See, I find it absolutely fascinating that the author is British, and yet has managed to write a novel that felt absolutely Japanese. Yes, Ishiguro has Japanese roots, but nevertheless, his British upbringing gives the impression that he is more a British writer with Japanese origins, rather than a Japanese writer who happens to write in English. And this background, together with this output, is just stellar. I lived in Japan for almost five years, and Japanese culture - for better or for worse - is something that I have a higher-than-average familiarity with. This book definitely read like a Japanese novel, with plenty of British undertones. It might be a rash characterisation to say it like this, but it felt like a Victorian novel that happened to be set in Post-WWII Japan.
What I find most impressive perhaps is the novel's stellar characterisation of implied meaning, which I believe is a common feature in Japanese society. There is a huge emphasis on not losing face, and so one would do everything they can to agree, and this creates interesting conversation dynamics. There are plenty of metaphors, numerous instances where an uncomfortable topic is discussed but in a round-about way, many instances of gaslighting, for example. Being direct is definitely not a positive trait in this society. And Ishiguro somehow captured that perfectly, and it was absolutely fantastic to read these dynamics in many different points in the book.
I also like the subject matter, and while I am not well-educated to understand what exactly was the national psyche in Japan after WWII, I can assume that plenty of values have changed. And this change of values was a primary subject matter here. What used to be considered as the received view somehow became the undesirable view after the war, and there were people who reacted very differently to these changes. Such a delicate subject matter, and the author managed to depict it succinctly and with grace.
Overall I definitely liked this book. It also brings memories to the time I was in Japan. And yes, it does create the longing for me to come back, yet another time, and revisit this fantastic country. Maybe soon. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews here.
