The Remains Of The Day
by Kazuo Ishiguro
Awards: Booker Winner 1989, Nobel Winner 1989
Nominations: NY Times Finalist 1989
Date Read: February 22, 2019
The Remains of the Day is a lovely, hauntingly quiet novel with a glimpse into a world that has long gone by. Stevens is a butler of one of the fine estates in England and decides to take a motor trip to visit an old colleague, who it becomes clear he has feelings for. He meets unexpected acquaintances and conducts an inner appraisal of what it means to be an accomplished butler, which he clearly believes himself to be. I would agree.
Stevens served Lord Darlington with unflinching loyalty, although Darlington himself was a deeply flawed man, allying himself on the wrong side of fascist ideals, and bringing bigotry and prejudice to Darlington Hall. Stevens can never fully acknowledge Darlington's flaws because his own life's purpose and indirect influence on the course of world events, the very things that define the essence of who Stevens is, would immediately reveal a life that was squandered to no real purpose.
Stevens continually strives to do what he believes to be the right thing in the moment, all the while at the expense of his own humanity. He has denied himself love, being present at the loss of his father, warmth and meaningful relationships all to earnest devotion and an integrity that is hard to find in a mere employee.
In short, it's not "what happens in this book that's important; it's what doesn't happen. It's not what's said, but what isn't said." The Remains of the Day is such a singular piece of work. I have never met it's equal and it is no wonder Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize for his talents.
Date Read: February 22, 2019
The Remains of the Day is a lovely, hauntingly quiet novel with a glimpse into a world that has long gone by. Stevens is a butler of one of the fine estates in England and decides to take a motor trip to visit an old colleague, who it becomes clear he has feelings for. He meets unexpected acquaintances and conducts an inner appraisal of what it means to be an accomplished butler, which he clearly believes himself to be. I would agree.
Stevens served Lord Darlington with unflinching loyalty, although Darlington himself was a deeply flawed man, allying himself on the wrong side of fascist ideals, and bringing bigotry and prejudice to Darlington Hall. Stevens can never fully acknowledge Darlington's flaws because his own life's purpose and indirect influence on the course of world events, the very things that define the essence of who Stevens is, would immediately reveal a life that was squandered to no real purpose.
Stevens continually strives to do what he believes to be the right thing in the moment, all the while at the expense of his own humanity. He has denied himself love, being present at the loss of his father, warmth and meaningful relationships all to earnest devotion and an integrity that is hard to find in a mere employee.
In short, it's not "what happens in this book that's important; it's what doesn't happen. It's not what's said, but what isn't said." The Remains of the Day is such a singular piece of work. I have never met it's equal and it is no wonder Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize for his talents.
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