The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

In the summer of 1956, Stevens, the ageing butler of Darlington Hall, embarks on a leisurely holiday that will take him deep into the countryside and into his past . . .A contemporary classic, The Remains of the Day is Kazuo Ishiguro's beautiful and haunting evocation of life between the wars in a Great English House, of lost causes and lost love.

I admit it was not what I expected. But it was a relaxing read, and I enjoyed Stevens' trip and reminisces. It is a book you have to take as a whole to see what it is really about. It's about thoughts, not actions.

essentially downton abbey, but a deeper look into the house staff's life in an estate owned by a politically involved lord. i hadn't expected there to be such “controversy” over lord darlington, so it was a pleasant surprise and an interesting read. i'm not much of a history buff, but i found the historical references to be nuanced and subtle enough to be rather believable. also explores the stiff house staff culture, the utter lack of emotion in some, and the devotion to the master in few. really recommended for fans of downton abbey who cared more for the house staff than the family itself.

The book is very subtle, and at the beginning a little slow. Give it time. The magic is in the layering, the shifting, and the repeated tiny dawnings of understanding that start the process anew. Quiet, delicate, and profound.