your assertion that it's a "glacially slow yawnfest of a novel" (which by the way, is my new favourite description...
Hannah wrote: "Hahah, Kevin, what a damnation! I saw the film adaptation of this and it's frustrating because the premise is really interesting and so much could have been done with it. Can't speak to the novel b..."Thanks, Hannah.
I read this a few years ago and thought that it was dreadful.
But, because I've (started) to read The Remains of the Day, I was reminded to post a review.
And if TROTD is similarly dreary, I'll jettison that too! : )
Appreciate your comment, Hannah!
As much as we're at opposite ends of the Love/Hate Spectrum on this book, you review really made me laugh, so thanks for that! :-D
Do you mean to say you don't like Kafka / Blyton???I must admit to having steered clear of this one since readers I know usually rate it 1 or 5 stars, nothing in between.
But that beginning of your review ... you really know how to describe a horror scenario!
Paul wrote: "As much as we're at opposite ends of the Love/Hate Spectrum on this book, you review really made me laugh, so thanks for that! :-D"Thanks, Paul. I aim to please!
Trish wrote: "Do you mean to say you don't like Kafka / Blyton???"I like Kafka and Blyton, Trish.
Just didn't like this wearisome effort.
"...you really know how to describe a horror scenario!"
I ought to try my hand at writing! ; )
Kevin wrote: ""...you really know how to describe a horror scenario!"I ought to try my hand at writing! ; ) "
*lol* Yeah!
Kevin, thank you so much for this. Now I know there's at least one other person on the planet that shares my feelings on this...
Cheri wrote: "Kevin, thank you so much for this. Now I know there's at least one other person on the planet that shares my feelings on this..."I'm guessing that there're more than you might think, Cheri.
Call me old-fashioned, but a novel (however well written) should capture us, and never let us go until it's good and ready.
I'm still struggling with the idea of repeated mentions of Kafka and Blyton in the same sentence. Surreal.
Cecily wrote: "I'm still struggling with the idea of repeated mentions of Kafka and Blyton in the same sentence. Surreal."Kafka & Blyton, tailors of bespoke, hand-stitched gentlemen's suits!
Ah, that phrase reminded me of a favourite line from Fahrenheit 451 (loosely):“The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.”
But I dread to think what Kafka and Blyton's tailoring would look like. Probably more like something out of Ubik, and if you don't know what that means, look unclick the spoiler tag here (no plot spoilers).
Cecily wrote: "Ah, that phrase reminded me of a favourite line from Fahrenheit 451 (loosely):“The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.”..."
That book looks far out-groovy, baby!
Like an amalgam of Monty Python, Clockwork Orange, Blake's Seven, Austin Powers and Enid Blyton, with a hint of Kafka.
Ubik is a hoot. And not long. Read it!
Cecily wrote: "Ubik is a hoot. And not long. Read it!"OK, I will.
(My finger did hover over it).
It appealed to me straightaway, and your
Adding it now. : )
I really did not like this book and I am so happy to find like-minded others. Friend requests all around!
Awesome review, Kevin, thanks for the heads-up!
Randy wrote: "I really did not like this book and I am so happy to find like-minded others. Friend requests all around!"Thank you, Randy.
I appreciate the friendquest, which I've reciprocated. : )
Anne wrote: "Awesome review, Kevin, thanks for the heads-up!"Thanks, Anne!
Yep, give it a wide berth. This definitely wouldn't be your thing; smoke will assuredly begin to appear from your nostrils!
Great review. Although I did like the book more than you, I find Ishiguro a frustrating author generally. I like his willingness to experiment and try different books and styles. Some of his premises are interesting, and there are flashes of real brilliance. When a new books comes out I am often intrigued and excited enough to buy it, but too often the end result is not good enough. A history of disappointment for me.
Richard wrote: "Great review. Although I did like the book more than you, I find Ishiguro a frustrating author generally. I like his willingness to experiment and try different books and styles. Some of his premis..."Thanks, Richard.
There is no doubt that Ishiguro has talent; I just wish he'd channel it in a different way.
Frustrating, he undoubtedly is.
I'm with you on this one Kevin!
Melanie wrote: "I'm with you on this one Kevin!"Thanks, Melanie.
We've each gone for the same star rating.
(Many people will disagree, which is fine).
Elyse wrote: "Laughing ...ok."after my death".... whew! Good thing! We like you!!!!Confession: shhh. I loved this book. I remember being so fascinated with the love-couple and if they were going to escape thei..."
Hi, Elyse!
Yep, I'd already seen your review, so I knew that you were a fan of this book (but your guilty secret is safe with me; no-one looks at these comments).
And hey, Goodreads would be an unremarkable experience if we all agreed.
Thank you for reading my review! : )
There you go, using that super power again! Finally, I can put this one to rest, the secret password was pretentious.
