by Kazuo Ishiguro, translated by Masao Tsuchiya
This was the first time I read a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, and I have to say it was absolutely beautiful. Though I read the Japanese translated version, descriptions of the beautiful views in England, subtle yet intelligible narration by the butler astonishingly translated by Tsuchiya is most definitely equally sensational as the original text. Watching the film adaptation after reading the novel, I have to say I prefer the novel yet I definitely recommend watching the film (after reading though).
I've always been fascinated by how Kazuo Ishiguro (British though he was born in Nagasaki, Japan! I have to say as a Japanese national, I'm proud of that) is able to look through the world and discover its true Identity. When he received the Nobel Prize of literature in 2017, the Swedish Academy stated his work tends to "unearth 'the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world'"(https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/kazuo-ishiguro), and though I've only read one novel by him, this cannot be more true. I had watched the film adaptation of "Never Let Me Go", another novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro, and I remember I was completely attracted to the story which displayed the fragility of life in depth. I attempted to read the original novel however, having to had watched to film before I couldn't finish it. So I was looking forward to reading "The Remains of the Day" as I had wanted to read a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro after discovering "Never Let Me Go".
The reason I read the novel in Japanese was since I will be studying this novel for the IB (in Japanese Literature HL). So initially I bought the novel because I had to, though I have to say out of the thirteen books I will be studying, I was especially excited to read this one, and my expectations for it weren't let down at all.
Here is a short description of "Remains of the Day" (from Goodreads):
In the summer of 1956, Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars, and an unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper.
I am so glad I had studied about World War 2 and what led to it (such as the Treaty of Versailles) last year in history since if I hadn't done that, I probably had no clue what the novel was about. The novel reflects on the historical events during that time. By reading this novel, I realised the importance of learning about the background of novels before reading them (I wasn't really a book person before so a little late but...). Additionally, for the first time I realised my love for reading literature.
"The Remains of the Day" included every aspect of what shapes a human being. It also questions what each of us should aspire to be, what we must treasure throughout our lives. I The novel is a self revelation of the narrator, Mr. Stevens and by exploring him as a reader, I was touched by the subtle beauty of life, the journey of life.
You can purchase the novel from:
Amazon UK (original text) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remains-Day-Kazuo-Ishiguro/dp/0571258247
Amazon JP (Japanese translation) - https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%97%A5%E3%81%AE%E5%90%8D%E6%AE%8B%E3%82%8A-%E3%83%8F%E3%83%A4%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AFepi%E6%96%87%E5%BA%AB-%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BA%E3%82%AA-%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AD/dp/4151200037
Ok, side note, I'm still in progress in terms of writing reviews of books so please forgive me if this post seems a little, well, unclear. Though since I've recently discovered the beauty of reading, I would like to definitely improve my ability to write book reviews. thanks;)
Also, do share any other recommendations of Kazuo Ishiguro novels!
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