During my mass book cataloguing on Goodreads, I was reminded how much I liked Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. So I re-read it and for good measure, I watched the movie too. (The movie, IMO, was pretty good if often blunt and the ending especially so.)
What struck me this time through was the ending of the novel: the butler has come to realize that his life has been suboptimal and less joyful than it could have been because he shunned Miss Kenton and denied his emotions out of a misguided sense of professionalism. But instead of the typical Hollywood ending where he woos Miss Kenton or quits his job etc., he realizes that it really is too late: his and Miss Kenton’s day is almost over, and the important thing to do is make the most of ‘the remains of the day’, which for him is returning to his butlering job but being less rigid and more human.
It is, in other words, a beautiful tale of not honoring sunk costs or pursuing lost opportunities.
I didn’t watch the Never Let Me Go movie, but my impression was similar: stylistically it’s excellent as expected of Ishiguro, but the actual SF is pretty inept, though a cute twist on the old Niven organ donation theme.
I read this book a few years ago, I really loved it. It’s the most English book I’ve ever read, he portrays the stereotype of proper behaviour and professionalism so convincingly.
During my mass book cataloguing on Goodreads, I was reminded how much I liked Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. So I re-read it and for good measure, I watched the movie too. (The movie, IMO, was pretty good if often blunt and the ending especially so.)
What struck me this time through was the ending of the novel: the butler has come to realize that his life has been suboptimal and less joyful than it could have been because he shunned Miss Kenton and denied his emotions out of a misguided sense of professionalism. But instead of the typical Hollywood ending where he woos Miss Kenton or quits his job etc., he realizes that it really is too late: his and Miss Kenton’s day is almost over, and the important thing to do is make the most of ‘the remains of the day’, which for him is returning to his butlering job but being less rigid and more human.
It is, in other words, a beautiful tale of not honoring sunk costs or pursuing lost opportunities.
Since I can’t remember if I’ve watched this, I’ll check it out.
Never Let Me Go was not a great movie, but was still fun. The book was better (even though the story/concept is flawed).
I didn’t watch the Never Let Me Go movie, but my impression was similar: stylistically it’s excellent as expected of Ishiguro, but the actual SF is pretty inept, though a cute twist on the old Niven organ donation theme.
Never saw the movie but loved the book.
I read this book a few years ago, I really loved it. It’s the most English book I’ve ever read, he portrays the stereotype of proper behaviour and professionalism so convincingly.