I've been on a reading binge for the entire month of June, tearing through one book to immediately begin another. So I just finished reading The Remains of the Day, and I don't want to read anything else for awhile. I just want to sit and think about it, about what Ishiguro is telling us and how it relates to my life. I haven't been this affected by a book in years. 5 enthusiastic stars. ( )

It seems to be the assumption that females are more in touch with their emotions than males, and I suppose in the Yin and Yang of things, of which we all have our own unique blend, most emotions are generally attributed to Yin--so perhaps the ability to be aware of, and understand the cause of a feeling is more prevalent among ladies. But I disagree that being male is synonymous with being emotionally unintelligent. Be that as it may, our man, Stevens, the Butler of Darlington Hall, of whom this story revolves, *is* out of touch with his emotions. It's not that he hasn't any, but his priority is loyalty to his employer, as was his Father's before him, and to be the perfect Butler, Stevens strives for steady utilitarianism. So, for me, this is a psychological profile of someone so out of touch with his feelings as to be uncomfortable in any situation that warrants them and unwilling to display any--not even anxiety at being pressed for them. I'd say more but I may have given too much away already.
I don't recall much of the movie with Anthony Hopkins, but I do believe there is more to the 8 hour and 13 minute story than they were able to fit into it's 2 hours--so, if you don't recall being especially taken with the movie, I would advise not letting that be your sole guide in a decision of whether or not to read the book. ( )

A quiet, moving, and tragic portrayal of a man whose sole ambition was to serve a"great" man.
"If a butler is to be of any worth to anything or anybody in life, there must surely come a time when he ceases his search; a time when he must say to himself: 'This employer embodies all that I find noble and admirable. I will hereafter devote myself to serving him.' This is loyalty intelligently bestowed. What is there 'undignified in this? One is simply accepting an inescapable truth: that the likes of you and I will never be in a position to comprehend the great affairs of today's world, and our best course will always be to put our trust in an employer we judge to be wise and honorable and to devote our energies to the task of serving him to the best of our ability." (p. 175)
This service brought him a sense of "dignity ".
"as I stood there pondering the events of the evening-those that had unfolded and those still in the process of doing so-they appeared to me a sort of summary of all that I had come to achieve thus far in my life. I can see few other explanations for that sense of triumph I came to be uplifted by that night." p. 198
Unfortunately, this service also took away his opportunities for human warmth and connection. There are scenes from this book that I will never forget. We learn about this closed-off man through interactions with others. The reader assumes that Stevens has no capacity for introspection. During his road trip reflections and through his conversations along the way, the reader comes to ultimately believe that he has grown as a person.
"All those years I served him, I trusted in his lordship's wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really- one has to ask oneself- what dignity is there in that?" p. 211
This short book has such depth. As one character notes: "Dignity isn't something every man and woman in this country can strive for and get." p. 163 ( )

“After all, when one thinks about it, it is not such a foolish thing to indulge in—particularly if it is the case that in bantering lies the key to human warmth.”

Ishiguro knows how to craft a damn character. One restrained man’s road trip-turned-introspection, steeped in pride, regret, and realization...all while he remains reluctant to introspect? Relatable. A slow build, but my heart broke on page 239, when Mr. Stevens admits to his own breaking. ( )

An incredibly earnest and wholesome reflection on age and retirement and the insecurities and wonders that can come from any life that is lived, whether spent in servitude to some task or person, or filled with recklessness or love. The mix of historical fiction with Lord Darlington's involvement in WW2 and romance with Mrs Kenton was wonderful. The story is told through Stevens memory of events that took place in the historical manor told while Stevens travels his way to see Mrs Kenton. I use the term romance lightly because it isnt a typical cliche happy ending with eloping and marriage, and rather a soft and bittersweet blow to the heart that left me content with the way it was told. Stevens defense of Lord Darlingtons actions as a puppet of the Nazi's during WW2 served as a defense of his insecurities in a life spent in servitude aswell as a defense of a life spent nobly and filled with mistakes.

"He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at least. As for myself, I cannot even claim that. You see, I trusted. I trusted in his lordships wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I cant even say I made my own mistakes. Really - one has to ask oneself - what dignity is there in that?"

A brilliant look at the defining of a life well lived and how its created and critiqued through our hardships, mistakes, loves, passions, and efforts. ( )