52 Books in a Year – Book One

Decided to take up this challenge to read one book a week and write a short spiel on it after completion. Very ambitious but nailed down the first book this week.

Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro

I always thought Japanese names writting in English adds a different, exotic dimension to it, i.e. different dominant cultures, not using primary language, what if the translator got it wrong. I read some Murakami but thats as far as it goes. I had no idea what this book was about but was attracted to the forlorness of the title, so decided to give it a try. Also, they were making a movie out of it with Keira Knightly and the thought of never letting her go, was inviting in itself.

I tend to like first person narration in books and I loved the fluidity, lightness and breezy nature of the narration. Reading it was really effortless and when the main plotlines came along, it was disguised well and not expected. When I first read few chapters, I thought this was gonna be a boarding school, coming of age book akin to The Virgin Suicides meets Mallory Towers (loved Enid Blyton!) kinda feel, but boy was I wrong. Not gonna give anything away but its dark. Never underestimate the will for man to continue living.

Almost teared up at the end. Despite what your managers told you, leadership books just don’t do that to you. Is this how you do book reviews? I’m so out of my depth.

Rating: 4.5/5

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