# 5 - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

This is a weird one. It has a typically sci-fi premise, however, the story feels more like a period book, very old-fashion-y.

These kids live in what seems like a typical English boarding school. Only, they've lived there their whole lives and their future is certainly bleak. There is a "twist" if it can be called that, but it hardly matters. It's not all Shyamalan where the twist is the only thing there is. In fact, the twist isn't presented in a shocking manner at all. Rather, the truth slowly dawns upon the reader as they read the book. Actually, I already knew what the twist was before I read it and I wonder if the experience would have been very different had I not known the premise before hand. I think it would have enhanced the experience, but not by much. The book is much more than the twist. It's a mediation of friendship and love, and coming of age, only made much more urgent by the expiration date of the characters.

The book is narrated by Kathy, one of the lead characters, telling the story of her friendship with another girl, and a boy she loved. The narration is very matter of fact and over-analytical, seeming to find meaning in every little occurrence. Kathy is very slow and steady and loyal, while Ruth is fiery and manipulative at times. Tommy is a basically, a nice boy. I have to admit that I really hated Ruth. I hated her manipulation and her lies.

I really loved this book. It is so my thing, with the melancholy and the heartbreak. It is haunting and very engrossing.

# 2 - The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

This was one of three books in that books of our generation list thingy posted at Pajiba a long time ago. At that time, I didn't know where to get it, so when I finally found a cheap ass copy at the local used book store (as usual), I was so excited to read it and find out why people were so affected by it.

The Corrections is about a dysfunctional (is there any other kind?) family from the midwest. Now, the kids have all grown up, living separate and hugely different lives while their parents stay as they are, as they have always been. Except that their father, once strict and authoritarian, is slowly losing his functions. The plot, thought really isn't a plot, is about Enid, the mother's attempt to gather the family for one last Christmas dinner.

This like a family history, narrating how these people got where they are now. Both losers and winners at the same time, and deeply flawed. It is at turns, funny, heartbreaking and infuriating. I really didn't find anyone that I could relate to or fully like. Well, maybe the author wasn't so concerned about us liking the characters.

I liked the book. I found myself compulsively reading it, but I don't think I GOT it, you know. Most of the reviews I've read had the authors relating deeply to the characters and to that kind of family. Where I'm from (and where I'm still at), families aren't like that. My family isn't like that. Yeah, I guess we have our own special kind of fucked up-ess, but I can't imagine not wanting to spend Christmas with my family, or wanting so desperately to leave my hometown. I mean, I'm a married, 27 year old lawyer with two kids and we (hubby and kids) still live with my parents. We don't mooch off them since we contribute to the expenses. We stay because my parents can't imagine not having their grandkids around, and because it just feels like home. Of course, we might move out eventually when the house gets too small for us, but rest assured, we won't be far away.

This has been too much about me, and too little about the book. Bottom line, I liked it, I was engaged by it, but I didn't really get it, I think.