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Rating:  -
Warning: Contains Spoilers and Plot details
The novel, Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro is a tale of a future dystopian society, which we may face due to our excessive nature of consuming. The setting takes place in Britain where the world is seemingly at peace with its military conflicts, but the consequences of violence mounts high when grave injuries and diseases threaten the fate of humanity. The solution... to breed clones for each human body ensures that for every wound there is a solution without fail. Yet, with the widespread acceptance of the human cloning industry, what does the human race think of its counterpart? Nothing. Although the answer is cruel and backlashes on every aspect of human morality, our instinct to survive desensitizes humans to guilt as someone may think after an organ operation, `Did I kill someone for this kidney?' or `Is there a part of myself that died without me ever knowing it?' Such thoughts can be a crippling blow to one's morale, yet since the process of cloning is such an efficient way to ensure survival, the human race allows it to flourish no matter what the cost.
As the humans may see clones as expendable resources, yet there are some other reasons why they are not welcomed in society. Much like slaves and immigrants in the past, clones are considered to be "sub-humans" of this futuristic society. They are used then thrown away when they are no longer of use. One of the obvious differences that stand out about the clone, Kathy, is the misspelling of some of her words. She would spell civilize as "civilise" and realize as "realise." Although it is not a remarkable difference, society never fails to notice people's faults. Whenever an outsider makes an appearance, the people of society fear that he/she is a threat to their existence. Out of fear and ignorance, society criticizes anything that the outsider may do uncommonly; in this case, making a few spelling errors. As the slaughtering of clones continues, the question of whether or not they are human is raised. And to decide the debate, Hailsham steps forward. The students of Hailsham or clones are taught to be creative in the arts. Its operation was to prove that these clones were in fact human beings with souls, even though they were a "science experiment." However, no matter what Hailsham proves by having "students" create magnificent works, such as this book, humanity continues to bury itself in denial.
Every student of Hailsham is told what their sole purpose in life is from infancy. For Kathy to mention this rather calmly it may come as a surprise to the reader. In fact, this is one of Ishiguro's main themes. When there is an aggressor that asserts its power, it is common for any animal, including humans, to be submissive to that aggressor. Why the students had not seen beyond the walls of Hailsham was to keep them like ants in an ant-farm. The forest is another method of keeping the students under control, considering that if they even dare so venture outside Hailsham they could die in the process. The unwritten rules had kept student from inquiring the mysterious ways and the weekly examinations made sure their organs were healthy when the transplants were to be made. Kathy's role as "peacekeeper" is an example of their mind control. If the guardians were to encourage individualism, then the students wouldn't be like lemmings and, follow who ever was in lead. Yet, the most shocking thing in this book is that the students have enough opportunities to leave and run for their lives, but do not. It seems easier just to stay and go with the flow and not revolt. The clones just give up and wait to die like cattle. This is the fine line where Ishiguro separates himself from other more "American" works, which encourage individualism such as the movie "The Island" or "I-Robot."
Hailsham was both a prison and shelter. It was a separate community for the clones to grow and be treated like normal humans in a safe haven that shielded them from the outside world's prejudice. Nevertheless, Hailsham never let them forgot that their fate hung over their heads like a haunting shadow. And to make sure, every guardian, student, and unwritten rule subliminally kept them in line so that they may give up quietly and without fret. In doing so, these clones will submit their lives as human sacrifices for the survival of the human race.
Rating:  -
"...complaining about how memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don't go along with that. The memories I value most, I don't see them ever fading. I lost Ruth, and I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them."
For a novel that packs so much broiling emotion in theme and plot, it's surprising that among so many waiting-to-boil paragraphs, this relatively tame passage are the most impactful words in the whole novel. The rest are very controlled, bordering on the absurd. From a title that is very strong... the novel goes on a very timed and restrained prose. In the dispassionate text, you'll want a volcano that is about to explode, but it never happens... AND THAT's WHERE THE MAGIC IS.
Perhaps it's the natural style by Ishiguro to deliver broiling emotion by leaving 80% unsaid. And since the narrative is first person, it is perfect for the protagonist's grab for empathy from us readers. The injustice, wrongness, and sadness of it all carries on on how Kathy presents their ultimately-oppressed lives, like natural, reality, everyday news.
This novel is also relatively short compared with other of Ishiguro's work. It seems like a quick read, but the other review is correct in saying that it stays on you for a long time afterwards.
Just suspend your Science, Social, and Governmental Regulations clamors (arguing against how realistic the novel is), and enjoy how great Literature can be with novels like this.
Very sad, yes, but how can you widen perspective with just happy endings?
Rating:  -
Haunting, yet devoid of gratuitous gruesomeness one would expect given the subject matter. Ishiguro plays all the emotional chords very well: this is possibly the least British (and most Japanese) of his books, and I think the comparison with Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" mood setting is inevitable. Original, masterfully done: I don't give him five stars just because the setting is one bit too artificial, and the author does not care about responding to some obvious questions any intelligent reader would come up with.
Rating: -
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is a compelling portrait of people on the downside of a dystopia. Like Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale or J G Ballard's Kingdom come, Never Let me Go is built around an abhorrent aspect of social organisation. Crucially, in all three books, the focus of the subject matter is merely an extension of a facet of our own society. Fertility issues provide the material for The Handmaid's Tale, while brainless consumerism fuelled Kingdom Come. Kazuo Ishiguro's subject matter has a medical focus that provides an essentially more credible idea than either of the two other works mentioned. Eventually Ballard's vision cannot be maintained by his scant material, whereas Margaret Atwood's is strengthened by the credibility of its own downside. Ishiguro's story line is strong enough in itself to maintain interest, credibility and drama from start to finish. There is real humanity in this story.
The book begins in Hailsham, an obviously special school set in an idyllic corner of the English countryside. But this is clearly no ordinary education. We follow the fortunes of three of its students, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. We see them grow up, make their fumbling transformation from childhood to adolescence and then embark upon the stuttering unpredictability of young adulthood. Hailsham's students have to learn how to deal with their own shortcomings and how to manage their talents. They must cope with sometimes strained relations with their teachers, especially in the area of reconciling what they want to do versus what seems to be demanded of them, and thus what they are allowed to attempt. They become aware of sex and introduce themselves to its world in their own ways at different times, each of them reacting differently to their experience.
So what makes these people so special? Well, for a start they live protected lives. They never appear to need any money, nor possessions, for that matter, what little they do have being recycled ad infinitum via a system of almost formal barter. They seem to be protected from fashion, consumerism, family break-up, mass media and even street life. Surely there is something strange about them, despite their apparently normal physical, mental and psychological characteristics.
Not until about half way through the book does the reader start to fill in the blanks. But by the end the dreadful picture is complete, and rendered even more frightening by its complete credibility. To find out the nature of the plot, you will have to read the book, but, though I have stressed the importance of the overall concept's contribution to the book's success, it is not the subject matter that makes this a superb novel. It is the characterisation, the empathy that the reader develops with Kathy and Tommy and the sympathy that their tragedy eventually engenders. The context served to amplify these responses, not blur or confuse them. It is this quality that makes never Let Me Go a completely memorable and highly moving read.
Rating:  -
just a warning: if you don't like horror stories (as I do not), don't read this book, because that's what it is. I love Remains of the Day, so I don't know what happened to Ishiguro here. Writer's block, or a book contract to be fulfilled with something, probably...
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