Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: a Tiny Book Review

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)

Growing up in Hailsham, a seemingly ordinary British boarding school secluded from the outside world, Kathy, and her friends, Tommy and Ruth, deal with the usual coming-of-age anxieties and desires, until they learn about what lies ahead of them.

This heart-breaking dystopian love story confronts the difficult questions about love, loss, adulthood, friendships, jealousy, and death.

How do you live and love differently when there's a definitive end to it?

How do you find your power and courage for life when you're so vulnerable compared to the rest of the world?

I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart.

Through the sadness of it all, Ishiguro shows you the beauty of life, love, friendships, and those silly, but life's precious moments. It's a masterpiece that will remain in my head and heart for years to come.

This is the third Ishiguro book I read after Remains of the Day and Klara and the Sun. Each story has moved me deeply, quietly, and profoundly, like the ocean waves crashing on the rocks.

What is your favorite Ishiguro book and which one should I read next?