Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

This novel is not on the list, but it deserves to be, without a doubt. 

Never Let Me Go is a quiet, contemplative novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is not fast-paced nor plot-driven, but it has a way of creeping under your skin and staying with you.

Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1954 and moved to Britain at a young age. Even though he lived in England, the experience of starting his life in a city that had been affected by an atomic bomb seems to have carried over into his writing. I saw Mr. Ishiguro speak several weeks ago while he was promoting his new book, The Buried Giant. During that talk, he mentioned that up until the age of eight, he believed that every city had had a bomb dropped  on them. From an early age, he was affected by this before-and-after mentality and the idea of mortality it brought with it.

I can’t state an informed opinion about his other novels, but this certainly seems to have seeped into the themes of Never Let Me Go. The novel is set in an alternate Britain and is told from the point of view of Kathy H. Kathy talks to the reader as if they are an old friend and opens up about her childhood, adolescence, and the process of maturing into adulthood. Kathy is the one who sets the insightful and contemplative tone for the novel. [LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD] But this novel is not just a bildungsroman. Kathy, and all of the other students she grows up with at Hailsham Home, are clones that were created for the purpose of harvesting their organs for donations. I call this a light spoiler because it is not an epic plot twist. Just like it is part of the clone’s life, it is woven seamlessly into the narrative.

The entire novel is told in a deeply personal matter from Kathy’s perspective. From the beginning, Kathy is established as quiet and observant. This lends credibility to her as a reliable narrator. Throughout the novel, there are many times when Kathy can magically tell what someone else is thinking just by their expression or a feeling. But we trust those moments and we trust Kathy as our guide through this strange, yet familiar, reality.

While the novel is truly a  journey, it is in the final few chapters that we get some outside perspective on this world. Kathy and another ex-student, Tommy, go to visit their old headmistress and her friend. There, they discover the political reality of the outside world that they were so sheltered from. They find out that the only reason they were allowed a humane life was because these ladies fought for their basic human rights. They had to prove that the clones were people with souls to even receive funding.

This novel is a beautiful process and journey for the reader. It is worth every moment. The novel is “slow reading”, but you don’t mind because the prose is magnificient and Kathy’s head is a great place to settle into. By the end of the novel, you will be left contemplating your own morality, compassion, and how strong your desire to stay on this Earth is. You will wonder what it really means to be human and what the universal truths of our humanity really are.

The Time Traveler's Wife

While I liked this novel, I'm not sure why it made this list. My guess is that it was a bestseller when the list was created. If this list was updated today, it would probably be replaced with Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Regardless, it is on the list and I enjoyed it. I'm glad that I read this book in late college. If I had read it in an earlier time in my life, I don't think I would have cared about the characters or plot as much. What interested me the most about the themes of this novel was the battle between Fate and Free will that enters discussion whenever time travel is mentioned.

This book tells the story of two lovers, Henry and Clare. Clare in "normal" but Henry is a time traveller. The majority of the argument between Fate and Free will is expressed through Henry and Clare. Clare just sees the time travelling from her point of view. Therefore, she believes that everything is Fate. She believes that because Henry has already seen things in the future, they are not subject to change.

For the most part, Henry agrees with her. The majority of his character growth comes from the resolution of his fight against Fate. When he is younger, he constantly tries to change the outcome of certain events. But as he gets older, he realizes that he is just an observer in the past because it has already happened. He tells himself, "I was just talking about that with a self from 1992... he thinks that there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says in the past we can only do what we did, and we can only be there if we were there". But as he gets older, he realizes that he has to treat life as if he has Free will every moment. That's when you get to choose and you are conscious of the consequences of your actions.

Overall, I liked this book. It is beautifully written and it is interesting to see their love develop from two perspectives and two timelines. But the characters are a little vanilla and bland. Henry and Clare have just enough complexity to move the story along occasionally and not a whit more. I might reread this book one day, but it won't be for several years.

Finishing Harry Potter, Part 2

Deathly Hallows:

This is by far the most literary novel of the series. It contains its own story, but it also connects back into the entire series, specifically Sorcerer's Stone. Everything that Harry learned before and because the events of "Through the Trapdoor" is useful to him in this book and the journeys are parallel to one another.

Just like it takes the combined efforts of Harry, Ron, and Hermione to reach the stone, it takes the combined effort of all three to find and destroy the Horcruxes. Harry destroys the diary in the second book and sacrifices himself, Ron destroys the locket, and Hermione the cup. Their individual journeys also demonstrate their maturity by the end of the series.

