THE BRITISH AUTHOR Kazuo Ishiguro has been praised for his astute observations of the human character, and his novel Never Let Me Go was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, a top literary prize in England and some other English-speaking countries. As you read and then write your postings, think about the reality of these characters in the novel’s alternate 20th century reality. The idea is that this spot should be a conversation about your important and unique thoughts on the novel, so when you post, respond to what others have said and add something new to the conversation. Support your discussion with quotes from the text and discussion or analysis of those passages. Do not simply summarize the events of the novel. Remember that you must post four times. Proofread carefully because I will not approve poorly edited comments, and you will not receive credit for them. Postings for this book are due July 13. Difficulty in posting is not an excuse for lateness. |
40 Comments
Brooke Rollston
6/28/2015 06:29:26 am
I am close to half way through the book and the more I read, the more I understand how sheltered and secretive the world is that the characters live in. The best example of this isolation is when Kathy begins to tell the reader "there was even rumor that some classic books- like the Sherlock Holmes ones- weren't in our library because the main characters smoked too much, and when you came across a page torn out of an illustrated book or magazine, this was because there'd been a picture on it of someone smoking" (22% into the book because my Kindle is old and only gives percentages, not page numbers). This not only shows the extremity of the children's isolation form the outside world, but also how much control the guardians have over the kids, as well as how concerned the guardians are over the health of the kids and how important that is to the book. All of the secrets so far seem to revolve around what is to come in the future with the donations which are still left to be a secretive subject in the book.
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Brooke Rollston
6/30/2015 02:48:41 am
I am now about half way through the book and Miss Emily has just left Hailsham. Kathy describes the reaction which the students have towards a guardian leaving and how devastating it is. Especially devestating for those very close to a particular guardian, such as Tommy was to Miss Emily and how "[his] eyes looked empty" as he first heard news of her leaving (43%). This made me consider how parents have never once been mentioned in the novel so far and how the guardians really take that place for the students and how the guardians are the only guiding and nurturing figures in the lives of the students.
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Maddie Thomas-Little
6/30/2015 03:19:16 am
The more I am exposed to book’s secrecy and wonder, I have also comprehended that the guardians exercise an extreme amount of control on the students of Hailsham. I strongly agree with Brook on the way the students are sheltered and isolated from the outside world because of their future of becoming organ donors. I am about a quarter of the way through Never Let Me Go and it appears these students are seen as a completely different species. When Madame comes to check on Hailsham, Kathy and Ruth planned to see if Madame was afraid of the students because before, the students had thought Madame was the one to be afraid of. The outcome of the plan had not been what the students had expected and Kathy would “...never forget the strange change that came over [them]... Madame was afraid of [them]... but in the same way someone might be afraid of spiders”(Page 35).The students at Hailsham are of course, out of the ordinary; however, for a grown woman to view these young students in such disgust implies the students are not only different, but are not human. The students at Hailsham appear simply as test subjects for a pre-determined future.
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Maddie Thomas-Little
7/2/2015 01:56:21 am
SPOILER ALERT: I am currently halfway through the book and I wondered where the students parents were and if they ever visited the students.In like manner to Brook’s post, the guardians appeared to be the only parental figures for the students. However, as the book progresses, the reason why the students of Hailsham do not have parents in their lives is because they are clones. It definitely explains why Madame looked at the students like a different species; they aren’t truly themselves but a copy. While Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy stay at the cottage after they graduate from Hailsham, Chrissy and Rodney, others who stay at the cottage, claim they had spotted Ruth’s possible, the person of which she was cloned. Kathy explains how it was almost impossible from the students of Hailsham to ignore the fact that their possibles are out in the real world and when “...[they] were out there by [themselves]-in the towns, shopping centres, transport cafes- [everyone] kept an eye out for [his or her] possible”(page 139). I was completely shocked after reading this chapter and it definitely spiced up the book’s plot for me. Having been exposed to this surprising news, I have many questions… Since the students at Hailsham were never able to go out of the boundaries of Hailsham, are the students even legal? Were the students only created to be organ donors, or are they an experiment for a bigger plan in the future? Who even signs up to be a cloned? I am very curious as to how this experiment was set up. I wonder if the students were to be cloned as a safety net for their possibles. Maybe the students were required to donate their organs to their possibles when their possibles become sick. .
