Book of the Week

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Recommended by Arsh Parekh

In The Remains of the Day, the reader is taken on a journey with a great ​(not that he’d agree) butler through the English countryside. Stevens is the perfect example of an immaculate and faultless butler.

Just after reading the first half of the novel, it’s clear simply from his style of narration that Stevens pays much attention to detail. When he describes some of the events in the past, especially leading up to the death of his father, he seems almost cold and insensitive. However, once the reader reads on more, they realise how seriously he takes his role as a butler.
His observant and matter-of-fact style of talking is a direct consequence of the years of training to become a great butler. Stevens spends a significant amount of time explaining what it means to be a ​truly ‘​great butler​’​- while doing this he recollects experiences with other butlers whom he thought counted as ​great butlers​. He hints at the fact that he believes that he may potentially count as a ​very good ​butler, but at no point in the story does he consider himself to be a​ great butler​. In fact, the reader, after seeing the ways he has handled certain situations, may conclude that Stevens does count as a great butler.

Ishiguro’s precise use of language and consistent style of narrative helps the reader to create a specific image of what Stevens looks like and what his personality is like. Once the reader reaches the end of the book, they feel as if Stevens is an actual person whom they know personally rather than a character in a book.

The second half of the novel tells the story of Stevens slowly realizing and admitting his love for a certain character whom he’s going to visit. It is revealed that he buried those feelings as he always prioritized his work over his personal life. At the very end of the novel, Stevens tears up as he realises how differently he could have lived life; he finally understands how dedicated - or some may say obsessed - he was with becoming a ​great​ butler.The novel is undoubtedly slow. There is no sudden action: it’s simply the story of an old man driving through the English countryside. However, behind this curtain of simplicity, the novel is entirely about understanding Stevens and relating to every emotion he feels. It is less a journey through the country than a journey through Stevens’ thoughts until he eventually realises what his life could have been.

I personally would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for a fast-paced thriller. Instead, I believe that this is only a worthy read if the reader is willing to fully commit to finishing the book - I know that the only reason I stuck with the book was because I’d promised that I would read it and write something about it. On reflection,sticking with the book was a good idea as I only feel able to truly appreciate it after reading the entire book