Book Report: The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro

I have read three books in my life that I would say read like perfectly thought out poems from beginning to end: Not a word out of place, not a thought left unraveled.  Everything seemed plotted out perfectly, and there was a just a lot a beauty to the story.  Those are, in order of my reading them: Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro.  

The book encompasses the life of an English butler at the manor house of Darlington Hall from the time period after World War I until the time period leading up to World War II.  The crux of the book centers around the relationship of the butler with the more emotional and impetuous housekeeper of Darlington Hall.

The Butler's (Mr. Stevens) manner is so inhibited and the housekeeper's (Miss Kenton) manner so outgoing that there are frustrations in the running of the house, but also the undercurrent of knowledge that this is the closest relationship that the butler has ever had with anyone, let alone a woman.  As a general rule, however, the butler has difficulty expressing himself outside the bounds of his job or allowing himself to open up in the face of how greatly he feels towards his duty as butler of Darlington Hall.

Other subplots of the book include, Lord Darlington's pro-Nazi behavior and the butler's refusal to acknowledge anything but doing his duty to a great Lord, the plight of Mr. Stevens' father, and what determines the greatness of a butler.  The final thread of the book is how Mr. Stevens will function in a world where his profession is fast becoming a thing of the past.

The Remains of the Day is a perfect piece of literature.  It is an ode to doing the best that we can with the tools we are given and taking pleasure in a job well done.  It is an even 245 pages of pure joy.  I encourage you to pick it up and read it at your leisure.

Also, I have to say that I saw this film before I read the book and reading the book made the movie so meaningful.