Victoria wrote: "There you go, using that super power again! Finally, I can put this one to rest, the secret password was pretentious."Thanks, Victoria!
Although I get a lot of pleasure through reading other people's scathing reviews, I much prefer to write glowing ones myself.
*sigh*
I know it's painful, but appreciated.
"Glacially slow yawnfest" - indeed. You forgot to mention "all the excitement of a 14 year old girl's diary". God-awful.
Curious, because to my mind a 14 year old girl's diary might be alarmingly interesting in content, if horribly, like, slangy. Know what I mean?;)
Carrie wrote: ""Glacially slow yawnfest" - indeed. You forgot to mention "all the excitement of a 14 year old girl's diary". God-awful."I'm pleased that someone agrees with me, Carrie.
It really was dire!
Thank you for your comment.
Cecily wrote: "Curious, because to my mind a 14 year old girl's diary might be alarmingly interesting in content, if horribly, like, slangy. Know what I mean?;)"
I remember keeping a diary at that age, Cecily (God knows why), and the mind-numbing minutiae of each boring day was there for my older sister (who found its hiding place) to read.
She subsequently read it out to the family, which was a godsend as it put an immediate stop to such post-pubescent nonsense!
But maybe your diary was a sign of your destiny to be a writer? It's just that the time was not right. Diaries cropped up last night when I was out with three friends from schooldays, and one was recounting her brother's diary-writing had got him into trouble twice: once, as a teen, when classmates found it and bullied him remorselessly as a result, and just recently ("Hasn't he learned?", she asked rhetorically) when his wife found a current one. Extra irony from the fact there was nothing objectively shocking in it, just minor niggles about married life. Be careful what you write!
"narrative voice of this glacially slow yawnfest of a novel." - that's it!!!
Inez wrote: ""narrative voice of this glacially slow yawnfest of a novel." - that's it!!!"Thanks, Inez! Appreciate the comment.
It really was a drag (in my humble opinion).
I looked to see if you'd posted a review for this, Inez. Did you read it?
I gave it also one star. And i also carry a donor card. Did you read the remains of the day?
Alex wrote: "I gave it also one star. And i also carry a donor card. Did you read the remains of the day?"Oooh, I just left a comment on your review mentioning The Remains of the Day.
Yes, I did, and I enjoyed it very much, Alex.
It's as if a different person wrote it! : )
Kevin, I stopped reading on page 2. You're a better reader than I am.
Julie wrote: "Kevin, I stopped reading on page 2. You're a better reader than I am."
Wow, zero tolerance, Julie! Love it!
And we're agreed on Remains of the Day, which was infinitely better.
Kevin,Can you believe it's the same writer?? Multiple personalities, or what here??
Yes. . . my new policy is. . . give a book 5 pages. . . give a movie 15 mins. . . if it fails to capture my attention. . . it's out!! I choose to waste my time on GRs, by choice, not by bad reads or bad movies!
Julie wrote: "Kevin,Can you believe it's the same writer?? Multiple personalities, or what here??
Yes. . . my new policy is. . . give a book 5 pages. . . give a movie 15 mins. . . if it fails to capture my atte..."
I'm with you on the fifteen minutes to decide if a movie is worth continuing with. Life's too short to drink bad wine, read bad books or watch bad movies !
I have a problem, i cannot leave books unfinished. i read them "diagonally" but i read them to the end.
To Kevin: Agreed!! To Alex: Let the bad ones go! I offer a free book-throwing seminar, if you're ever interested.
Alex wrote: "I have a problem, i cannot leave books unfinished. i read them "diagonally" but i read them to the end."Your patience is very much to your credit, Alex.
Julie wrote: "To Kevin: Agreed!! To Alex: Let the bad ones go! I offer a free book-throwing seminar, if you're ever interested."Sign me up for that book-throwing seminar, Julie!
Um, who then has to pick them up, once hurled?
: (
Your spouse. It's unfortunate, but that's the price you pay for love. Think of what poor Mr. Ishiguro's partner must endure. . . the discovery of a multiple personality disorder, after the publication of this book? We all know that the same man couldn't have written them both.
Julie wrote: "Your spouse. It's unfortunate, but that's the price you pay for love. Think of what poor Mr. Ishiguro's partner must endure. . . the discovery of a multiple personality disorder, after the publicat..."'Tis true, Julie, the same man definitely couldn't have written Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day.
I enjoyed your review, although I liked this book far more. How odd - I don't even like dystopian novels, but I just found this story to be very moving. I have had the same feeling with each book I have read by Kazuo Ishiguro, although all of them are so different from each other. Still, a great review and your thoughts and impressions were well expressed as always.
I'm with you on this one Kevin. I gave 1 star too. Blah!
As for being between Kafka and Enid Blyton, no, not imo. Nothing Kafkaesque, just third rate dystopic sci-fi pap.