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emma's Reviews > Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go
by
by
emma's review
bookshelves: non-ya, sci-fi, literary-fiction, 2-stars, unpopular-opinion, eh, reviewed, project-aapi, authors-of-color
May 26, 2021
bookshelves: non-ya, sci-fi, literary-fiction, 2-stars, unpopular-opinion, eh, reviewed, project-aapi, authors-of-color
I just...don't know how you take a book with a plotline as interesting and creepy and unique as this one and turn it into an unrelenting snoozefest, party of one.
When I hear "the best novel of the decade," I expect brilliance.
When I hear "now a major motion picture starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley," I expect excitement.
When I hear "millions of copies sold, presumably, based on the number of ŷ ratings there are," I expect memorable characters or writing or storytelling or SOMETHING.
But I got nothing.
I've put off writing this review for a month, which is kind of but not super unusual for me admittedly, because I do not remember a thing about it.
And not really because I have forgotten the whole thing, but more because...well, what's to remember?
Bottom line: If anyone is looking for a nice little one way getaway to snoozeville, I have the book for you!
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pre-review
yes, the ending of this made me sad, but at the same time and in a much more pressing way this is maybe one of the most boring books i've ever read.
review to come / 2ish stars
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tbr review
i will read:
1) every book that is called the best of the decade
2) every book that was then adapted into a movie starring carey mulligan OR keira knightley OR andrew garfield that i can watch.
so basically i'm reading this 4 times over.
When I hear "the best novel of the decade," I expect brilliance.
When I hear "now a major motion picture starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley," I expect excitement.
When I hear "millions of copies sold, presumably, based on the number of ŷ ratings there are," I expect memorable characters or writing or storytelling or SOMETHING.
But I got nothing.
I've put off writing this review for a month, which is kind of but not super unusual for me admittedly, because I do not remember a thing about it.
And not really because I have forgotten the whole thing, but more because...well, what's to remember?
Bottom line: If anyone is looking for a nice little one way getaway to snoozeville, I have the book for you!
------------
pre-review
yes, the ending of this made me sad, but at the same time and in a much more pressing way this is maybe one of the most boring books i've ever read.
review to come / 2ish stars
------------
tbr review
i will read:
1) every book that is called the best of the decade
2) every book that was then adapted into a movie starring carey mulligan OR keira knightley OR andrew garfield that i can watch.
so basically i'm reading this 4 times over.
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Never Let Me Go.
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Reading Progress
May 22, 2021
– Shelved
May 26, 2021
–
Started Reading
May 27, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-48 of 48 (48 new)
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by
Lesli
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Jun 22, 2021 09:16AM
This book literally fell so flat for me. I read it because everyone said it was such a creepy book with a weird plot twist but I found myself predicting what exactly was happening to the children once they grew older. The ending did make me feel sad though.
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I love Kazuo Ishiguro's books but I almost never recommend them, boring is a very common complaint. They definitely aren't from everyone!
I read this years ago after watching the film, and I don't remember much from either. However I read The Buried Giant by the same author just over a year ago and it's probably the worst book I've ever read. I forced myself to finish because I wanted to know the big secret. Never felt more let down by an ending. DULL.
Lesli wrote: "This book literally fell so flat for me. I read it because everyone said it was such a creepy book with a weird plot twist but I found myself predicting what exactly was happening to the children o..."the ending was the best part! because it was the only emotive part
Stephanie wrote: "I love Kazuo Ishiguro's books but I almost never recommend them, boring is a very common complaint. They definitely aren't from everyone!"i like slow books but only if i connect to the characters and i didn't get that from this unfortunately!
Hayley wrote: "I read this years ago after watching the film, and I don't remember much from either. However I read The Buried Giant by the same author just over a year ago and it's probably the worst book I've e..."what a bummer!!!!
I'm most of the way through it and I don't dislike it but I'm now hyperfocusing on what an obnoxious brat Ruth is. She is horrendous throughout the book and Kathy will make up some reason that her childish behavior is in fact profound and I'm just thinking about all the ways of have told this kid to stuff it by now. It's kind of starting to ruin it for me.
oh man I loved this movie, it's disappointing to hear the book is not great.
The movie is excellent. Andrew Garfield is spectacular in it.
I have picked this book up no less than 3 times because of all the praise and can't get through it no matter what I do. Even have tried the audio.
I didn't have your experience with this book but half of what makes reader sites so much fun is seeing the range of opinion.
Oh good, I thought it was just me. Whew.
