Never Let Me Go
Brief review of a dystopian novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro is a story that builds up in layers. Initially, it appears a narrative of daily life and mundane problems of a bunch of students studying and growing up at a boarding school Hailsham in UK. However, as you delve deeper into the book, you realise that these students are unlike any others.
These children reside at Hailsham until the age of 16 before embarking on their carefully planned lives. At Hailsham, they are under the guidance of teachers known as Guardians. They receive education in history, literature, and the outside world. They are specially encouraged to create art and write poetry and essays. The best of their work is collected and sent outside for reasons unknown.
While the children are curious and speculate, argue and discuss internally about themselves and their future, at a fundamental level of consciousness, they are aware of their reality and accepted it as this is the only life they have seen and known about.
The story continues with the main protagonist and her friends leaving school, adapting to a new life of freedom, and ultimately going on to fulfil the purpose of their existence which is revealed towards the end.
This book is written from the POV of the protagonist reminiscing her childhood, friendships and relationships transitioning into present adulthood. While some aspects of the narration, such as conflicts between friends and teenage relationships seem trivial and at times boring from a reader’s perspective, the overall curiosity to find out the truth keeps the readers hooked and captivated.
Its different than any other books that I have read in the same genre. Its a science-fiction dystopian novel that reads like literature. Do try this book if this brief review has piqued your interest.
I have written this review ensuring that there are no spoilers.
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