I believe that Hermione changes the least over the course of the series. But she demonstrates the importance of "friendship and bravery" during her time searching for and defeating the Horcruxes. She finally finds the balance between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw qualities in her personality and that allows her to be instrumental on the Golden Trio's journey.

I think Ron and Harry have equally trying journeys through the series. Ron overcomes his insecurities enough to defeat the piece of Voldemort's soul that is influencing him. To me, the part of the series when Ron leaves Harry and Hermione is one of the most heart-wrenching. Ron chooses to give into his insecurities and they hold him back from maturing into a man. But, he chooses to come back and stand by his friends. Out of the trio, Ron is giving up the most by going on the journey. He chooses to leave his family, one of the most important aspects of his life. Even at school, it is apparent that the Weasley clan is tight-knit and values loyalty above all. For Ron to go off and leave the safety of his family is a terrific sacrifice. He does it not only once, but three times. He chooses to follow Harry into the breech and saves his life multiple times. Ron finally reaching the turning point into maturity when he metaphorically and literally defeats his demons.

Finally, Harry's journey. He begins the book by losing Hedwig, the symbol of his childhood, his constant link to the magical world, and his comfort during the long summers. As the book continues, he loses many others around him that bring him strength and comfort. By the end of the book, he is left to commit his sacrifice on his own. I believe that Harry's turning point into maturity comes when he buries Dobby and makes the conscious choice to pursue the Horcruxes instead of Hallows. Harry could have taken the easy way out- the way that Dumbledore chose in his youth. Instead, he chooses to wait. If we think back to who Harry was as a character leading up to this point, he was rash and impulsive. In Sorcerer's Stone, he wants to chase and defeat Snape/Voldemort on his own. He is constantly charging into battle without a second thought. But as he buries Dobby, he does the hardest thing for a commander who has just lost a soldier and a friend- he chooses to wait. He makes a well-reasoned decision for the good of many, instead of the rash decision that will only lead to more heartache and will not help the cause. Harry finally grows into the man that Dumbledore wants him to be.

While all three of the Golden Trio defeat their demons in different ways, it is their choices that lead them to victory. Their combined efforts as a team and their constant trust in one another and what allow them to succeed throughout the series, from capturing the Sorcerer's Stone to destroying the Horcruxes.

Obviously, I could go on and on about the complexities of this book and this series. I wrote my senior thesis about the duality of Harry and Draco and of Harry and Voldemort. I also connect this duality into Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities and the Bible. One day I might turn all of this analysis and rambling into a book. But for now, I just enjoy thinking critically about a series that shaped my life and my generation.

Finishing Harry Potter

It's completely ridiculous that I haven't finished talking about Harry Potter and I'm currently bored subbing in an Aquatic Science class.

Half-Blood Prince:

This book is probably my favorite of the series. I loved learning about the complexities and history of Tom Riddle. Also, Harry is angsty and suspicious of Snape and Draco, Ron and Hermione's sexual tension hits new highs, and the book begins with an interesting peak into the effects this Wizarding War has on the Muggle world. All of these elements combine to create a story with a multitude of facets that any person can enjoy. There's mystery, romance, history, teenage hormones everywhere, and character development beyond what we've seen before. This book is a little bit trashy and a little bit literary, just like Harry (or any other 16 year-old).

One of my favorite elements of this novel is the focus on Draco Malfoy. We see the journey he's traveled since his childhood. He's gone from a spoiled child to a young man who has pressure from not only his family, but the Dark Lord, on his shoulders. He is trying to do what he thinks is right: serve Lord Voldemort. He was raised by people who partake in these separatist views and now he is trying to make them proud with his work and service. He finally is feeling a man's burden. Even though his goals are not noble, it is easy for the reader to understand Draco's motivation.

This book helps establish Draco as a foil to Harry. While the two boys have opposing views and fight frequently, they are both just trying to do right by their parents and mentors. Harry is trying to avenge his parents and honor their memories. He is also trying to follow Dumbledore and his ideals. In this novel, he tells Scrimgeour that he is "Dumbledore's man, through and through". Harry and Fawkes the phoenix have a special relationship because of Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore. Draco is also trying to do right by his parents. He is willing to commit murder for him. The difference is that he does not fully commit himself to Voldemort's cause. He doesn't consider murder because he wants Voldemort to be proud of him. He wants to protect his parents from Voldemort. He was chosen for the task of murdering Dumbledore as a punishment for his father's mistakes. The two boys are foils to one another and are two sides of the same coin.