As summer has ebbed and flowed in recent weeks I have been reading Kazuo Ishiguro's beautiful novel Never let me go- a book that is suited to the evenings when the chill is starting to develop after a hot summer's day and also to the days of endless rain that have been a feature of this summer.
I am a long time fan of Ishiguro's book The Remains of the Day and an even greater admire of the film adapatation by Merchant Ivory.
I'm not sure why I have never read anymore of Ishiguro's work. I think I probably felt that it wouldn't be possible to repeat the haunting, melancholy of the atmosphere of the earlier novel and didn't want to be dissapointed.
I had been dancing around Never let me go in bookshops for some time, picking it up, thinking it sounded very interesting and then leaving it unbought.
I am so pleased I finally carried it home. The subject matter is not easy, a story about a group of teenagers attending what seems initially to be a normal boarding school which we come to realise is preparing the characters for a different life to the one we would expect.
One scene which really affected me as a reader and the characters in the novel centres around a song, also called Never let me go. The only lyric we know from the song is in the chorus line ‘baby never let me go’. As I read the passage I found myself wanting to hear the song and then trying to create a tune for myself.
I now read that Never let me go is being adapted into a film, which means they are going to have to create the song to be sung during this scene. I am desperate to know if they are going to record the whole song and if it will be available on the soundtrack. I hope they will make it resonate as much as the idea of it does in the book. It’s unusual with a film but I can’t wait to hear it rather than see it.
Picture courtesy of www.amazon.co.uk
6 comments:
"adapted into film": you caught me unguarded! Be still my heart, Remains of the Days was BEAUTIFULLY and movingly filmed I thought (as you did), so crossing my fingers for this one too!
This sounds captivating... I am currently reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- which is very good... I think I'll put this one on my reading list next!
I read Never Let Me Go at least two summers ago and it keeps coming back to haunt me. Sometimes I'll hear something about operations of the like on the radio and I'll remember it, or a town or genetics. Absolutely wonderful - both in writing and concept. Stays with you - which is both welcome and unwelcome.
Hi E,
It's not being filmed by the same people but I still have high hopes for the film. I thought Never Let me Go and The Remains of the day have the same haunting quality.
Hi Daily,
It is a beautifully written book but that's not to say it's easy subject matter. It grips you though, you very much want to know what's going to happen.
Hi Tattyhousehastings,
Nice to meet you! I agree it does stay with you and it pulls you in at the time of reading. He writes women particularly well I thought. Am very sad to have finished the book in a way.
This book is one my shelves. I picked it up because, like you, I am such a fan of Remains of the Day. Thanks for reminding me that I need to read this. It does sound perfect for the cooler nights!
It was great Idea.
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