Book Description
'From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day comes a devastating new novel of innocence, knowledge, and loss. As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. Suspenseful, moving, beautifully atmospheric, Never Let Me Go is another classic by the author of The Remains of the Day.'


This was one of my 'real life' bookclub picks - and certainly led to lots of discussion. At times the narrative is 'boring'and/or 'adolescent', but our group suggested that this was a device by Ishiguro to reflect the obsession with the 'small' things in life that would be natural in a group with no 'real' future.
I found this book to be one of ideas, rather than relationships - and given the current discussion over stem cell research - one that is very relevant to our times.

I've noted that this book is on a lot of people's wishlists, so will offer it as an Australian ring - hopefully there'll be some interest in it.

There's some interest in this one as a bookring. I'm delighted to share this one with some other readers...

BookRing Instructions:
1. When you receive the book, please make a journal entry so everyone knows it has safely arrived.
2. When you finish the book, please make another journal entry to share some of your thoughts - enjoyed the book, or hated it?
3. Continue the BookRing by checking this journal entry for the latest list, and sending a PM to the person after you on the list requesting their postal address.
4. Please try to send on the book as soon as you can, preferably within 4-6 weeks. I know that Real Life has a way of intruding on our reading time, so if you need more time, that's not a problem at all. Either send me a PM to let me know or write a journal entry that the book is safe with you. Thanks! :)

Order so far....

Sujie
Sugaryfun
freelunch
DrCris

... and then back to lmn60

Received today, thanks lmn60. I am looking forward to reading this, but have two other ring books on the go at the moment. I'll make sure it is read in the next couple of weeks...the first page is very enticing, in a "Handmaiden" (Atwood) sort of way!

Read in one sitting...unputdownable.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

As an allegory of life, the structure of school (Hailsham), university (The Cottages) and real life afterwards, were chillingly underscored by the knowledge that these were sub-humans. I'm sure the adolescent nature of their interaction made for more pathos, although the one irritation for me was Ishiguro's device of pre-empting the telling of anecdotes. In a way he seemed to be saying 'get ready for this one' all the time. I found this contrived and thus felt manipulated. Perhaps that was his intention.
I haven't felt this chilled since "Bladerunner". WHY didn't they run? All through I was hoping for Tommy and Kathy to get out of there, to escape. Their pleasures were so parochial - that was so heart-wrenching. It never occurred to any character to run, and was never alluded to by Ishiguro...even more frightening. A lot of what was not written played a part in this novel.
Thanks for starting the ring, lmn60. I love Ishiguru's work and would have got round to it someday but you have been responsible for the washing lying dormant in my machine, and a day in my studio considerably shortened!
Will send on to Sugaryfun when I get address.

Just a quick note to let you know the book arrived safely today. I'll start reading it as soon as I can.

***

Edit- (14/11/06)
I had a few bookrings arrive at once and there's no way I'm going to get through this one in time, so I PM'd Imn60 for extra time.

I finally finished it today. It's not really a slow read, I was just busy.

I didn't know anything about this book when I signed up for this bookring, (other than that it was listed as one of the '1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die' which I am trying to read as many as possible of at the moment for a read and release challenge), and the only other book of his I'd heard of was The Remains of the Day, which I haven't read (though I saw the movie), so I suppose I was expecting some sort of British, historical drama type of book. Because of that, this story was a bit of a suprise, but I found it very engaging.

Like Suije, I saw comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale and Bladerunner. I think it's kind of strange to call the characters 'sub-humans' though, unless Suije just meant that some people in the world of the book thought they were.

It was a bit frustrating how it never occurred to the characters to try and escape, or fight back, or try and make the public aware of what was going on, but I guess this was to show how thoroughly they were brainwashed into accepting their lot.

It kind of annoys me the way things like cloning and genetic engineering are always treated in such an alarmist way in fiction. Slippery slopes usually aren't as slippery as people think. Personally, I look forward to the day when we can farm *disembodied* organs, which may not be so far off...but I digress. It's a good book.

I've PM'd Freelunch for an address to send it on.

I'm really sorry, I meant to post this over a week ago, but I've found myself suddenly busy with work. I finally sent it this afternoon.

received today, thanks Sugaryfun (and thanks lmn60 for organizing this bookring)

I don't recall ever enjoying prose for its own sake as much as I did in this book. I'm eager now to read as much Kazuo Ishiguro as I can lay my hands on... and I need a "permanent collection" copy of this book for my wife to read.

A sad story written from the perspective of a character who initially is not fully aware (some might say 'blissfully unaware') of the world she lives in.

To say any more would spoil the story. I hope Hollywood doesn't get its hands on this book as I can't imagine a film doing it any form of justice.

sent on to DrCris today.

Arrived in the mail yesterday. I already have two bookrings, so this will follow those.

Wow. I realy enjoyed this book. I thought this was a really nice discussion of the way our minds work being totally predicted by what we are taught and how we are treated as a child. I read the book knowing that these characters were interacting with the world in a way I never could. It reminded me of those people that go to exclusive alternative schools and how they have to adjust to society when they leave. These people never had to adjust to real society because they only ever socialised with people who had the same life. I never felt any frustration that these characters didn't try to escape (although I thought Tommy was when he had his tantrum on the back street), mainly because they had a really strong impression of who they were and what their role in life was. Their form of rebellion was simply to chase down the facts about their lives (which they had been told in some form, anyway).

I hope I have been vague enough to avoid spoilers. Thanks for sending this one around as a ring, lmn60.

Made it safely home.

Thanks to all the participants in this ring!

Caught at the committee meeting for the Aust Bookcrossing Convention 2007. Thanks lmn60 this is one of those books one should read but I hadn't run across a copy til now. up the top of TBR you go.

A beautifully written book with a seriously disturbing story. Reminded me much of the atmosphere of Oryx and Crake.

If I was in a darker mood I would say this is everyone''s life, there is so much blind acceptance in the world. I might also say it doesn''t take much for humans to treat others as subhumans. But I am not in a dark mood and want to say I loved the simple voice of the narrator and admire the author''s skill in the gentle way in which he unveils the truth to us -- and to his characters.

passed on to joy46

Am cleaning up to go on holidays.... Have had this book for 12 months and not read it , so release it i will. Happy reading.....

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Outside the post office.......