Hi Marian, I found Never Let Me Go to be my 2nd to least favorite of Ishiguro's. I also struggled with Remains of the Day, but I've read it twice and enjoyed it more the second time. The Buried Giant was my least favorite. I have yet to read Pale View of Hills and the other one you have there. I often have wondered why people get so darn upset when you don't like something they like. I honestly think, and this is after years of pondering, that if you don't like something as passionately or at all, then they feel slighted themselves; as if you don't like them(since they are sooo tied to the "thing" that you aren't a fan of...then you aren't a fan of them). Does that even make sense? It says more about them than about you or anyone with a contrary opinion. I actually find it MORE interesting when people don't like what I like because the world would be so boring if we all liked the same things. I never feel slighted or angry...not once, ever. I also wonder if it has to do with maturity. As always, I so enjoy your ponderings on books. Every time you upload, it's a good time for me to make some tea, slow down and watch. Thank you!
Really great thoughts, Nikki! I think you hit on it. It can be hard sometimes to separate our lived experience from a book, especially if it meant a lot to us at a certain time or helped form our identity. I try to be careful to compartmentalize that for myself, since there's quite a few books I love that others don't (*cough* Moby-Dick).
I once said to a Beatles fan that all of The Beatles’ songs sounded the same. That wasn’t a matter of opinion, it was just a stupid thing to say considering I’d never listened to their music and couldn’t have named one of their songs. Since then I’ve been to two McCartney concerts and consider McCartney & Lennon two of my favorite poets. I’m also a Stephen King fan and when I hear book critics dismiss his greatness simply because they’re jealous of his success it infuriates me. There’s a difference between not liking something because it’s not your style and not liking something because you’re closed minded. What I said about The Beatles wasn’t ok and I no longer give an opinion about things I don’t know anything about and I expect others to do the same. Just in case this comes off as a little grumpy I’m going to end with the time (3:15am) & a smiley face emoji. 🤪
@@paulbernal6088 I liked this, and I think we can all relate! I can be a bit of a book snob, and so I turn my nose at people like my MIL who reads Nora Jones and trashy romance. Ugh. But, I've never expressed this to her, thankfully, but it's always bothered me inside of myself. Who am I to say that what I read brings me more joy than what she reads brings her? We read for the joy of it, right? Plus, I've never sat myself down and read Nora Jones and her other favorites. Maybe if I did, I'd actually maybe not hate them or find them too...well, simple. See? There I go again. I am slowly breaking myself of that habit, truthfully, I am! I love what you said about SK as he is my favorite author, or one of. And, yes, he gets trashed time and again. I'm sorry but that man can write a story! Some may not like it, but that's ok. He can still write a damn good story. The Beatles is another interesting example. I tend to not like their music, except for a few songs...but I WISH I DID love them like so many do. I so want to...maybe I just need more time with them. I have tried before, many times, but nothing sticks. I guess I should keep trying.
@@marianhreads Do I need to read MD? It has been a book that I have seriously tangled myself in knots over whether or not I should read it. Ugh. Some people gush about it endlessly but others can't get part all of the whaling. Too much about whaling, they say. Seriously, should I reconsider? I love classics, I don't mind long books so that's why I've been tempted. But, the naysayers have put me off for oh, about 15 years. lol.
I really appreciated this review! I actually picked up and DNF’d this book twice in 2019 and in early 2020. I really wanted it to be for me, but I just couldn’t get into it. Luckily for me, Ishiguro has a collection to choose from so I might try The Remains of the Day.
Thank you so much for this review, I had such a hard time getting into this book and after finishing it, I did not like it. I thought something was wrong with me because I did not like this book when so many people think it’s one of the greatest book ever. I have also read the Remains of Day but would not like to read it again. I am looking forward to reading his newest book.
Ana, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have to say... I was also disappointed by Klara and the Sun (sigh). His newer novels are so different from his earliest work. I still love his Japan novels - An Artist of the Floating World and A Pale View of Hills.
