When We Were Orphans

by Kazuo Ishiguro | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 057120516x Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingcluricaunewing of Armagh, Co. Armagh United Kingdom on 2/29/2008
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingcluricaunewing from Armagh, Co. Armagh United Kingdom on Friday, February 29, 2008
Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki in 1954 and moved to Britain at the age of five. He was awarded the OBE in 1995 and the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1998. "When We Were Orphans" is his fifth novel, was first published in 2000 and was shortlisted for that year's Booker Prize.

The story is set in the 1930s and is told by Christopher Banks. Born and raised in Shanghai until the age of nine - when, within a few weeks of each other, both his parents disappeared - Banks then moved to England, to be raised by an aunt. Now grown up and based in London, Christopher is based in London and working as a high profile and very successful private detective. His celebrity has eased his way into fashionable London society, though some - such as Sarah Hemmings - are initially a little resistant to his appeal. Fashionable society, however, isn't Christopher's main concen : although it's been many years since his parents disappeared, the case is still (apparently) open and unsolved. Christopher has taken it upon himself to complete the investigation - "When We Were Orphans" sees him not only move forward with the case, but also look back on his childhood memories of Shanghai. Obviously, his parents feature prominently in these memories - but his friendship with a Japanese boy called Akira was also very important to him. As the book goes on, however, it becomes clear - though unfortunately not to Banks himself - just how unreliable his memories are. Ultimately, the investigation leads to his return to Shanghai - where he hopes to close the case. The trouble, of course, is that while his investigation may uncover the truth, the truth may not be quite what he is expecting...

While I wouldn't say "When We Were Orphans" is entirely flawless, the flaws are only very few and far between. The details on how Christopher conducted his investigation were a little scant - but, as the book wasn't written as a thriller, that's pretty easy to brush off. The style of writing was also occasionally a little formal - there's a few chaps and fellows here and there, what ho. However, given that the story was being told by a Cambridge graduate in the 1930s...somehow, to me, the language added a touch of authenticity. There were one or two questions left unanswered - particularly in relation to Akira. (I'd have given anything to find out what happened to him after Christopher left Shanghai). Overall, though, I'd absolutely recommend this book - very readable, and one that I just couldn't put down.

Journal Entry 2 by wingcluricaunewing from Armagh, Co. Armagh United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
To the finder:

Welcome to BookCrossing!

Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught so I know that it has found a good home with you. I hope you like the book, but I'd be grateful if you'd let me know what you thought of it by making another journal entry when you've finished it.

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Journal Entry 3 by wingcluricaunewing from Armagh, Co. Armagh United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
On its way to Yogie.

Journal Entry 4 by yogie from Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thanks so much Cormac! This and two other books arrived this morning. I'm looking forward to reading it! I love Kazuo Ishiguro, he's fantastic!

Journal Entry 5 by yogie from Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Monday, July 28, 2008
Not the best book I've read by Kazuo Ishiguro, but since reading the Remains of the Day, which was the first book I read by him, I expect quite a lot, I think. It was by no means a bad book, however. Ishiguro has a way of writing that just captures you. He's one of those authors who really knows how to use the English language to create a mood. There is also the recurring theme of self-deception as in the other two books I've read by Ishiguro - the Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go. It's so interesting, because even though the self-deception is clear, it is still subtle. I'm thinking of Christopher's complete denial of him being somewhat of an outsider in school, for one example.
I agree a lot with what has been said already. Where did Akira go? I want to know what happened to him.

Thanks a lot for sharing C! I really love Ishiguro's style of writing. This book will find a new reader somehow, but how that will be is yet to be decided!

Journal Entry 6 by yogie at Café Cinnamon, Byres Rd in Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, February 26, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (2/26/2009 UTC) at Café Cinnamon, Byres Rd in Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom

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Left at the table upstairs in Café Cinnamon, previously known as Tomato.

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