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Never Let Me Go
Nov. 22nd, 2010 08:25 pmI just finished reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I first heard about this book when I was in Chicago, because I bought a copy of Vogue with Carey Mulligan on the front and the interview with her was tied in to the release of the film adaptation.
I haven't seen the movie yet -- it was playing in Chicago when I was there in September, but I didn't really feel up to a heartwrenching story while I was there, and didn't see it -- but I've read a bit about it in interviews and such, and what strikes me is the reactions to the character Ruth.
Commenters online, people who've read and loved the book, all seem to dislike Ruth, even hate her. Keira Knightley, who plays her in the film, has said: "I didn't like her, and it's tricky playing characters that you don't like."
But for me, reading the book, Ruth was the character who broke my heart the most. She's demanding and sulky and manipulative and magnetic and generous and affectionate, the kind of girl whose tempestuous friendship is exhausting and exhilarating.
She's exactly like girls I've known and loved dearly, and the delicate, heartbreaking tragedies of the novel felt much more piercing and painful because Ruth's not a saint, she's nobody's martyr, she's vicious and selfish and so fucking alive.
I loved the book. It's beautiful and incredibly sad. But I'm puzzled about the way most people seem to see Ruth, because to me she was the desperate heart of the story.
I haven't seen the movie yet -- it was playing in Chicago when I was there in September, but I didn't really feel up to a heartwrenching story while I was there, and didn't see it -- but I've read a bit about it in interviews and such, and what strikes me is the reactions to the character Ruth.
Commenters online, people who've read and loved the book, all seem to dislike Ruth, even hate her. Keira Knightley, who plays her in the film, has said: "I didn't like her, and it's tricky playing characters that you don't like."
But for me, reading the book, Ruth was the character who broke my heart the most. She's demanding and sulky and manipulative and magnetic and generous and affectionate, the kind of girl whose tempestuous friendship is exhausting and exhilarating.
She's exactly like girls I've known and loved dearly, and the delicate, heartbreaking tragedies of the novel felt much more piercing and painful because Ruth's not a saint, she's nobody's martyr, she's vicious and selfish and so fucking alive.
I loved the book. It's beautiful and incredibly sad. But I'm puzzled about the way most people seem to see Ruth, because to me she was the desperate heart of the story.