Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a quiet novel, fueled by tension and beautiful prose (this is my first Ishiguro and I don’t really know why it took me so long to pick it up). Certain elements would tell you it’s a dystopian novel, and it sure is, but I saw it more as a commentary on the human condition positioned against the backdrop of a cruel world (how else could I describe it) where children can only keep their innocence for so long; and once it’s lost, where does it go? And in whose hands does it fall? I’ve read reviews that say it’s lacking action for something marketed as dystopian, but I think the dystopian elements were only there to provide contextual structure as well as to serve as an overarching device to show that it’s only a matter of time before this innocence is taken away, hence the title.
Personally, I found myself wanting to analyse Tommy’s character in depth and everything he possibly represents: repressed grief, anger, loneliness and a yearning for love—exactly the kind of innocence children possess. He is often referred to in the novel as someone with “the bad temper” and I don’t think that’s fair, and this is neither on Ishiguro nor the novel itself, but on the way people like Tommy are perceived as in real life. These repressed feelings often come across as temper and it happens, which is very sad, and unfair.
This was a really beautiful novel and I’m glad I took my time with it. I definitely recommend it if you’re into highly character-driven novels.
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