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Shannon 's Reviews > Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go
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Shannon 's review
bookshelves: book-club, fiction, 2008, dystopian, alternate-history, favourite
Jan 23, 2008
bookshelves: book-club, fiction, 2008, dystopian, alternate-history, favourite
It's very important, if you're intending to read this book, that you don't read any reviews or listen to any talk about it first. I had no idea what this book was about before I read it - and the blurb gives you a very different impression, actually - and so I slipped easily into a story that was as engrossing as it was revealing.
If you know something about what to expect, though, I don't think you'll enjoy it nearly as much. It's a bit like an art installation that requires audience participation: you have to do your bit, too, to make it work, so it makes sense, so it tells the story it was meant to tell. Keep yourself in the dark, that's my advice. Because of this, there's no point in writing an actual review.
If you know something about what to expect, though, I don't think you'll enjoy it nearly as much. It's a bit like an art installation that requires audience participation: you have to do your bit, too, to make it work, so it makes sense, so it tells the story it was meant to tell. Keep yourself in the dark, that's my advice. Because of this, there's no point in writing an actual review.
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Reading Progress
January 23, 2008
– Shelved
January 23, 2008
– Shelved as:
book-club
Started Reading
March 2, 2008
–
Finished Reading
March 3, 2008
– Shelved as:
fiction
March 3, 2008
– Shelved as:
2008
March 3, 2008
– Shelved as:
dystopian
January 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
alternate-history
January 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
favourite
Comments Showing 1-50 of 86 (86 new)
message 1:
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Krista
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rated it 3 stars
May 07, 2009 07:49AM
I'm taking your advice here!
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I agree, Shannon! I had heard a bit about the story before I picked it up and I really wish I hadn't known. It would have had more of an impact... I still quite enjoyed it, though.
That's a shame Theresa, but it's good that you still liked it. Thing is, how are we to know before we start reading a book whether we should know something about it first or not? Sometimes it really helps, and other times it spoils it.
Taking your advice the best that I can, but there is a kernel of something that has been absorbed into my consciousness. I love your decision to write the non-review. You are groovy.
Wow thanks Brad, I've never been called that before! Frumpy, yes - and daggy, but never groovy!Is this "kernel" stopping you from reading the book, or is it/will it spoil it for you? (Trying to guess what this "kernel" - so cute! - could be without spoiling things...)
I think I have a spoilery review on my blog though...
Thanks for the advice! I've felt this way about other books so I'm definitely happy to be warned about this one.
It's definitely the best approach to this book Alana; I still think so!
I have to agree with Shannon. Not knowing what the book is about keeps you going (I listened to the audio book version), especially since the beginning can be considered a bit slow. Since you don't know what it's about, you're inclined to stick it out to see when you'll get to the "good part" - and when you do...
It's worth it isn't it Melissa? :) Not knowing puts you in the same position as the children, with their level of understanding and puzzlement. Gives me chills - I consider this a scary novel!
Shannon wrote: "It's worth it isn't it Melissa? :) Not knowing puts you in the same position as the children, with their level of understanding and puzzlement. Gives me chills - I consider this a scary novel!"Chilling story indeed!
I agree - good advice. Unfortunately I looked at a review before getting into the book and learned what the purpose for the kids was before it was revealed in the book. Kinda ruined it for me I think.
Linda wrote: "I agree - good advice. Unfortunately I looked at a review before getting into the book and learned what the purpose for the kids was before it was revealed in the book. Kinda ruined it for me I think."That's a real shame. There are other books I wish I'd known more about before starting - we can never know until we've read it and then it's too late isn't it?! It really can make or break a novel sometimes.
I am about to start reading this, so I'm taking your advice!
I knew a fair amount of the book before I read it, and it didn't lessen the enjoyment of it for me at all. The book isn't about big reveals for me.
Thank you so much for that advice! You were so right!
I couldn't agree more!The less you know about it the better it is. : )
However.. I believe the book is also enjoyable if you do already know things about it.
