The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro is a story about a couple who goes on a journey to visit their son. Sort of. Set in post Arthurian Britain, this is a magical realism jaunt exploring memory and consciousness.
What did I think of this book?
This is one of those books that I can recognize is masterfully written—literally every component— but didn’t enjoy.
Ishiguro shines in his relationship writing; the dynamics between every character are compelling and believable. The interactions between the protagonist and his wife remind me of my grandparents. The minor characters are fascinating as well.
The world building in this novel is impeccable; the story building is flawless—each point is settled in the plot then carefully revealed through the action and dialogue.
But. This is a slow book. Really slow. Over 300 pages and so much of it is conversation between an older couple who dither. Beautifully written conversation that is character rooted, but none the less.
Reading this book I kept feeling like I should love it. I cried at the end, which was perfect. I wanted to follow more of the side characters around their lives. I respect the author’s treatment of his themes. But I was counting down the pages until the end.
Who would I recommend this to?
Anyone over twelve. This is a master class in writing. But I will also give the caveat that they should feel free to set down the book if it isn’t to their ilk.
There is quite a bit of violence, with details of gore. Mentions of rape and baby murder, and other descriptions of general cruelty.
Writing exercise: Put together a conversation between two characters where they talk a lot but really only say one important thing, eventually.
Mamasquatch the Writer 
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