Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

rating: 9.9/10

blurb: Driving around the country now, I still see things that will remind me of Hailsham… As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. Never Let Me Go is an unforgettable story of love, friendship and the fragility of life.

review:

Wow, another book that had me sobbing. There’s something odd about the way I keep choosing all these heartbreaking novels to read.

Never Let Me Go is absolutely brilliant. At the start of the book, it just seems like your average book about somebody reminiscing on their childhood, unable to leave their past behind. That’s partly true, as the narrator is struggling to move on from her past, but with good reason. Right from the start of the novel you realise something isn’t quite right. It isn’t until some way through the book that you uncover the horrifying truth about Hailsham and the children. What’s odd is that as disturbing the situation is, it’s quite easy to accept and the story moves on. You get to watch friendships building and breaking apart, people falling in and out of love, and children coming to terms with their terrible fate, all through the words of thirty one year old Kathy, a successful ‘carer’ and ex-Hailsham student.

The book made me think, and it made me cry. Any book that has such a profound effect on me instantly becomes a favourite. Never Let Me Go is certainly one of those. Highly recommended.

The only reason I’ve rated this 9.9/10 is that there’s one small area of character/relationship development that I think could have been expanded on a little bit more. It’s only a tiny complaint though and it might just be me who thinks it could be improved anyway.

I can’t wait for the movie to be released in Australia, if it ever will be!