Title: The Buried Giant (Goodreads)
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Published: Allen & Unwin, 2015
Pages: 352
Genres: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
My Copy: ARC from Publisher
Buy: Amazon, Book Depository (or visit your local Indie bookstore)
The Buried Giant is set in a post-Arthurian Britain that is covered in a strange mist…a mist of unknowing. Axl and Beatrice have not seen their son in years; they barely remember him. One day the couple decide to leave their town and set off to find their son. They expect to run into difficulties, they are old and do not remember much, but nothing can prepare them for what they will discover along the way.
This is the first Kazuo Ishiguro in over a decade and I was very excited to get my hands on this novel. I have heard many people say that The Buried Giant is unlike anything Kazuo Ishiguro has ever done but that is what is brilliant (and annoying) about this author. Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day are also unlike anything else Ishiguro has written. He has an amazing ability to write something different every time and use the genre and the plot as an allegory to explore different themes.
As you may have guessed, The Buried Giant explores the theme of memories; in particular, lost memories. Ishiguro uses the tropes found in fantasy and Arthurian literature to explore these themes. Like the ideas of myths and legends that make for great stories but (generally speaking) the ideas and context behind them are often lost or forgotten about. On their journey Axl and Beatrice meet Sir Gawain which sets up the metaphor of the mist of unknowing. Just how did King Arthur and the Britons come to peace with the Saxon’s?
The more I read Kazuo Ishiguro, the more I love his use of language. He writes beautifully and yet he is not satisfied in just using words to get his message across. He uses imagery and plot as well as genre tropes to help drive his message. Now that I have discovered this, it almost makes me want to retry reading Never Let Me Go for the second time to just explore this depth, as well as his other novels. However I am sure that The Remains of the Day will also remain my favourite.
I was completely fascinated by The Buried Giant and I found myself regularly putting the novel down just so I could dwell on the chapters I have read. There is a lot within the book worth exploring and I know I have only scratched the surface. A re-read of this book may conjure up many more themes and imagery, for now I can dwell on the ones I discovered this time around. While The Buried Giant is unlike anything he has ever written, the beauty and complexity will remind you that you are enjoying a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro.
I also loved the use of language and the pacing. I found it created a leisurely, careful read. The word ‘savouring’ kept popping into my mind as I read it. I remember a similar feeling from ROTD.
I’m already looking forward to a reread one day 🙂
It will be a great book to re-read….one day
Hummmmmmmm I have seen this book in plenty of bookstores but didn’t know what it was about. Sounds like something I might like… cheers for the recommendation!!
If you haven’t tried Kazuo Ishiguro yet, I would probably say, go with Remains of the Day first.
I read Never Let Me Go. Tend to read a lot of SFF and lit fic that is somehow a bit fantastical, so this sounds appealing… what’s Remains of the Day about?
Interesting review. I still have The Remains of the Day to read before this one. But I’m hesitant to start because I expect it to be The Perfect Book and fear that being in the wrong mindset would ruin it? Bah. #readerproblems
The Remains of the Day is a terrible book, you’ll hate it….does that work?
I’m also an Ishiguro fan, and have Buried Giant on my “read soon” shelf. BUT, on my list of top-ten favorite books is The Unconsoled. Strange, Kafkaesque, compelling. Please read, and let me know what you think.
Will have to give them a go