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Never Let Me Go
288 pages, 2006
Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth were students at Hailsham, a special boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules, where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were.
Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time, she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special—and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together.
Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go explores the fragility of life. The characters are clones, created solely for organ donation, which makes us question the value of life and how easily it can be taken away. It's a reminder to appreciate every moment we have.
In Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro shows us the power of memory. The characters cling to their memories as a way to hold onto their identities. It's a nudge for us to cherish our own memories and the role they play in shaping who we are.
Friendship is a central theme in the book. Despite their grim fate, the characters find solace in their friendships. This highlights the importance of having strong relationships in our lives, even in the face of adversity.
Never Let Me Go makes us face the inevitability of mortality. The characters know their lives are short and predetermined, yet they still strive to find meaning and happiness. It's a call for us to live our lives fully, despite knowing that death is inevitable.
The book also prompts us to question the ethics of science. The clones are treated as less than human, used for the benefit of others. It's a stark reminder to consider the moral implications of scientific advancements.
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Never Let Me Go is a masterfully crafted and chillingly haunting story that lingers long after you close the book.
Margaret Atwood - Canadian poet, novelistNever Let Me Go is a poignant exploration of what it means to be human. It's a novel that will touch your heart and challenge your mind.
John Green - American author, vloggerIshiguro's Never Let Me Go is a work of great emotional force and technical finesse.
Salman Rushdie - British Indian novelistNever Let Me Go is a quiet, devastating and utterly satisfying novel. It's a book that stays with you, a book that's unforgettable.
Zadie Smith - British novelist, essayist