Book Review - Nocturnes

From Goodreads: In this sublime story cycle, Kazuo Ishiguro explores love, music and the passage of time. This quintet ranges from Italian piazzas to the Malvern Hills, a London flat to the “hush-hush floor” of an exclusive Hollywood hotel. Along the way we meet young dreamers, café musicians and faded stars, all at some moment of reckoning.
Gentle, intimate and witty, Nocturnes is underscored by a haunting theme: the struggle to restoke life’s romance, even as relationships flounder and youthful hopes recede.

Thoughts: As I have said before, I love Ishiguro's writing, but I frequently feel out of my depth with it - like I am missing something. But what I do love is that I'm not intimidated by it - I'm happy to read the book, enjoy the language, the story and leave the in depth analysis to others. Once I had finished Nocturnes, I read some of the reviews on Goodreads by readers who do this analysis very well and in general I agree with them - I can now recognise how each story looks at the different stages of a musicians professional life and the effect it may have on their personal life, issues with denial and having to compromise your principles to go to the top of your chosen field.

What I really like about Ishiguro is how his stories don't end with a nicely tied bow of perfection. In fact there are times the don't really end at all - they just stop! While this can be annoying, it's also refreshing to be left with no idea what happens next. Does the character resolve their problem? Does it all work out or was this simply the beginning of the end? It's almost like you have been give permission to stop and observe a life for a short amount of time before moving on, left to wonder about the importance of what you have observed.

When We Were Orphans

Title: When We Were Orphans
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: Christopher Banks, the protagonist of Kazuo Ishiguro's fifth novel, When We Were Orphans, has dedicated his life to detective work but behind his successes lies one unsolved mystery: the disappearance of his parents when he was a small boy living in the International Settlement in Shanghai. Moving between England and China in the inter-war period, the book, encompassing the turbulence and political anxieties of the time and the crumbling certainties of a Britain deeply involved in the opium trade in the East, centres on Banks's idealistic need to make sense of the world through the small victories of detection and his need to understand finally what happened to his mother and father.

What I thought: I've been a little hesitant about reading any more Ishiguro since I was complete unable to get anywhere with The Unconsoled. This however was very different. I do find it hard to review Ishiguro's books because I feel so much of what I read goes above my head, but what I do love is the rich world he creates. Everything in this book seems exaggerated, brighter or duller than it would be real life, the characters larger than life and their experiences more significant. Whether I truly "get" these books becomes irrelevant as I am able to lose myself in beautiful language and a rich atmosphere.


Challenges: Library Challenge

An Artist of The Floating World

Title: An Artist of the Floating World

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Genre: Fiction 
Audience: Adult 
Format: Book - Library

Synopsis:Mazuji Ono, a Japanese artist looks back on his life before the war and it's effects on his life now in retirement. As  Japan moves forward and rebuilds, Ono reflects on his role as a propagandist artist and the rights and wrongs of those decisions.

What I thought: Ishiguro is a beautiful writer. His words just flow off the page. In this, I feel the calm and serenity of an old man's life as he pottered in his garden and reflected on life. A real sense of the old giving way to the new was also present and the quiet resignation of one who can do nothing to change it. I always feel when I read Ishiguro's work that there is more to it than I am getting, but that doesn't stop me enjoying his work! Ono came across to me as possibly thinking he had more influence with people than he actually did. In the old Japan he may very well have, but I think his influence was diminishing and although he accepted this on some level, he still thought it was more than it was.

Recommended for: Ishiguro lovers. Beautifully written.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, 

The Remains of the Day

Title: The Remains of the Day
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

Synopsis: Stevens is the epitome of a proper English butler. The needs and wishes of his employer comes before anything else and Stevens whole purpose is to serve. A car trip to visit a former employee and possibly re-employ her gives him to time to reflect on his career and possible opportunities lost.

What I thought: I chose this for our book club after reading Never Let Me Go which I loved. Unfortunately, this fell short for me. I still love Ishiguro's language and some of the passages in the book were pure poetry to read, but I felt like I spent the whole book waiting for it to start. I also felt myself becoming frustrated with Stevens who seemed completely unable to look beyond what he saw as his main role - to follow his employers wishes completely, without question or doubt. I just wanted him to say once, no, that is wrong or express some discomfort about what was happening. I would be interested to know though, what the role of a modern day butler is and whether complete servitude is still required.

Recommended for: I'm not sure - I find it hard to recommend books I myself did not enjoy!

Challenges:  100+ Challenge, A-Z Challenge, E-Book Challenge,

A Pale View of Hills

Title: A Pale View of Hills
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Book (Library)


Synopsis: Etsuko is a Japanese woman living in America. Living alone, she dwells on the recent suicide of her daughter while recalling a summer in Nagasaki as it struggled to recover after the bombing, and she made friends with Sachiko, a woman who was different from anyone else Etsuko knew.

What I thought: Hmmm, not sure where to start with this one. I liked it, I did. I find Ishiguro's writing engaging and lovely to read. And while I enjoyed the story, I will admit that it's one of those that made me feel slightly dumb, because I am sure there is more to it than I can see. I think it is something I would benefit from rereading, and soon so I don't forget my initial impressions. I think the brevity of the book (only 183p) lulled me into thinking it would be a quick, easy read and maybe I needed to slow down and think more about it.

Recommended for: those who like Ishiguro and like a read that challenges them to think.

Challenges: A-Z Challenge,  100+ Challenge,

Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

Told by 31 year old Kathy as she comes to the end of her life as a carer, Never Let Me Go tells the stories of a special group of friends, bought into the world for a special purpose. From their days at Hailsham School, through to the fulfillment of their purpose, Never Let Me Go explores friendship and how a shared past can help shape the person you end up being.

I had read several reviews of Ishiguro's books and thought they sounded interesting. I picked this up off the shelves at work one day and borrowed it out. It sat on the shelf awhile before I picked it up again.

What I discovered was a beautifully written story. Kathy's voice was very natural to me. Her exploration of her upbringing and friendships were heartfelt and moving. The slow realisation of what their purpose was lead to the suspense of the novel and once it was revealed, I was both horrified and fascinated.

I will definitely be reading more of Ishiguro's work. In fact I plan to choose one of his books for my next book group selection.