Sam Jordison 

Choose January’s Reading group book: Kazuo Ishiguro

Sam Jordison: As we wait for his first novel since 2005 – due in March – we’ll be discussing one of his backlist titles. He’ll be chipping in, but it’s up to you to decide on which book to read
  
  

Kazuo Ishiguro
Pale Hills or Floating World? … Kazuo Ishiguro. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

The bad news is that Kazuo Ishiguro hasn’t published a new novel in 10 years. The good news is that the wait is almost over. In March, The Buried Giant will be released by Faber. I can’t tell you much more than that because I haven’t read it. But if past form is anything to go by, I’d say it’s about time to start getting excited.

On the subject of past form, meanwhile, one of the best ways to get ready for this next book is to enjoy an older one - hence Ishiguro as the first subject for the Reading group in 2015. The book we is read up to you. There are seven to choose from – and a treasury of riches they are:

A Pale View of Hills (first published in 1982)

An Artist of the Floating World (1986)

The Remains of the Day (1989)

The Unconsoled (1995)

When We Were Orphans (2000)

Never Let Me Go (2005)

There’s also a collection of short stories, Nocturnes, from 2009.

Never Let Me Go and The Remains Of The Day are possibly the most obvious choices – but any one of his books will reward our attention. All of them should also offer some pretty good challenges as well. While millions (myself among them) love Ishiguro, he has also always had stern critics. Tony Parsons famously called for The Unconsoled to be burned – and as John Self pointed out, that makes the book all the more intriguing …

But don’t let me sway you too much. The choice is yours. All you have to do is recommend a book in the comments below and I’ll count up the votes in a few days’ time. As usual I’ll also gladly take recommendations for things we can talk about in the upcoming month and I will be very interested to read anything else you have to say about this fine writer. I’m also very happy to announce that Ishiguro himself will be joining us on 22 January for a live webchat, so notch that date in your diary.

 

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