“It is the summer of 1956 and Stevens, an aging English butler, will never be the same again. For the first time in three decades, Stevens looks back on his long life of service and finds himself confronting the dark undercurrent in the life of his previous employer, Lord Darlington, and his own often painful friendship with the housekeeper, Miss Kenton. “*
Upon embarking on The Remains of the Day, prepare yourself for a slow and thought provoking read. Every sentence, idea and action has been carefully chosen by Ishiguro and exploited to its utmost. If you truly want to do this book justice, take your time and enjoy the scenery of the novel, from descriptions of the English countryside, fine English sentiments and a social and historical view into the upper English echelons of the first half of the 20th Century.
Ishiguro possesses and amazing talent in creating layer upon layer of meanings, descriptions and feelings. And as Ishiguro slowly peels back these layers to the reader, he establishes an exquisite and poignant story. Each time Ishiguro moves from the present day of 1956 to Stevens’ past moments of service under Lord Darlington the story becomes more in depth. In one layer, Stevens defends his service to Lord Darlington, despite the tarnishing of Darlington’s reputation. Stevens is a great believer in the dignity of a man, and at the apparent loss of Darlington’s dignity, he grows increasingly saddened.
If you are expecting drama, be disappointed. This novel is all about inner turmoil and hidden feelings. Ishiguro is a master in building three dimensional characters, and Mr. Stevens is a turning mess of unacknowledged feelings. If anything, I felt like a genius as I identified a number of feelings and thoughts that Mr. Stevens either attempted to avoid acknowledging or failed to even recognized he possessed them. I loved Ishiguro’s ability to implicitly reveal his characters’ flaws, and my ability to pick up on them.
The overall tone and atmosphere of the novel, at least for me, was one of sadness and regret. A certain pall was cast over all of Stevens’ past and present actions, and his thoughts and feelings appear under a tinge of gloominess. Any realizations that Stevens makes will not change his future, and the melancholic aura surrounding the book is thick. This is certainly a rainy day book or ideal for a winter evening.
Verdict: Kazuo Ishiguro is an incredible author, and The Remains of the Day is yet another wonderful addition to his growing collection. Prepare yourself for a melancholic, yet poignant tale of vivid characterization and an excellent backdrop of domestic service to the English great houses.
*Ishiguro, Kazuo. The Remains of the Day. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys Ltd.: 1989.
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