The Buried Giant

Summary:

"You've long set your heart against it, Axl, I know. But it's time now to think on it anew. There's a journey we must go on, and no more delay..."

The Buried Giant begins as a couple set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope of finding a son they have not seen in years.

Sometimes savage, often intensely moving, Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel in nearly a decade is about lost memories, love, revenge, and war.  (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

I really struggled with this book and I almost did not finish.  Everything about it I found quite bland and I never was able to completely engage with the characters.  Roughly 100 pages in I debated returning the book to the library, but stuck it out because it was the ending of Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go” that somewhat redeemed it for me.  In this case, the ending did somewhat redeem the book, but not enough to make it something I’d recommend folks reading. 

I am also quite unclear as to what message is trying to be given.  The discussion of memory was interesting to me, but it was never fully developed into something that gave it “umph” to me.  Additionally, the ending had me quite confused.  I have the feeling that a symbolic gesture was made, but somehow I missed the boat on the meaning.  If anyone else has an explanation I’d appreciate it!

Warning: Contains violence

Rating: 2 stars!

Who should read it? I’d say skip it unless you’re a big Ishiguro fan.