The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY

So Kazuo Ishiguro is an author who I discovered via the ‘gram. Of course I’d heard about him (this book in particular) but when Chaya and I got sent an advanced copy of Klara and the Sun, well, I picked it up and it sorta blew my mind. I moved onto Never Let Me Go (a total and utter game changer for me) and then When We Were Orphans (again, WOAH) — and now, I have finished my fourth, and probably his best known and most celebrated — The Remains of the Day, the 1989 winner of the Booker Prize.

Ishiguro is a stunning writer and in my humble opinion, his genius lies in his subtlety. As with his other books I have read, this one is told entirely in the first person and I felt as though I completely occupied butler Stevens’ mind as he embarked on his journey as well as looked back into his past — and delved deep into his experiences.

I didn’t know that much about this story before I read it; all I knew was that it was about a butler. But, unsurprisingly, it is about so very much more. Because it is a book that will leave you asking yourself so many questions; about loyalty, regret, the power others wield over us and even, the meaning of life because I truly felt, at times, like I held Stevens’ life in my own two hands.

I would say that Never Let Me Go still remains my favourite Ishiguro thus far (if anyone wants to spend some time chatting to me about it, just let me know) but I really loved Remains of the Day (and I devoured much of it at the beach hence the pic). It is a total and utter literary masterpiece. The big question is ~ which Ishiguro shall I read next?! Please let me know in the comments below ~ S