This is my second book of kazuo after remains of the day and i didn't know much to expect before reading this one. I think this one is good, not as much as ROTD though. But I'll revisit this one and see what my true feeling is haha
Hi Marian, I finished A Pale View of Hills(based on your recommendation). Oh, boy. I had the hardest time rating this...actually, of all the books I've read in the last few years, it's been my hardest to rate. I knew there was a twist coming and I guess that I saw it coming? and it was a bit underwhelming. I was on the 2nd to last page and I was like, "where is it?" I think that completely threw me off and why I couldn't figure out how to rate it. Right after reading, I gave it a 2.75...then I thought, why such a low rating? I figured it had to do with that darn ending and the fact that it wasn't surprising enough. So as I wrote my review, I moved it up to a 3 then a 3.5...which isn't a good rating for me(for most people, it's be an average rating, but for me it's a low one). But as I thought about it more and more, I realized that I enjoyed the reading so much...like it was almost a perfect read. I read it in ONE day...I never read that fast. I found the writing, the pacing, the characters, the issues that they grappled with(trauma, the bomb, motherhood, guilt, shame) so compelling! And yet I was stuck on 3.5. I went back today after sitting on the rating and ended up at a 4.25. That's a huge climb from a 2.75. THIS BOOK messed with me the more I thought on it. I ended up with the rating I did because when I think about the utter trauma Etsuko experienced as well as her daughter, it all makes sense. Memory is a fickle thing, and trauma is devastating. And the combo is what we dealt with in this book(among other things)...so the ending sort of makes sense when you consider that trauma drives a huge wedge/cudgel straight through our timeline and it messes mightily with our ability to map out memory....what we wanted to have happen with our lives(our expectations) vs what our life IS(our reality). Squaring the two is often a messy adventure...thus, the ending(still a bit messy for me). All in all, I'm so glad I read this and I will be re-reading this one over and over. THANK YOU for the rec, Marian. I'm SORRY THIS IS SO DARN LONG!
Nikki, I'm glad you gave it a try!! Hm maybe I shouldn't have told you about the twist ;D Either way I totally agree, it's a messy book with a lot of ambiguity. I'm glad it was a good reading experience overall! It's one I'd like to read again in the near future, too.
@@marianhreads oh, no. You never told me what the twist was....you just said it was toward the end....heck, every reviewer did. You did nothing to spoil my enjoyment of it! I hope I didn’t come across that way. 😔
This is the second video I've seen from you. The first being about gothic novels themes your videos really give me an ASMR vibe which I enjoy a lot
Glad to hear that! I've been inspired by a few ASMRtists for sure :)
Really enjoyed this video and discussion. You're definitely not alone in your thoughts about Never Let Me Go, it was so half formed!
Great video ^^
Hi Marian, I found Never Let Me Go to be my 2nd to least favorite of Ishiguro's. I also struggled with Remains of the Day, but I've read it twice and enjoyed it more the second time. The Buried Giant was my least favorite. I have yet to read Pale View of Hills and the other one you have there.
I often have wondered why people get so darn upset when you don't like something they like. I honestly think, and this is after years of pondering, that if you don't like something as passionately or at all, then they feel slighted themselves; as if you don't like them(since they are sooo tied to the "thing" that you aren't a fan of...then you aren't a fan of them). Does that even make sense? It says more about them than about you or anyone with a contrary opinion. I actually find it MORE interesting when people don't like what I like because the world would be so boring if we all liked the same things. I never feel slighted or angry...not once, ever. I also wonder if it has to do with maturity.
As always, I so enjoy your ponderings on books. Every time you upload, it's a good time for me to make some tea, slow down and watch. Thank you!
Really great thoughts, Nikki! I think you hit on it. It can be hard sometimes to separate our lived experience from a book, especially if it meant a lot to us at a certain time or helped form our identity. I try to be careful to compartmentalize that for myself, since there's quite a few books I love that others don't (*cough* Moby-Dick).
I once said to a Beatles fan that all of The Beatles’ songs sounded the same. That wasn’t a matter of opinion, it was just a stupid thing to say considering I’d never listened to their music and couldn’t have named one of their songs. Since then I’ve been to two McCartney concerts and consider McCartney & Lennon two of my favorite poets.
I’m also a Stephen King fan and when I hear book critics dismiss his greatness simply because they’re jealous of his success it infuriates me. There’s a difference between not liking something because it’s not your style and not liking something because you’re closed minded. What I said about The Beatles wasn’t ok and I no longer give an opinion about things I don’t know anything about and I expect others to do the same.
