I finished the first book on my Summer Reading Challenge – Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro. I read it in a day and a half. I was really chilled by it. Scared. Very sad. And I am GLAD nobody leaked to me what it was really about … I went into it pure. The revelations that came came slowly, and were that much more horrible. I actually was going to finish it last night – it was only about 10 pm but I was exhausted – due to the Bloomsday marathon the day before. I lay in bed, and was nearly done with it – and I suddenly got this creepy feeling, uneasy – like: I need to go to sleep now. If I finish this book now, I might have nightmares – or I will not be able to sleep … and more than anything else right now – I need SLEEP.
So I reluctantly put the book down with 20 pages to go. Very unlike me.
Slept like a baby. Woke up with a sore neck though – I can’t move my head. Typical. Made a cup of coffee, and finished the last 20 pages.
I was right to put it off. Now it’s the light of day, the sun is shining – and I can shake off the effect of the book a bit easier.
More later.
This is one of my favorite books of the last few years. It’s haunting and beautiful and chilling and important.
Very important, indeed. And so unlike his other books (which I also love.)
Kate – You know, I had the same thought at points. Is this the same author as Remains of the Day??? Very convincing narrator, I thought. (In both cases – I’m just saying the voice was so totally different in this one)
I haven’t read any of his other books – but now I think I have to go back and do so. I loved Remains of the Day – and then this? He’s something else!!