10 reactions
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro
This is the fourth Ishiguro book I've read, after Klara and the Sun, Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day, and honestly, rather controversially, When We Were Orphans has been my favourite. This might be in my Top 5 books of all time.
I was incredibly moved by it, and I could really understand the fantasy that Christopher Banks was living in hoping to find his parents alive after decades of them going missing. I thought the entire third act was similar to The Kite Runner where it is more action-focused. In many ways, it's like Banks had gone into hell itself and the appearance of Akira (his childhood friend) guiding him through hell had parallels to Dante's Inferno. For years, he had procrastinated in his search for his parents, waiting until he became a great detective. This is similar to Dante withering time in Purgatory before Virgil guides him through the gates of hell.
Now, I haven't though of whether Ishiguro references to the nine deadly sins (could Sarah Hemmings be one for lust?). The ultimatum of his decision to choose between Sarah or uncovering the clues to reach his parents was very much like a test.
Personally, I felt this was the most depressing Ishiguro that resonated with me so far. Klara and the Sun was very peaceful. Remains of the Day was suppressed. Never Let Me Go was also very depressing and poignant.
I think Ishiguro might be my new favourite author now, after 4 beautiful books. Another 4 to go, but I need an emotional break.
#entertainment
source
This is the fourth Ishiguro book I've read, after Klara and the Sun, Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day, and honestly, rather controversially, When We Were Orphans has been my favourite. This might be in my Top 5 books of all time.
I was incredibly moved by it, and I could really understand the fantasy that Christopher Banks was living in hoping to find his parents alive after decades of them going missing. I thought the entire third act was similar to The Kite Runner where it is more action-focused. In many ways, it's like Banks had gone into hell itself and the appearance of Akira (his childhood friend) guiding him through hell had parallels to Dante's Inferno. For years, he had procrastinated in his search for his parents, waiting until he became a great detective. This is similar to Dante withering time in Purgatory before Virgil guides him through the gates of hell.
Now, I haven't though of whether Ishiguro references to the nine deadly sins (could Sarah Hemmings be one for lust?). The ultimatum of his decision to choose between Sarah or uncovering the clues to reach his parents was very much like a test.
Personally, I felt this was the most depressing Ishiguro that resonated with me so far. Klara and the Sun was very peaceful. Remains of the Day was suppressed. Never Let Me Go was also very depressing and poignant.
I think Ishiguro might be my new favourite author now, after 4 beautiful books. Another 4 to go, but I need an emotional break.
#entertainment
source
10
| 14,000 mlx | |
| 18 | |
| 10 |