Book recommendation

[firecat]

On LibraryThing, 3,680 members have listed Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, so I guess I've discovered it late. If you haven't heard of it, my recommendation is: Do not go to the LibraryThing page, do not look up reviews, do not let anyone tell you about the plot, just try to get a copy (don't look at the plot summary on the cover) and start reading it (or listening—the audio narration is really well done).

On the other hand, if you do find out something about it beforehand (I did, since I almost never trust that I'll like a book unless I know something about it) then it's still well worth reading.

I found it utterly compelling, even though on the surface it didn't seem like the sort of novel I usually enjoy.

Comments may contain spoilers.

Comments

[firecat]

This book raises lots of questions and leaves many of them unanswered; it faintly sketches out background stuff and leaves it sketchy. That's part of what I found compelling about the book, but judging from some of the LibraryThing reviews, it drove some people crazy.

[mistdog.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen that one, but I've read several of his other novels and they've all been very good.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

I thought it was brilliant, though it wouldn't have hurt if he'd talked to someone a bit more about the medical issues so he'd had a better grip on what they were donating and why.

It has an amazing voice.

[laurellei.livejournal.com]

I have put it on my wish list as I am waiting for the Christmas gift cards. My family knows I am a reading fiend so I always get at least enough to buy one book.

I need to find something compelling to read, I have had some difficulty lately getting through books... I just don't care enough. I think it is time to switch off the brain candy for a bit :)

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

I don't see how I can ignore a review like that. It is on my Audible.com wish list.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I'm one of the few who thought it wasn't very good. For one thing, it's not really SF -- this thing is close to happening now, and it's not the minimal SF part that is really important. I also thought it was too boring with not enough happening. I remember arguing about it with hmmm... I keep thinking Carbonoid and that's not right. carbonel! On rasfc.

[firecat]

I definitely wouldn't recommend it to someone particularly in the mood for an "SF" novel. I liked the pacing though.