Ethan Manning
Mesmerizing, sometimes a book doesn't sound that interesting and then you start reading and just fall into it. Like a literacy seduction. Well folks, this is that book.
Mr. Stevens is a devoted butler, he goes on a day trip and reminisces about his life and career, the people close to him, his boss. And what first seems like an impromptu memoir feels more and more deliberate, and cutting, the more the layers of the onion are peeled back.
His soul is shared with us in an orderly and restrained way, we see his personal life, his commitments, and we see his struggles to be true to his ideals and to live fully. This deeply felt, personal story is intertwined in my opinion with a direct exploration of paternalism and servitude, how these things operate in one person's life, and how they operate at a far larger scale.
This book was astounding in its combination of an emotionally rich story, with a thought provoking exploration of social themes wrapped in a narratively interesting frame. To call it a casual masterpiece might seem pejorative, but let me assure you, it is not.
Mesmerizing, sometimes a book doesn't sound that interesting and then you start reading and just fall into it. Like a literacy seduction. Well folks, this is that book.
Mr. Stevens is a devoted butler, he goes on a day trip and reminisces about his life and career, the people close to him, his boss. And what first seems like an impromptu memoir feels more and more deliberate, and cutting, the more the layers of the onion are peeled back.
His soul is shared with us in an orderly and restrained way, we see his personal life, his commitments, and we see his struggles to be true to his ideals and to live fully. This deeply felt, personal story is intertwined in my opinion with a direct exploration of paternalism and servitude, how these things operate in one person's life, and how they operate at a far larger scale.
This book was astounding in its combination of an emotionally rich story, with a thought provoking exploration of social themes wrapped in a narratively interesting frame. To call it a casual masterpiece might seem pejorative, but let me assure you, it is not.