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a_bolla's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
alizeemay's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Achingly tragic. Mr. Stevens is such a unique literary voice who just does not waver in the least. Big applause to Ishiguro for creating a character who is so pompous and stiff and yet warm and loyal. He's fascinating and frustrating in equal measure. Very tense book wherein nothing truly 'happens'. Probably make my top five of the year I imagine.
paola_mobileread's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book, and it got me laughing from the first page - that very subtle British humour that I find very appealing: though of course, it gets more and more depressing as you go on, but I really enjoyed the way it was written.
Steven, the narrator and main protagonist, may appear distant and excessively formal - yet I did buy Steven's voice from the word go - I guess only a Brit born and bread can confirm whether Stevens really looks the part, but I've heard that kind of talk many times from e.g. world war veterans (if Stevens is in his fifties when he travels, he must have been born around the beginning of the last century), often working class guys in complete acceptance of the unmovability of their station in life: shocking to me, though I think "class issues" are still alive and kicking today.
And the excessive formalism even between husband and wife is something I have witnessed myself ("O thank you so much for bringing this chair" - I'd have strangled the guy had he been my husband).
Ishiguro also seems to play with that part of the story which is not told: how could such a passsionate and arguably likeable Miss Kenton fall for soembody like Mr. Stevens, if he was as cold as the charater he is portraying of himself? There are some traces of this better part of himself: he is crying while serving port after his father's stroke:
and angry after she says she is leaving
- and he is upset when he sees Ms Kenton pensive and distracted, he is offended by this to the point of childishly killing off the cocoa evenings, and being cruel to Miss Kenton in return.
But for whatever reasons, Mr. Stevens is a "small" man, uncapable of really breaking the mold, and this is soemwhat what saves him, in the sense that he finds a new goal in life, investing in improving his bantering skills: again, to better serve somebody else, in this twisted notion of dignity.
The more I think about it, the more I feel this is a sad book: things are never going to change (e.g. the disillusionement of the doctor, the contentedness with the best landscape in the world, no need to go to any fancy places, this is it).
(edited version of my own posts in the Mobiler Read Literary Book Club discussion)
Steven, the narrator and main protagonist, may appear distant and excessively formal - yet I did buy Steven's voice from the word go - I guess only a Brit born and bread can confirm whether Stevens really looks the part, but I've heard that kind of talk many times from e.g. world war veterans (if Stevens is in his fifties when he travels, he must have been born around the beginning of the last century), often working class guys in complete acceptance of the unmovability of their station in life: shocking to me, though I think "class issues" are still alive and kicking today.
And the excessive formalism even between husband and wife is something I have witnessed myself ("O thank you so much for bringing this chair" - I'd have strangled the guy had he been my husband).
Ishiguro also seems to play with that part of the story which is not told: how could such a passsionate and arguably likeable Miss Kenton fall for soembody like Mr. Stevens, if he was as cold as the charater he is portraying of himself? There are some traces of this better part of himself: he is crying while serving port after his father's stroke:
‘As you so rightly pointed out, I really should come back here in the spring. Darlington Hall must be rather lovely then. The last time I was here, I think it was winter then too. I say, Stevens, are you sure you’re all right there?’
‘Perfectly all right, thank you, sir.’
‘Not feeling unwell, are you?’
‘Not at all, sir. Please excuse me.’
I proceeded to serve port to some other of the guests. There was a loud burst of laughter behind me and I heard the Belgian clergyman exclaim: ‘That is really heretical! Positively heretical!’ then laugh loudly himself. I felt something touch my elbow and turned to find Lord Darlington.
‘Stevens, are you all right?’
‘Yes, sir. Perfectly.’
‘You look as though you’re crying.’
I laughed and taking out a handkerchief, quickly wiped my face. ‘I’m very sorry, sir. The strains of a hard day.’
‘Yes, it’s been hard work.’
and angry after she says she is leaving
‘Mr Stevens, do I understand that you are wishing me to remain on duty this evening?’
‘Not at all, Miss Kenton. As you pointed out, you did notify me some time ago.’
‘But I can see you are very unhappy about my going out tonight.’
‘On the contrary, Miss Kenton.’
‘Do you imagine that by creating so much commotion in the kitchen and by stamping back and forth like this outside my parlour you will get me to change my mind?’
- and he is upset when he sees Ms Kenton pensive and distracted, he is offended by this to the point of childishly killing off the cocoa evenings, and being cruel to Miss Kenton in return.
But for whatever reasons, Mr. Stevens is a "small" man, uncapable of really breaking the mold, and this is soemwhat what saves him, in the sense that he finds a new goal in life, investing in improving his bantering skills: again, to better serve somebody else, in this twisted notion of dignity.
The more I think about it, the more I feel this is a sad book: things are never going to change (e.g. the disillusionement of the doctor, the contentedness with the best landscape in the world, no need to go to any fancy places, this is it).
(edited version of my own posts in the Mobiler Read Literary Book Club discussion)
kris47's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
simtor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annamarie_j's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Beautifully written. Definition of melancholy. i believed every word that Ishiguro writes in the voice of an ageing butler, a fascinating unreliable narrator. I wanted to give it 5 stars but despite this book being virtually perfect, it just didn’t tug at the right heartstrings for me.
ejwilf98's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So beautifully written. Absolutely amazing.