The first book choice of the year for our Nobel book club did not disappoint. We read and discussed a modern classic by a Nobel Prize winner – “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro.
At the virtual meeting of our N.A.R.A. (Nobel Anonymous Readers Association) members, we touched upon multiple interesting topics in an entertaining discussion, as usual. We traveled back in time to the 1950s, when the narrator of the story, Stevens, is a butler at Darlington Hall near Oxford, in England.
As readers, we accompanied our protagonist in a road trip to visit a former colleague, Miss Kenton. The excursion proved to be more of a trip down memory lane, with Stevens reminiscing his time as a butler to Lord Darlington in the 1920s and 1930s.
We were impressed by the beautifully evocative writing style and by Ishiguro’s mastery in portraying his protagonist, as well as the ideas of dignity, greatness, self-deception and loyalty.
Our book club members will meet again soon and this time we will be discussing a psychological thriller – “The Girl Before” by J. P. Delaney. We are excited for another bookish chat in great company!