The Remains of the Day

great meditation on dignity, missed chances in life and regret. Great read if you are transitioning back from reading too much non fiction to starting fiction again.

“Indeed — why should I not admit it? — in that moment, my heart was breaking.” The Remains of the Day is a story of a butler Stevens who takes a few days off to travel the countryside and meet an old friend and how this journey takes him into the past. Ishiguro weaves a tale, that is beautiful and subtle. What initially is rose tinted nostalgia turns into life that is filled with regret, things that are left unsaid and hearts that are broken. Stevens felt too real, his character reminded me of Carson from Downton Abbey with all his stoic charm. Funny in places and sad in others, the book is a delight, it's a story where nothing really happens, but somehow, a lot does. Truly moving and wonderfully written.

I thoroughly loved this book. Loved the subtle humor and the too-professional conversations between Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton. Although Mr.Stevens never deviates from his too-professional attitude, you can sense his feelings for Miss Kenton. Until the end, I hoped that Mr. Stevens would make up for what he has lost, but the ending didn't disappoint me either. Recommend this book to those who wish to explore the world of lords, butlers-the standards they were expected to live up to sacrificing their personal life in the journey.

The tone and emotion it carries, I can still feel it

A Booker prize winner book written by a Nobel Laureate. Expectations are high when you start on a book like this. Did the book meet my expectations? Well here is the funny part - it's a well written book that leaves you gasping for more; only because nothing really happens in the book. The narrative is simple enough - it's a condensed life story of a high end Butler. If you are doing any research on high class Butlers or the profession of butlery itself, this book will most definitely give you an inside peek into the butlering profession. For the rest of us, who only have a passing interest in this profession, the question 'where is this going?' often comes up in the few hours it takes to complete this book. Yes, I did complete it. The writing style is clearly of an award winning author - easily paced, simple flowing sentences, and a well etched out principal character. Some might say 'only character', but that is open to interpretation. Overall a light read, not intriguing or captivating, but honest enough to keep the pages turning over - if only out of curiosity. It is true that the Booker committee found this the best book of that year. The highlight of the book is it's ability to keep you engaged without any highlights. There are none of the expected elements you would look forward to in a well acknowledged and awarded book - complex story, wide canvas, deep wisdom, humour, mystery, characterisation. It's an easily written book, that starts somewhere and ends nowhere.

I really enjoyed reading this novel for its out and out English feel to it. The butler who is the main protagonist is so likeable for more reasons than one. His sense of loyalty to his boss is striking. The reader is bowled over by his duty consciousness. You get transported to the English countryside by Ishiguro"s sheer style of narration. Loved it. The novel is fast paced and unputdownable. The subtle humour running through it keeps you smiling. Although Ishiguro is Japanese his style is reminiscent of any other British author. Good read for sure.

However hard one may exert in one’s servitude towards one’s employer, howsoever great one may be, if one is not taking care of his personal life: needs, emotions, feelings, opportunities et al, and also, if one is too much obsessed with that illusory phenomenon called ‘progress’ or ‘success’ or ‘promotion’, one is bound to repent at the end of the day! Mr Stevens is a person who has wasted his personal life notwithstanding plentiful of golden opportunities coming his way during his professional life to pick to embellish his life with. He does not have his own views on any matter either of personal life or of the world at large. He lost a lovely partner, later to repent, in twilight days. He dismissed from his employment two infallible, devoted Jewish girls at the ill-conceived notions and stance of Lord Darlington, later to repent just after a year. He did not empathise with Miss Kenton’s feelings towards him, making life of both morose for the remainder of life. Even Lord Darlington turned out to be a Hitler sympsthiser finally, in whom he had reposed so much trust. And that sentiment that he would not accept to Mrs Wakefield that it was he indeed who was the legendary butler Stevens of Darlington Hall and that the furnishings and artefacts in Darlington Hall were originals, not fake, really landed his new employer Mr Farraday in utter embarrassment before Mr & Mrs Wakefield! This is pure buffoonery! After all Mr Farraday had bought the house for its prestige and name; and if that prestige and name was not to be passed on to Mr Farraday in the eyes of his acquaintances, it was a pity! Overall, Mr Kazuo Ishiguro is inimitable in style and unsurpassable in command over language! The storyline is woven so intensely that reader can't afford to put the book down for a minute unless one finishes the entire novel. Ending paragraphs are marvellous indeed: the substance of Life defacto. There is no point ruing the past. One must look forward and be happy. Evening - whether it be in the context of a solar day or, figuratively, in the context of life itself, is the most enjoyable time!

Buen libro, a buen precio. Llego rapido y en buen estado.

A book that's accurately recognised as a classic. An insightful and sensitive look at a traditionalist butler coming to terms with a changing world and new rules for society. Plus, there's the enduring love story. There is much more to this book, but I am desperate to avoid spoilers, sufficient to say that it is wonderfully written and it is impossible to fail to invest in the characters. I found myself comparing the handling of characters and the way that the significance of small things was portrayed, with Thomas Hardy's work. A book that will remain in the memory for a lifetime.

Stevens is so likable yet so hopelessly lost and naive. I just want to tell him to stop watching his life unfold and actually be present in it. The ending snuck up on me. I didn't realise I was about to finish and then it just ended. I feel a bit lost.

Questo libro, secondo me, da ragione almeno in parte del Nobel dato a Kazuo Ishiguro. Il libro è un affresco dei tempi della decadenza della nobiltà inglese e conseguentemente del relativo personale di servizio. Al contempo, però, è la storia di un amore mancato e immolato sull'altare della "dignità" professionale. L'autore scrive in un inglese semplicemente perfetto e che si gode dalla prima all'ultima pagina, anzi si impara parecchio da lui. Ovviamente il testo è scritto da un autore inglese, ma di origine giapponese e la base culturale orientale fa capolino qua e là. Bisogna essere interessati alla scrittura e all'alta letteratura per apprezzare appieno questo libro, ma si è ricompensati con una storia molto particolare e con caratteri delineati alla perfezione. Naturalmente, non è una storia di pronta fruizione e occorre pazienza e interesse per apprezzare le sottilissime nuance della scrittura di Ishiguro.

The book was delivered very fast! Got here in 1 day and in perfect condition.