Never Let Me Go: 20th anniversary edition
As seen:
By Kazuo Ishiguro
avg rating
7 reviews
OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE
‘Brilliantly executed.’
MARGARET ATWOOD
‘A page-turner and a heartbreaker.’
TIME
‘Masterly.’
SUNDAY TIMES
One of the most acclaimed novels of the 21st Century, from the Nobel Prize-winning author
Kazuo Ishiguro imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England. Narrated by Kathy, now thirty-one, Never Let Me Go dramatises her attempts to come to terms with her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world. A story of love, friendship and memory, Never Let Me Go is charged throughout with a sense of the fragility of life.
‘Exquisite.’
GUARDIAN
‘A feat of imaginative sympathy.’
NEW YORK TIMES
What readers are saying:
‘A book I will return to again and again, and one that keeps me thinking even after finishing it.’
‘I loved it, every single word of it.’
‘It took me wholly by surprise.’
‘Utterly beautiful.’
‘Essentially perfect.’
Reviews
I initially read this when it was first released and it has stayed with me ever since. Great read for KS5.
Never let me go is an engaging piece of fiction which discusses the power of memory and relationships but also the dangerous possibilities of science. Ishiguro’s brilliant voice from the character Kathy is engaging and conversational. The novel raises questions about what it means to be human and is certainly an enjoyable read. I wouldn’t recommend to any students below the age of 15 as there are some adult themes (sex).
I ALWAYS wanted to read this book. It’s like I’m reading somebody’s diary and finding out about their life.
The story, told by Kath as a young woman looking back on her life growing up in a boarding school. It looks at her relationship with Ruth, her best friend, and Tommy, her other best friend. In their school they were looked after by 'guardians'.
The story hinted that these children were 'special' but never expanded until nearer the end. The plot follows these three children until they lose touch only to find one another a couple of years later. It is difficult to describe the plot without giving any spoilers so all I will say is ...
I was glad I didn't read any reviews until afterwards as I enjoyed the book and wasn't swayed by other people's views. I found it sad but very plausible. It really shows what conditioning can do to people, how sometimes they never look for another way.
Classified as science fiction but find it only loosely fits in this category. A good read with an easy style and easy to follow plot.
I've read this book twice, more recently as part of my reading for Gloucester Book Club. Second time round I was just as affected emotionally as I had been the first time. The young people, cloned from others, just accept their fate, don't ever really question that their sole purpose in life is to be donors of their body parts. It's moving, heart rending, and a picture of a life compressed into 30 years instead of 80. I can honestly say it's a novel that has left me thinking about it for ages after I finished it.
I recommend this book because it's a good novel and it teaches you about "Love, friendshi & memory" so I think it's good novel.
The fact that the main character is very passive and simple accepts her fate is what makes this book so heart renching.
