Never Let Me Go

I am clearly on a roll of GREAT books.  Last week, not so much, this week absolutely.  Kazuo Ishaguro’s Never Let Me Go is a moving story told from the point of view of Kathy H., who reminisces about her life from childhood to the present day.  Another British setting, three books in a row, interesting (all random for sure)!  Kathy grew up in a boarding school, Hailsham, where human beings are cloned to become donors for transplants for others.  This is where Kathy and the others, Tommy, Chrissie, Ruth (all first-named clones without a last name, only a first letter with no surname), grow up under the guidance of the Guardians, Madame, Emily, and others.  At Hailsham the focus is on staying healthy and not feeling emotions.  The second part of the book brings Kathy and a few of the Hailsham children to the Cottages, a place where decisions are to be made as to their future, being a donor or a carer.  And the third part is where Kathy works as a carer and also reconnects with her past.  The story revolves around the relationships between Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy.  Kathy has always had strong feelings for Tommy but her friend Ruth ends up in a “coupled” relationship.  Throughout their time at Hailsham and the Cottages, strange feelings arise between the three which come back at the end to serve as an understanding of why Hailsham and what is happening with society in relation to the clones/humans.  The story comes full circle when Kathy ends up serving as carer for Ruth and later Tommy.  Ishiguro does an outstanding job as an author in making the reader think about the role of cloning and also the ethical role our society may play as cloning develops into our future.  The title of the book comes from a fictitious song but serves as a reminder of what one creates has feelings, emotions, and deserves this life as much as us.  Clearly there is an influence of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.  The depth of the story and characters are remarkable.  Great read.