COMMENTS

28 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro”

1. Thank you Nicole. I don’t know if we can put in our suggestions for the next book yet. If we can, here is mine: Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III, Norton Books. Although I wholeheartedly support reading books about under-represented folks, (I am one), this book interests me because it seems to be about keeping our humanity in the face of horrible difficulties. That is what I surmise from the description, anyway.

   Reply to Loretta H. Campbell

   1. Hi Loretta! We are always open to book recommendations. Thank you for submitting yours!

      Reply to Nicole Alcime

2. Sorry I missed the Zoom call yesterday, I was tracking the air quality news here (very bad) and time got away from me. What was the discussion? Thanks

   Reply to ERIC WALLACE

3. So sorry I missed the discussion. I love this book.

   Reply to Lolly

4. I’ve been waiting in the Waiting Room for 12 minutes already trying to enter the discussion

   Reply to Gloria

5. Having trouble getting info on this group. What is the selection for July 2023? How do I access the Tuesday conversations?

   Reply to Susan M

   1. Hi Susan! The book selection for July is Caucasia by Danzy Senna. You can share your thoughts about the current book in the comments section of the article each week. We meet at the end of each month on Zoom for a group discussion.

      Reply to Nicole Alcime

      1. You left out how I can access ‘the article.’
         It would really help if the link to the book club clearly stated the upcoming book selection. Why make it so complicated?

      2. Hi Susan! The Book Club article is updated every Tuesday. Information about the July read will be provided in tomorrow’s (July 4th) article. You can access the updated article each week by visiting the Book Club articles page: https://seniorplanet.org/category/features/book-club/

6. I’ve been thinking about this story and a phrase you might have heard at work over the years, “above my pay grade,” and whether (pitiable?) Stevens accepted this conclusion too easily. He certainly “stays in his lane,” perhaps to his detriment, delusion, and ultimate frustration and unhappiness, which he barely allows himself to even consider. Maybe we all end up more like Miss Kenton, principled, but only so far as our bravery (and the mortgage, orthodontia, and college tuition) will allow.

   Reply to ERIC WALLACE

7. I have read through chapter 5. I must say I was surprised at the turn the book took—-that is from describing life at Darlington to a full on history lesson (remembering that it is fiction). I am enjoying the book very much. This is not a book that I would ever have chosen on my own, so thank you to everyone who voted for it. As soon as I finish I’ll be looking for the movie.

   Reply to BL Wild

8. I am reading The Remains of the Day and enjoying it very much. I never would have chosen to read this so thank you for suggesting it.

   Reply to BL Wild

9. I cannot get into this book. It’s not holding my attention. I am almost finished.

   Reply to Lisa McLaughlin

10. Back already. Watched the movie version yesterday and was very pleased how well the book and the movie complement each other. Tremendous acting by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

    Reply to ERIC WALLACE

11. Reading fiction has been a casualty of working from home – the commute was where I was getting quite a bit of my reading done! So I’m joining in with hope this will get me back to reading again. Ordered book tonight.

    Reply to Sharon

12. I’ve finished the book already. A much faster read than what I expected. I’ve seen the movie a couple of times and it is in my DVR (from 2 years ago) so I am looking forward to watching it again. Reading it as a book / journal makes some things so much easier, at least for me, to “pick up” the details and the nuance. I suppose this is a good book for seniors as a springboard for looking back at our own work lives, maybe, in larger, hierarchial bureaucracies. More on that as we go along.

    Reply to ERIC WALLACE

13. I am enjoying reading The Remains of the Day. Actually I’m listening to it on Audible. The language is mesmerizing.

    Reply to Lolly

    1. Hi Lolly! We’re glad to hear that you’re enjoying the book.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

14. I ordered it today, should arrive tomorrow, looking forward to this experience.

    Reply to BL Wild

    1. Hi BL! We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

15. Could you please tell us what book came in second so I can get it reserved at my library? Sometimes it takes a while to get the library e-books which is what I get. Thanks so much!

    Reply to Marni Hall

    1. Hi Marni! The July read is Caucasia by Danzy Senna.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

16. What book came in 2nd, for the July read?

    Reply to Sandra M

    1. Hi Sandra! The July read is Caucasia by Danzy Senna.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

17. Okay. I ordered The Remains of the Day and shall report for duty.

    Reply to Loretta H. Campbell

    1. Hi Loretta! Glad to hear you ordered your copy. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the book.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

    2. Unfortunately, I can’t join in the discussion on Thursday because I have to work. Despite that, I am glad to say that I loved the book. It was beautifully written. I loved the pacing. The imagery was incredible, and the narrator. Wow. He was like a combination robot/slave. The fact that he had so little self-awareness really made the story even more meaningful. The ending left me hanging, and I enjoyed that too.
       The vocabulary was wonderful. Ishiguro is an expert historian. Superb.

       Reply to Loretta H. Campbell

       1. Hi Loretta! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the book and appreciate you sharing your thoughts. We understand that you’ll have to miss this week’s Zoom discussion, but we hope you can join us for the next one!