Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day: A Reader's Guide (Continuum Contemporaries)

Rating:
Summary: The Quintessential Reader's Guide
Review: An impressive entry into the field of Reader's Guides, Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day by Adam Parkes is valuable on two levels: for the individual reader who wants to enhance his understanding of The Remains of the Day, it's like taking a Master Class; and for the book discussion group leader it's like stumbling on a gold mine of useful information.

In the hundreds of books we've discussed on SeniorNet.org/books, this one stands alone as the most in-depth, challenging, and comprehensive Reader's Guide offered. The chapter on Style, Form, and Irony is worth the price of the book itself. It leaves no stone unturned and turns up some you'd never have imagined.

This slim volume begins with a study of the author, moves to an analysis of the book itself, the issues and sub themes, comparative literature, the reception of the novel, some questions, a bibliography and recommended reading, and more. There's even a section on the movie Remains of the Day for comparison.

This is the first book by this author in this series I have ever tried, and I would buy anything by either again: it's that good.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: This volume is a most distinguished contribution to the Continuum Publishing Group's new series of studies by international scholars of important contemporary fiction. Professor Adam Parkes eschews popular academic jargon and writes in a clear, straight-forward style, giving a brilliant and succinct analysis of this many faceted book.
The 90 page book will interest and inspire the general reader and, in particular, will prove an ideal tool for those teaching modern literature in universities or sixth-forms but, best of all, will send the reader back to the novel with his understanding and enjoyment enhanced.