17 December, 2010

Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

Told by 31 year old Kathy as she comes to the end of her life as a carer, Never Let Me Go tells the stories of a special group of friends, bought into the world for a special purpose. From their days at Hailsham School, through to the fulfillment of their purpose, Never Let Me Go explores friendship and how a shared past can help shape the person you end up being.

I had read several reviews of Ishiguro's books and thought they sounded interesting. I picked this up off the shelves at work one day and borrowed it out. It sat on the shelf awhile before I picked it up again.

What I discovered was a beautifully written story. Kathy's voice was very natural to me. Her exploration of her upbringing and friendships were heartfelt and moving. The slow realisation of what their purpose was lead to the suspense of the novel and once it was revealed, I was both horrified and fascinated.

I will definitely be reading more of Ishiguro's work. In fact I plan to choose one of his books for my next book group selection.