Book: The Remains of the Day

[elusivek]

The Remains Of The Day
Kazuo Ishiguro
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The Remains of the Day is a profoundly compelling portrait of the perfect English butler and of his fading, insular world postwar England. At the end of his three decades of service at Darlington Hall, Stevens embarks on a country drive, during which he looks back over his career to reassure himself that he has served humanity by serving “a great gentleman.” But lurking in his memory are doubts about the true nature of Lord Darlington’s “greatness” and graver doubts about his own faith in the man he served

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This was a "grabbed a random book while at the library" book... And OMG. I haven't been so touched and deeply moved by a book for such a long time...

I love the English used - the polite, regency-ish type of English (probably because Stevens endeavours to learn "good" language), very soothing to the eyes and mind. It's like a diary, Stevens, a butler, recounting incidents over his road trip.

Stevens talks a lot about dignity, and how his view on dignity changes over time. It's so bittersweet - giving your best at work all your life as that is dignity, up till the end when you find out your cause/employer wasn't considered as "good" or "dignified", and lost your chance in personal happiness, and yet in the end you strive on, hopeful that you can continue to upkeep that dignity.

It's actually very sad, and causes a lot of contemplation, yet I can't say I disagree with or dislike Stevens, because I think I am like Stevens. Oh this is getting depressing in a way... But I really liked this book!

Comments

[evilcoc0nut.livejournal.com]

I know that's probably his most famous book, but honestly some of the other ones he's written look really interesting (i.e. more relevant to my interests lol).

[notte0.livejournal.com]

haha I didn't know it was his most famous book (heck, I didn't know he existed either), I just randomly grabbed his book. It was standing a few books up from a Banana Yoshimoto book (forgot which) (that's really how I saw his book). Since I had already read something hers, I took the book I've never heard of. :D

[magic-treehouse.livejournal.com]

The only other one of his I've read is Never Let Me Go which I loved. I recommend it!

[magic-treehouse.livejournal.com]

Sometimes random library grabs are the best. I find that I take more chances with books if I get them from the library and I've had some great finds that way.

[eyesonstars.livejournal.com]

The film is equally good.