This book hit me hard. How you react to this book will likely depend on your life experiences. If I read this at 22, I likely would have only mildly related to the character and what I would call his self-deception, which I knew I was dealing with even back at a young age. However, the full impact of living like that would not have been easily fathomable at that age. While I didn't live a life obsessed and conditioned to care about dignity and following orders, there was something about the restraint that he dealt with and in many cases had to for professional reasons that I think a lot of us can understand, especially if that was part of your upbringing.
Beyond the story itself, reading the book was a pleasure. I loved Mr. Stevens' way of thinking and experiencing the world, but the way as the reader you are able to figure out his way of avoiding the truth, and how within that avoidance the truth is revealed is really well done by Ishiguro. I mean this when I say that a book hasn't made me feel this strongly in a long time.
Again, this book will not "click" with everyone. It's not because someone isn't smart enough or "learned" enough. I do think how you've experienced life will determine who much this book makes you feel, especially the ending.
One more thing I wanted to add was how the ending was exactly how I imagined it was going to be. The specific expectations for his final interaction with Miss Kenton shifted as I read the story and understood their dynamic even more, but even in the beginning I knew how Stevens was imagining their upcoming meet up was strange and farfetched. However, even with my expectations of the ending being right, I was still really - I don't know what the word is... I was moved. That's what I can think of right now. Usually when I read or see something you saw a mile away, I don't feel much. But not here. It was as if the buildup, the way Ishiguro slowly builds up Stevens' life and especially his memories of the past, makes this ending more impactful. Why? I really struggle to explain this. I bet someone here can do it though. I think that's what I'm hoping from this post.
Anyway, I also hope someone gives this book a chance. If you've ever felt a sense of regret or a sense that maybe you haven't been truthful to yourself about the road not taken, I highly recommend this book. Maybe even struggled with a sense of perfection. Yes, please read this book.
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