Never Let Me Go - Ishiguro

Title: Never Let Me Go

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Year Published: 2005

Awards/Recognitions: 2006 Booker Shortlist, 2006 Arthur C. Clarke Shortlist, 2005 Black-Fiction Shortlist, 2005 National Book Critics Circle Shortlist, Time's 100 Best English-language Novels, Time Best Fiction Novel of 2005

This is what I'm talking about... Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go is one great book. It's somewhat a cross between A Separate Peace and the movie, The Island. When I was researching about this book, it is often categorized as Science Fiction, but it barely is, since most science fiction novels tend to concentrate more on the "science" rather than the "fiction". Most sci-fi writers elaborate on how it all works thus forgetting about the story. But in Never Let Me Go, that doesn't happen. 

Never Let Me Go follows the story of three friends, Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, "people" genetically created for the sole purpose of being able to provide organs to those real people in need. We follow them through their time at Hailsham, an oddly elite, and almost perfect boarding school, up to the time when they would have to take care of ailing donors, and eventually to the point when they would be the ones to donate. We also get to see how the love they felt for each other developed, complicated, and ended. Finally, we get to see how their main purpose as donors affected who they are as human beings. The book tackles such issues as individuality, education, unrequited love, and inevitably, a little bit of cloning. Though as I said, Ishiguro doesn't really tackle much on this issue but on realistic issues that we can easily relate to, ones we actually encounter.

It seemed like Ishiguro got it all right. The description was amazing as the setting of an English boarding school was established pretty well, and even with the other settings such as the countryside, the towns, the nursing homes, etc., the description was very vivid. Set in an alternate reality from the 1980s to the late 90s where cancer was considered curable (just read it to find out how), Ishiguro's description of this world is very convincing.

The story line is also masterfully done, with no blank spots and filled with instances of awe. This would be one of the books which you will surely find hard to put down, especially since the plot is paced quite fast. 

What I love the most about the novel would be its characters. There's the quiet and principled Kathy, the main character, who tries to keep things together and find out more about the truth, about their role in the world. Then there's the kind, athletic, faithful, and somewhat dumb :| Tommy, whom you would feel much sympathy for. And finally, my personal favorite, Ruth. She's a wonderful "friend" whom at some moments you will be loving and rooting for and some moments wherein you just want to rip her off the page. Her speeches (especially the ones where she embarrasses the other characters) and actions are amazingly written, together with her occasional falls from grace. You would feel sympathy for her, then hate her; you would love her, then loathe her. She's that classmate of yours who's your best friend when there's only you and her, or with some close friends, but suddenly becomes a stranger and an enemy whenever there are other people (especially with authority) around. I LOVE the way she is written, it's amazing.

Though of course, nothing is perfect. Kazuo Ishiguro could have elaborated better at least a little bit more on the donation process, which leaves  the readers confused about what really happens to the students. Also, he overlooked several possibilities such as escape,  revolution, ... and stitches.

Despite the very few disappointments, this is one amazing book, a science fiction love story which isn't like Michael Crichton but not exactly like Judith McNaught, it's something different. I highly recommend reading this book.

P.S. : I really wish the movie they're making would give justice to this novel, I was somewhat excited when I heard that Keira Knightley would be playing Ruth, I hope she portrays the character well.

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Passage: "There are things I am more interested in than the clone thing. How are they trying to find their place in the world and make sense of their lives? To what extent can they transcend their fate? As time starts to run out, what are the things that really matter?"

Edition: Vintage Knopf Trade Paperback

Length: A little over 300 pages.

Time Read: 1 Day (it's gripping!)