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The Remains of the Day
 

The Remains of the Day (Vintage International)

by Kazuo Ishiguro

The novel's narrator, Stevens, is a perfect English butler who tries to give his narrow existence form and meaning through the self-effacing, almost mystical practice of his profession. In a career that spans the second World War, Stevens is oblivious of the real life that goes on around him -- oblivious, for instance, of the fact that his aristocrat employer is a Nazi sympathizer. Still, there... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  england,  british,  historical fiction,  booker prize (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
allestoll
  • Rated 5 stars

“Ishiguro's writing is crystalline. Seriously, I could not get over how tightly written this book is--not a wasted word. In addition to being a fabulous technical writer, he is very clever with characterization, refusing to hit his reader over the head with obvious detail but (as is typical for him) presenting us with an unreliable narrator. The novel is restrained in form and in character, but is very moving. Got to be a masterpiece.”

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Didn’t Like It

Mara Jade
  • Rated 2 stars

“This book was just plain borning to read, and the movie wasn't much better.”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.199613 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 0 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Mark H

    mark h said:

    “What the butler saw...and failed to understand.”

    posted Thursday, June 19 2008
  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    “I love this book, but it is also very disturbing. A good book to read after you've finished this one is any of the ones by Paul Burrell, who was Princess Diana's butler. The kind of deluded slavish devotion to an employee and the subtle secret keeping and intrigues of palace life are true to life. When Diana died, his whole world crashed. Ishiguro got the characterization of the butler spot on. There ARE people like Mr Stevens who exist in the world.”

    posted Tuesday, May 27 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • Victoriakem

    victoriakem said:

    “The sublimation of Mr. Stevens' personality into his role at the 'ultimate' butler, is very tragic, because that is the only way he is only able to relate to people & his world. He stays on the periphery of life, never fully engages, & keeps his distance from his feelings & people who could stir those feelings.”

    posted Thursday, May 22 2008
  • wo-man

    wo-man said:

    “jayanth, i read thsi book too quiet sometime back, beautiful”

    posted Thursday, December 6 2007
  • ro_oan

    ro_oan said:

    “i got to be honest, i almost slept thru the first part of the book. it seems to be progressing REAL slow.”

    posted Sunday, October 14 2007
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