Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro. I've been meaning to read this book for awhile now, ever since I saw that it was highly rated and there was a movie made about it. However, I was a little hesitant because I was getting a little tired of futuristic dystopias. This book was great though, and nothing at all like I expected. It takes place in a world that is similar to ours, but with only major scientific advance; cloning and organ harvesting.
This is the story about three friends, Kathy (the narrator), Ruth and Tommy. They go to an elite boarding school called Hailsham together. The novel is structured as Kathy telling a story, speaking in the present but going through all her old memories of the past. She recollects, and often goes on tangents, about Tommy, a sweet, naive boy who gets picked on a lot, and Ruth, her incredibly strong-willed best friend who is the leader of the group, but often pushes Kathy away.
Through stories about the other kids and the strange behavior of their teachers and guardians, the kids slowly realize who they actually are. They are clones, and when they grow up their organs will be harvested for people who need them, and they will die. Through it's slow development, the children do not freak out about it, but gradually accept it, and some consider it an honor to 'donate.'
Set against this plotline, it is really the story of the three kids growing up together. After school, they go to the 'cottages,' where they are on their own for the first time. Ruth and Tommy are dating, even though Kathy has been developing feelings for Tommy all her life. They leave the cottages separately after a big fight, and the three of them begin their 'caring' stage, where they act like nurses to all the other clones donating their organs. Kathy stays on as a carer the longest, and she becomes Ruth's carer. They repair their relationship, and visit Tommy. Ruth has changed, and she begs Kathy to be with Tommy before time runs out, and they might have a chance to defer their donations if they can prove they are in love.
Ultimately, it is a sad ending. Tommy and Kathy visit the old headmistress of Hailsham, and she explains the reasons behind the school. They tried to educate and instill culture and art in the students in order to prove to the world that the clones had souls, and that they should be treated more humanely. However, there is no chance of a deferral. It is happy to see Tommy and Kathy end up together after all those years apart, but it makes you think about all the time lost. It is also a wonder at how easily all the clones accept their fate.
It is a cautionary tale about the perils of cloning and manipulating human life. But Ishiguro didn't seem all that interested with the higher moral lessons. He was mainly interested in presenting a tale about the people we have that travel throughout our lives, and the importance of hanging onto them.
There were a few questions about the cloning process that I didn't understand, but ultimately were not that important. What was the order of organ donation? There are technically three organs you can donate in the book, and the fourth is your completion, if you make it that far. Kidney, Liver, Pancreas? I don't know, I'm not a doctor. Also, why did no one try to escape? I tried to harbor some hope that Tommy and Kathy would sail away in an abandoned boat they found, where they could live happily ever after. What was the punishment for disobeying? There was not much talk about the government presence in the book. However, that is probably all for the best. Too much of that description would change the overall feel of the story, in a negative way. Looking forward to reading The Remains of the Day.
Four out of five stars.
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