YES!! It’s so nice not to be the only person to have thought this didn’t live up to the hYpE
Cat wrote: "I'm most of the way through it and I don't dislike it but I'm now hyperfocusing on what an obnoxious brat Ruth is. She is horrendous throughout the book and Kathy will make up some reason that her ..."oof i hope you made it through successfully
Talia wrote: "oh man I loved this movie, it's disappointing to hear the book is not great."this is a truly unpopular opinion of mine
Austyn wrote: "The movie is excellent. Andrew Garfield is spectacular in it."in many ways you had me at andrew garfield
Elisabeth wrote: "I have picked this book up no less than 3 times because of all the praise and can't get through it no matter what I do. Even have tried the audio."it was nearly impenetrable for me
E.M. wrote: "I didn't have your experience with this book but half of what makes reader sites so much fun is seeing the range of opinion."couldn't agree more!!
Elle wrote: "REAL! SAY THIS."every time you agree with me i become (even more) insufferable (you're the most right person in the world)
Vincent wrote: "Oh good, I thought it was just me. Whew."never
Kit wrote: "YES!! It’s so nice not to be the only person to have thought this didn’t live up to the hYpE"such a treat
Halfway through and it is quite boring. Struggling to finish. Never saw the movie, but I plan to watch it once I’m finished reading. Hope the movie is more entertaining!
Exactly but the movie by the same name literally brings, the story from the book, alive through the work of some great actors.
HmmmI must like boring
I actually didn’t want the book to end
Do you think Iain Reid has ‘taken a page� out of Ishiguro’s style?
I read it for my english lit degree and it was a good class discussion book but i can’t imagine reading it willingly
I loved the movie and cried like a baby. There is one particular scene that is forever etched into my memory. So, a big YES for the movie. Then I picked up the book to read several years later and it did nothing for me. I was already familiar with the story, but... there were no big emotional, tear-jerking moments. Watch the movie if you get a chance!
I love this one but I think people expect it to be more plot driven given the dystopian setting, but it’s really just a contemplative coming of age novel. Ruth was obnoxious but I’ve known a few Ruth’s, so she felt flawed and real to me.
I bought this movie at 5 below knowing basically nothing about it and it traumatized me emotionally.
Hahah this review would me laugh 😂 although I consider this one of my favorite novels� I do not necessarily disagree with your opinions…�
LaurenCampbell wrote: "Hahah this review would me laugh 😂 although I consider this one of my favorite novels� I do not necessarily disagree with your opinions…�"my favorite kind of comment thank you
Jessica wrote: "I bought this movie at 5 below knowing basically nothing about it and it traumatized me emotionally."FIVE BELOW hell yeah brother
madison rupert wrote: "I love this one but I think people expect it to be more plot driven given the dystopian setting, but it’s really just a contemplative coming of age novel. Ruth was obnoxious but I’ve known a few Ru..."fair enough!!!
Sandra wrote: "I loved the movie and cried like a baby. There is one particular scene that is forever etched into my memory. So, a big YES for the movie. Then I picked up the book to read several years later and ..."this is exactly what i needed to hear. thank you
Devon wrote: "I read it for my english lit degree and it was a good class discussion book but i can’t imagine reading it willingly"god i miss class discussions
Franky wrote: "HmmmI must like boring
I actually didn’t want the book to end
Do you think Iain Reid has ‘taken a page� out of Ishiguro’s style?"
i can see that!
Robyn wrote: "Exactly but the movie by the same name literally brings, the story from the book, alive through the work of some great actors."excellent
Ross wrote: "Halfway through and it is quite boring. Struggling to finish. Never saw the movie, but I plan to watch it once I’m finished reading. Hope the movie is more entertaining!"agreed!
I always thought it was just me.
I bought this book when it came out and not only did i dnf it but it put me off from reading fiction for over a full decade
Your review has given me the needed push/permission to stop reading it. I so wanted you to like it. I’m halfway through and so bored.
Omg same!!! This book was insufferable for me. So slow. So redundant.
Glad I’m not alone in thinking this book was waaaayy overrated. At the beginning I was curious: “What’s a carer? Who is she caring for? Did I miss something?� Once I knew the answers, I just kept waiting for something epic to happen.
I pushed/plodded through this book and I really wanted to like it but it never made me care enough about the characters to evoke the horror I should have felt based on the premise of the story. The plot line had great potential but in the end all I felt was meh.
I have absolutely no idea how someone could consider this a snooze fest. I was so engaged in figuring out the contours and rules of the world they were living in. And the super subjective, self-aware narrator and finding out things as her younger self did while she was retelling it? I was hooked.
I am 60% in and soooo bored and wondering what in the actual heck!! Am I alone...so I came to ŷ...thank God for reviews like this, I am not alone. If I wasn't so anxious to know what all the hype is about, I'd almost consider DNFing it.
Im not sure how to feel about it because I loved the idea of the plot twist but also i feel like its not talked about enough or deeply enough for it to be as interesting? I enjoyed the writing but at parts I was so bored because the whole book just felt plain, with no plot even tho the plot could have been amazing. I’m confused by this book
The plot sounded so good and dystopian but somehow they made it boring