Just in case this comes off as a little grumpy I’m going to end with the time (3:15am) & a smiley face emoji. 🤪
@@paulbernal6088 I think we're on the same page here! (no pun intended) Important to do due diligence before giving opinions at all. :)
@@paulbernal6088 I liked this, and I think we can all relate! I can be a bit of a book snob, and so I turn my nose at people like my MIL who reads Nora Jones and trashy romance. Ugh. But, I've never expressed this to her, thankfully, but it's always bothered me inside of myself. Who am I to say that what I read brings me more joy than what she reads brings her? We read for the joy of it, right? Plus, I've never sat myself down and read Nora Jones and her other favorites. Maybe if I did, I'd actually maybe not hate them or find them too...well, simple. See? There I go again. I am slowly breaking myself of that habit, truthfully, I am!
I love what you said about SK as he is my favorite author, or one of. And, yes, he gets trashed time and again. I'm sorry but that man can write a story! Some may not like it, but that's ok. He can still write a damn good story.
The Beatles is another interesting example. I tend to not like their music, except for a few songs...but I WISH I DID love them like so many do. I so want to...maybe I just need more time with them. I have tried before, many times, but nothing sticks. I guess I should keep trying.
@@marianhreads Do I need to read MD? It has been a book that I have seriously tangled myself in knots over whether or not I should read it. Ugh. Some people gush about it endlessly but others can't get part all of the whaling. Too much about whaling, they say. Seriously, should I reconsider? I love classics, I don't mind long books so that's why I've been tempted. But, the naysayers have put me off for oh, about 15 years. lol.
I really appreciated this review! I actually picked up and DNF’d this book twice in 2019 and in early 2020. I really wanted it to be for me, but I just couldn’t get into it. Luckily for me, Ishiguro has a collection to choose from so I might try The Remains of the Day.
Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one :) Remains is great!
Thank you so much for this review, I had such a hard time getting into this book and after finishing it, I did not like it. I thought something was wrong with me because I did not like this book when so many people think it’s one of the greatest book ever. I have also read the Remains of Day but would not like to read it again. I am looking forward to reading his newest book.
Ana, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have to say... I was also disappointed by Klara and the Sun (sigh). His newer novels are so different from his earliest work. I still love his Japan novels - An Artist of the Floating World and A Pale View of Hills.
This is my second book of kazuo after remains of the day and i didn't know much to expect before reading this one. I think this one is good, not as much as ROTD though. But I'll revisit this one and see what my true feeling is haha
Hi Marian, I finished A Pale View of Hills(based on your recommendation). Oh, boy. I had the hardest time rating this...actually, of all the books I've read in the last few years, it's been my hardest to rate. I knew there was a twist coming and I guess that I saw it coming? and it was a bit underwhelming. I was on the 2nd to last page and I was like, "where is it?" I think that completely threw me off and why I couldn't figure out how to rate it.
Right after reading, I gave it a 2.75...then I thought, why such a low rating? I figured it had to do with that darn ending and the fact that it wasn't surprising enough. So as I wrote my review, I moved it up to a 3 then a 3.5...which isn't a good rating for me(for most people, it's be an average rating, but for me it's a low one). But as I thought about it more and more, I realized that I enjoyed the reading so much...like it was almost a perfect read. I read it in ONE day...I never read that fast. I found the writing, the pacing, the characters, the issues that they grappled with(trauma, the bomb, motherhood, guilt, shame) so compelling! And yet I was stuck on 3.5. I went back today after sitting on the rating and ended up at a 4.25. That's a huge climb from a 2.75. THIS BOOK messed with me the more I thought on it. I ended up with the rating I did because when I think about the utter trauma Etsuko experienced as well as her daughter, it all makes sense. Memory is a fickle thing, and trauma is devastating. And the combo is what we dealt with in this book(among other things)...so the ending sort of makes sense when you consider that trauma drives a huge wedge/cudgel straight through our timeline and it messes mightily with our ability to map out memory....what we wanted to have happen with our lives(our expectations) vs what our life IS(our reality). Squaring the two is often a messy adventure...thus, the ending(still a bit messy for me). All in all, I'm so glad I read this and I will be re-reading this one over and over. THANK YOU for the rec, Marian. I'm SORRY THIS IS SO DARN LONG!
Nikki, I'm glad you gave it a try!! Hm maybe I shouldn't have told you about the twist ;D Either way I totally agree, it's a messy book with a lot of ambiguity. I'm glad it was a good reading experience overall! It's one I'd like to read again in the near future, too.
@@marianhreads oh, no. You never told me what the twist was....you just said it was toward the end....heck, every reviewer did. You did nothing to spoil my enjoyment of it! I hope I didn’t come across that way. 😔
@@nikkivenable3700 Haha no worries! I really overthink everything! 😁
Generally annoying lol