Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go (Movie Tie-In Edition) (Vintage International)
8.7/10 dropps

Five years after publication, this book has already received much praise and
numerous accolades, and for good reason. British author Kazuo Ishiguro tells the
story of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy: three clones created for the purpose of donating
their organs upon maturation. While there are decidedly sci-fi elements to this book,
one would hesitate to classify Ishiguro’s story as science fiction. It doesn’t take place
in some dystopian future; the book opens firmly in an alternate version of the ‘90s.
If anything, this book is a parable about the beauty of life’s impermanence. Ishiguro
constructs the plot carefully and slowly, detailing the story from Kathy’s perspective.
Kathy reflects on her life first as a student in boarding school, and then as a “carer”
to her fellow clones later on.

The brilliance of Never Let Me Go is in Ishiguro’s ability to craft an engaging,
sad story without being too sentimental. Kathy doesn’t wallow in despair feeling
sorry for herself, and neither do her companions. The trio instead choose to focus
on what time they have left. They find solace in the little things, as with a cassette
tape that achieves a level of significance to one of the characters beyond that of
the standard MacGuffin. In another scene, two of the protagonists follow up on a
rumor resulting in a brilliant standoff in what is essentially a confrontation between
creation and creator. Beyond the plot and the characters’ attitudes, however, the
book’s chief accomplishment is in its capacity to generate immensely complex,
human characters.

Even before Ishiguro reveals the exact purpose for the student’s existence
(which he does very early on), we already know the strengths and flaws of our
heroes without the author having to spell them out. Instead of reading through
Nicholas Sparks’ or Philip K. Dick’s library again, read Never Let Me Go. You’ll be
happy you did.

-John Jamieson