I just finished reading A Pale View of Hills and with that all (6) of Kazuo Ishiguro’s books (no, I didn’t read them all at once…). I just really admire this brilliant storyteller, one of my favourite authors of all times. His books, arresting journeys into people’s minds and hearts are of the highest quality although not always an easy read. It’s his habitually flawed as well as achingly introspective characters, trying to find their place in the world and make sense of their lives that captivated me and made his novels so unputdouwnable.
Gabriele Annan in the New York Review of Books wrote: “After one puts down his novels, insights go on plopping into one’s mind like drops from a tap that is supposed to be turned off.” And the acclaimed Japanese author (another top favourite) Haruki Murakami said: “The place could be anywhere, the character could be anybody and the time could be any time. Everything supposed to be real could be unreal, and vice versa. It is a sensation I love and I only receive it when I read his books.”
I cannot agree with them both more.
His novels in order of recommendation:
1. The unconsoled (1995)
By far the most difficult read but painfully haunting, this surreal, disturbing tales about the dream-like peregrinations (thanks, thesaurus!) of a concert pianist around a hazy unrecognisable central European city is a masterpiece. I wouldn’t recommend to start reading Ishiguro with this one.
2. Never let me go (2005)
His recent, allegedly futuristic novel. Better not to read anything about the book before reading it. Beautiful book.
3. The Remains of the Day (1989)
His most popular book (that’s been adapted to an Oscar-wining film). Delightful English tale of an oh so reserved Butler in post WWII English counrtyside.
4. When We Where Orphans (2000)
Similar to The Unconsoled although far easier read about a British private detective in 1930s Shanghai.
5. A Pale View of Hills (1982)
His debut novel, narrated by a Japanese widow living in England, looking back over her life in post-war Nagasaki in the light of her daughter’s recent suicide.
6. An artist of the floating world (1986)
An account of a Japanese artist reassessing his responsibility for promoting pre-war militarism in Japan.
I can’t wait for the next one.
Comments 2
The Unconsoled is one of my favourite books of all time. However, it’s a book I rarely recommend to others! I found it an extraordinary piece of writing - poetic/epic in its scope and its power to draw you ever forward while you just know the journey to the end of the book is desperately futile. And yet … I still find myself thinking about it 5 years on.
Posted 18 Dec 2007 at 7:23 pm ¶I couldn’t say it better Snowqueen! It is gripping. I tend to recommend it to people I know can handle it but always with a warning
Posted 20 Dec 2007 at 2:55 pm ¶Post a Comment