They eventually move on from their sheltered existence within the fences of Hailsham and the focus of the novel shifts. It becomes a very cruel book and it can be easy to lose sight of the positives at times, but then I feel that this is where it shines most prominently

The two most prominent figures in Kathy’s life are Ruth and Tommy, fellow students who are equally as lost and confused by all of the customs and jargon that are commonplace at Hailsham as she is. He uses the bonds as well as the petty squabbles between school children as a foundation. There’s a sense of calm in her narration which can seem like submissive acceptance, but it is never clear what this might be an acceptance of.Īt Hailsham, Ishiguro skews the stereotypical, romanticised boarding school setting to create something much more sinister, despite the care and affection that exists between students and teachers. Kathy is struggling to grow up and understand how she fits into the world all throughout the book. It creates an instant sense of foreboding that lingers and grows as the plot progresses.Īs a student, this book seems particularly relevant. Little more is revealed than this for much of the book and Ishiguro often seems to toy with the reader by dropping hints in misunderstood or confusing sentences. It now stands as my favourite book simply because of its ability to evoke emotion even if the events that take place seem relatively mundane.Īs a student, this book seems particularly relevant – Kathy is struggling to grow up and understand how she fits into the world all throughout the bookĪt its core, Never Let Me Go, is the story of Kathy H at various stages in her life – first as a student at Hailsham as a child, then as she progresses along her journey from carer to donor. I first read this novel as part of my A-Level English Literature course but have thought of it often since and the longer it sits, the more relevant it seems to become. Then, somewhere in the obscurity and academic debate of these questions, the protagonist, Kathy H, and others like her, find themselves caught and suspended in uncertainty.

This difference is not at first obvious, but brings to light a burdening load of moral questions as it is revealed. Ishiguro deals with a world much like our own, but with one significant difference that changes our view of everything.

Better examples of an author’s ability to create a sense of isolation and dread in a protagonist must be few and far between. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is a powerful novel about identity and belonging, the struggle to find a place in a bleak and hostile society and, underneath all of the turmoil, the things which offer us the brightest hope.

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