Still - the less the better!
Thank you, Shannon! I'm glad I followed your advice:)
I've heard nothing about this book except that its a book that will change my life. I just came on goodreads to find out a little about it. Thank you for being the first review I read!
Kia wrote: "I've heard nothing about this book except that its a book that will change my life. I just came on goodreads to find out a little about it. Thank you for being the first review I read!"I hope you love it as much as I did, Kia - I still haven't got over it and I read this back in 2008!
I couldn't agree more. That's what made this book so special, was that I didn't know what was going on at first. When I finally understood, it was so exquisitely heartbreaking. There's no other way to reach that experience but to first be naive to the book's premise.
Yours was the only review I read before I set to reading this book and I'm so glad I did. Just knowing the definition of 'donations' would have been a huge spoiler for me
I almost read this in one sitting. It is a book that will stay with me forever. My heart was literally aching throughout ...
Shannon, I took your advice, and I'm glad I did. Thank you! Loved the book and enjoyed the way the writer slowly revealed the plot.
I did read it in one night. And I think the part about not reading anything about the book and not knowing anything prior to reading may be the most important aspect to meeting the narrating character!
Excellent advice. I also knew nothing about this before reading.
I have to read this book for my uni class on literary techniques, but I don't know what it's about, so I'm curious!
Thanks so much for this advice!! I went into this book blindly and am happy that I did. What a beautiful story!
Thank you for writing this. I'll listen to your advice.
beauitful but very sad story.
I followed same thing...loved this book.It is one of my fav books now :)
Well, I'm sorry to say that Ishiguro was shocked when he realized (when the first reviews arrived) that he didn't was enough clear to leave the whole "thing" said on the first 2 or 3 pages. His intention was not create an intrigue at all and started to speak about that in front of every mic.
I agree with you.I read the book and thought it sounded familiar - then realised I had seen the film! Took the shine off the book completely (I prefer to read a book before a film). It's well written,and very thought provoking, but I just didn't enjoy it that much.
This is the only review I've read and only one I plan to.
Shannon, thank you so much for your review and suggestion - "dont read any reviews or listen to any talk about it first" :) I just finished the book today and loved it thoroughly!
Sure it's better if don't know anything about it. But out of curiousity I had read a couple of reviews and impressions before I started. I can tell you, the book is still good, even if you already heard something. Maybe its my personal opinion , but it didn't changed a thing and it still remains one of the best books I've ever read!
I completely agree! The back cover gives away nothing and the experience I had with this book just going into blindly was beautiful. Definitely one of my new favorite books.
Agreed! Don't read any spoilers!!
I totally agree with you. I read it in school and sadly my teacher told us what the big plot twist was. I didn't even know it was a plot twist so it didn't bother me. But it would have been so amazing to read this book without knowing everything. I see that it was neccessary to tell us in order to analyze it properly while reading it. Still...
Thank you for your review. I read loads of reviews when I’m deciding if I should read a book and yours was the third I read. I stopped there. And I enjoyed the story so much going into it blind and with no expectations.
I agree I picked this book up at the store just before I got on my train and after only have read the back diving into this book with no knowledge ked to a great train ride.
I wish I could read your review at the beginning.😂
I’m so glad I saw your review before I read this book. You’re absolutely right. I had no idea what the book entailed and my satisfaction was enhanced because of it. Thanks so much for your caveat.
This was terrible advice. I stopped reading reviews when I read yours and decided to go for it. Now I can’t get that time back! This was the most boring book I’ve ever read
I just started, so I’m surprised at this review. I haven’t read other reviews, but the narrator talks quite openly about repeated donations and people dying from them in the first two chapters. I could be mistaken but that’s a pretty big spoiler no?
I saw the movie first.
I agree honestly I probably would not have read this book if I had known what it was about.
Totally agree, incredibly emotional at times
Thank you so much for your advice! I decided to listen to what you said and didn't read any other reviews and I'm not disappointed at all!!
