Never Let Me Go, a dystopian novel by Kazuo Ishiguro:
This novel wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it definitely left something heavy in my chest. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is one of those books that are introduced softly at first, almost calm, but then, slowly, it reveals a truth that is cold and terrifying.
The book follows Kathy, a woman who looks back on her childhood at a boarding school called Hailsham. At first, it seems like a normal place, but something always feels strange. The words used: “carers,” “donors,” “guardians” start to build a new world, one that is not like ours, but also too close, which is what makes it kinda disturbing.
As you keep reading, you understand what Kathy and her friends really are. They are not raised to live full lives. They are raised to serve a purpose. And the worst part? They accept it. There is no fight. No escape.
You want to believe there is hope, but the more you read and the more you know, the harder it is to breathe.
For me, it was disturbing, not in a horror way, but in a deep, emotional way. It made me think about control, society, and the way people can be shaped by what they are told to believe. After so many years we have accepted so many things, and we just live with them, no questions asked, and even if you ask…there’s no way to return or fight back.
What moved me the most was how the characters still loved, still cared, still tried to enjoy little moments. Even when they knew their fate.
This is not a happy book. But it’s an important one. It asks questions that are not easy to answer. What does it mean to live, if your life is not your own? What makes us human: our bodies, or the feelings inside us?
FAQ – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (with spoilers)
What is Never Let Me Go actually about?
It’s about a group of children who are raised for a dark purpose: to donate their organs when they grow up. The story follows them as they slowly learn the truth and try to find meaning in their short lives.
What is the main message of Never Let Me Go?
The novel explores the value of life, the dangers of control, and how people learn to accept even the cruelest things if they are taught to. It also speaks about memory, love, and the human need to be seen and understood.
What is the point of Never Let Me Go?
I think it’s to show us how easy it is to lose our humanity when we treat others as tools or products. It also asks us to think about how we define identity and what it means to live a “real” life.
🌸 Also for reading in my blog:
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- Rouge by Mona Awad
Instagram: @rouge.readings
