The Remains of the Day
by Kazuo Ishiguro · first published 1989
70% recommend30% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short literary novel about a butler's regret, duty, and the split between work and personal identity. Readers praise its subtle, unreliable narration and say it rewards rereading and reflection on choices made in life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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.
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…Life Depended On It by Voss Chris (meh) * Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Knapp Jake (meh) * All the Light We Cannot See by Doerr Anthony (loved it) * The Remains of the Day by Ishiguro Kazuo (loved it)
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗Kazuo Ishiguro on writing _The Remains of the Day_ (my favorite): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/06/kazuo-ishiguro... > So Lorna and I came up with a plan. I would, for a four-week period, ruthlessly clear my diary and go on what we somewhat…
on “The World According to Dan Brown” ↗You’ll get enough non-fiction recommendations. Something fictional (barely) and a lot more relaxed: The Remains of the Day, Ishiguro. It’s a chance to think about work/life split, life accomplishments, and professional vs personal identity. If you like that, check out Larry’s Party by Carol Shields.
on “Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?” ↗Remains of the Day. Here's a quote for the OP's original question. > He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at least. As for myself, I cannot even claim…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗+ for "The Remains of the Day". Phenomenal work of literature. Truthfully, I can't believe it took it this long for Ishiguro to get the prize.
on “Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)” ↗Whenever anyone asks: Catch-22 East of Eden Remains of the Day Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman These threads where people suggest multiple books are good to run through. If you see one in a comment that someone else liked, probably try to read the others they listed.
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books of all time, and why?” ↗The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro has a vivid portrayal of this. The people doing it took it very seriously indeed.
on “The rise of the pointless job” ↗The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Amazing short fictional novel by a Nobel Prize winning author.
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗Remains of the Day is incredible, but I will say I think ishiguro's best work is Never Let Me Go. The story line is enrapturing but ultimately not what the book is about. I'll leave two quotes. > We all complete. Maybe…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗The Remains of the Day isn't just my favorite book from Ishiguro. It is my favorite book, period. It is a book about many things, but one of the main themes is regret. As a younger person, I thought I would end up following…
on “Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)” ↗I think this view is best established in The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's a fairly traditional view but well described there. For what it's worth, I think it depends on the shape of the thing. "What actually" is not a fixed concept like that. For instance,…
on “The Truth About Starting a Startup” ↗The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. And after that, almost anything by Kazuo Ishiguro. When I read that book, I was an intense student, and I could totally see myself in the main character. Since then, every single one…
on “Ask HN: Are there any books that changed your life during college or school?” ↗Crime and Punishment Leaves of Grass Persuasion Foundation The Diary of Lady Murasaki The Remains of the Day Travels in Siberia Anabasis A Brief History of Time The Rebel
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind expanding book(s) you have read till date?” ↗…philosophy, poetry, great fiction, even religious texts - they're all crammed with symbolism and really reward re-reads and deep thoughts. A recent example of this for me is Kazuo Ishiguro's book The Remains of the Day. It was mentioned on a podcast I like and so I picked it up on something of a whim during a library visit. The book is about a butler who served a "great English house" and when I started it I was deeply…
on “Is this a good book for me, now?” ↗Three Booker prize winners I’m particularly fond of: The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is another recent literary favorite
on “Books I Loved Reading in 2024” ↗