Remains with you. Review on Remains Of The Day, The - Kazuo Ishiguro

This book by the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is very aptly titled, not only in terms of its content but also in terms of its impact. A lot of time has passed since I last read it, but it still remains inside me. I was inspired to read the novel after watching the movie adaptation by Ivory-Merchant, and I haven't repented one second of this delightful reading experience. The movie, by the way, is also exceptional and is highly recommended.

The story is told from the point of view of Stevens, who is the butler to an English aristocrat Lord Darlington. He is a tragic character who's excessive devotion to a certain idea of dignity is too good for his own good, and ends up leaving him lonely, sabotaging the only chance he has at love. Loyalty and service are, for Stevens, inseparable elements of dignity, and when torn between these ideals and his personal motivations, desires and concerns, he invariably goes for the former. Without doubt, he's left with much regrets in life but one gets a feeling, that given the choice again, he would do the exact same thing.

The characters are beautifully etched out. The chemistry between Stevens and Miss Kenton is very firmly established; there is a tension that keeps it taut. The story asks important questions about loyalty and honor, made all the more important for a butler devoted to his important in turbulent times during the days leading up to the Second World War.

A very important book of its generation.