Book #45 NEVER LET ME GO By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go is the story of three friends growing up in a boarding school in a dystopian Britain (not entirely unlike Brave New World). SPOILERS AHEAD- skip to next paragraph if you are seriously considering reading this book or seeing the film: Their boarding school specializes in teaching cloned human beings- raised with the intent that they will donate their organs at the peak of their health.

While I'm sure the premise of the story sounds very sci-fi, the book actually has a similar feel to that of Atonement rather than 1984. There's always a sense that time is running out; when will the star-crossed lovers get to be together-if ever?

There are few books out there that deeply affect me. There are lots of books I love, but only a few that affect me in a way that I think about it for days after. This is one of those books. Never Let Me Go would be a fantastic choice to eventually become mandatory reading for school- not only is it a great book, but it raises endless questions that would make for excellent discussion. I found myself questioning: "At what point does science go too far and take away our humanity?", "Are we really doing children any favors by sheltering them from the real world?", "What good does our education and culture do if we don't ever use it for anything?".

Be prepared for a very intense, thought-provoking read.

A+

*Time Magazine All-Time 100

*Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Arthur C. Clarke Award, & National Critics Circle Award

*ALA Alex Award

*"The Best Novel of the Decade" - Time
*Telegraph, Best Books of the Decade
*salon.com Best Books of the Decade
*AV Club, Best Books of the '00s
*BuzzFeed 65 Books You Need To Read In Your 20s