Never Let Me Go
Synopsis
Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a speculative fiction about Kathy, a former student who attends the fictional Hailsham boarding school in England, which houses future organ donors. The students are conceived for this purpose alone and are raised together from infancy. Kathy’s perspective shifts from her primary school days with her best friend Tommy, to adulthood when she is assigned his carer. The students grow older and in the process uncover some unsettling truths about the only home they have ever known. As the truth is unravelled, the reputation of Hailsham as a respectable governing institution starts to crumble. It asks the reader: what is worth sacrificing for the greater good? This heartwrenching and wistful coming-of-age is ultimately about friendship, artistic freedom and morality of scientific progress.
Review
This is my second reading of the book, and while it wasn’t my favorite, Ishiguro’s writing has stuck with me over the years. The story’s unique chronology, wherein details are very slowly and strategically revealed, adds an element of mystery and suggests a puzzle that needs piecing together by Kathy and the audience. While this book is strong conceptually, there was a lack of momentum in the plot progression. It’s definitely a slow burn and very character driven. As I was reading, I had the sense that the story was building up to something more climactic, but it fell short in that respect. There is also a certain frigidity throughout the book, for example in Kathy’s environment, her emotions, memories, and in the other characters too. While this is well-written, deliberate and memorable, it could have been stronger with a punchier and more unexpected ending.