I’m not all that good at finishing books when I can’t stand the main character. This is particularly true is the same character holds the narrator role in the novel as well and its in first person. This time, I made it through and was rewarded.

Let me be clear here. I don’t have to love the character or agree with them. In fact many of my greatest reads have been when I needed to find the hook of compassion or respect deep in the book or look for an angle with a minor character. Not so this one. I have not seen the movie as yet. From memory it too was a prize winner.

I can see why this book won the Booker prize. The fact that Kazuo Ishiguro could write the butler, Stevens so well that I found myself getting frustrated with him in my dreams last night is testement to the good writing.

I was expecting an intensely English gentlemen story. I was looking forward to a tale of the English country-side and the English folk generally. I got small portions of both of these expectations as well as a large dose of a review of classism through the eyes of a man who doesn’t quite fit and doesn’t know why he doesn’t fit. It is a story of lost opportunities. It is sad.

Below is my review as posted on Shelfari

It was an interesting read. Stevens, the elderly butler is narrator and chief character. He is extremely aloof and quite arrogant, but does tell an interesting tale in his journey to the West Country of England in the 1950′s. His reminisces about his service to his prior master pre-occupy his travels as does his assessment of butlering generally (of which he is quiet harsh, except of his own.

It was a good read if a bit slow going at points and the various parts of the characters did not come together till quite late, but when they did it all fitted nicely

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