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Alyssa Lodes
7/3/2015 04:42:46 am
As both Maddie and Brooke stated the lives of the children and the guardians living in Hailsham is very secretive. As I am approaching the halfway point of the book the secrecy of the gallery, the woods, Madame, and the importance of Ruth being Miss Geraldine's secret guard continues to be very intriguing. Ruth appears to care more about being a secret guard than the other girls in the group, and, “that there were things [Ruth had] yet to reveal even to us” (Page 52). Throughout the book Ruth’s secrecy seems to be very interesting to me. Incidents such as that of the pencil case makes me question Ruth’s motive. Why is it that Ruth wants to make all of the other girls believe Miss Geraldine gives her gifts and special treatment? Ruth makes me question the importance of the possible non existent relationship between Miss Geraldine and Ruth.
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Maddie Thomas-Little
7/6/2015 06:53:35 am
I also have questioned Ruth’s motive throughout the book. I believe Ruth is entitled and wants to be seen as high importance; she wants to be the one who students go to talk about Hailsham and its many secrets. Ruth appears to be a manipulative person swaying her classmates/friends to do things for her of her liking. For example, when Ruth and Tommy broke up for a period of time and Ruth wanted Tommy back as her boyfriend, she convinced Kathy to try and mend their relationship. Ruth flattered Kathy by playing the role of a victim who is lost without her love and pleaded, “So you see, it’s got to be you to our rescue.Tommy and I were made for each other and he’ll listen to you”(Page 104) to Kathy. Ruth makes Kathy believe Kathy is the one in control when really she is nothing more than a messenger. As I continue reading Never Let Me Go, my opinion of Ruth has shifted. I believe Ruth’s desire to be seen as important is not because she is egotistic,but because she is afraid of what is in store for her future. Ruth clung onto power because inside she felt powerless since she knew she was destined to give her organs away until she died. Ruth later reveals she knew Tommy and Kathy were meant to be “as far back as [she] can remember. But [she] kept [them] apart”(Page 232). It appears Ruth needed Tommy not because she genuinely wanted him as a partner, but because she was afraid Kathy and Tommy would leave her out. Ruth held onto Tommy the same reason she clung onto power, she is afraid of feeling alone on her last days.
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Kayleigh Newman
7/7/2015 09:43:21 am
Only about five pages into the book, it becomes very evident to me that certain elements in this book play an important role, and will eventually come full circle later on. The fact that it is years after attending Hailsham and Kathy takes care of those who are donors. Kathy speaks of the longevity she has maintained within her career. She states that "I have been a carer for over eleven years...they want me to go on for another eight months, until the end of this year. That'll make almost exactly twelve years" (page 3). This in a way exposes Kathy's heart. It suggests that she truly does find joy in aiding others, especially in times of need, like when someone donates an organ. Organ donation of any kind comes with a serious surgery, great risk, and a long road to recovery. One's body is like a factory--and each organ is a "worker". Organs work in conjunction with one another to make systematic procedures within the body run smoothly. Losing an organ or a "worker" is a massive adjustment period for anyone,no matter how great their health. It would take a person of great understanding of this particular process, and patience. Someone like Kathy. When Ruth and Tommy become donors, it's been at least a decade since the three school friends have seen each other. I believe the apparent empathy of Kathy, paired with the courage of Tommy and Kathy, will work together to answer the unanswered questions from their childhood and their time spent together in boarding school.
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Kayleigh Newman
7/7/2015 10:00:08 am
When the book goes back in time to when the three friends attended Hailsham, certain things about the characters are revealed, as well as the reasons why they are this way. As previously mentioned by several other readers before, the life at Hailsham is incredibly sheltered. The attendees have no contact of the outside world, and do not really grasp much of a concept of it either. These children literally spend all of their time at school. The teachers at this school are referred to as "guardians". There is talks of the absolute head of Hailsham, Madame. It is mentioned how no one sees her. Also, Kathy speaks of the gallery. The students' best artistic works are selected for Madame's gallery. "But what is her gallery? She keeps coming here and taking away our best work. She must have stacks of it by now"(page 30). The fact that their works are taken from them, and they do not know why or where they are taken, makes this, in conjunction with what I mentioned before seriously covert. I feel like the mystery behind Madame and her gallery will be revealed in time. Perhaps not even while Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are in school, but maybe even when they meet up again later on under the most unique circumstances.
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Jamie Fortenbacher
7/8/2015 02:48:09 am
As I progress through the book, I become more and more intrigued. I find Kathy to be a bit of a spunky girl who overall wants to do the right thing and not cause trouble, but ultimately has a slight adventurous side. I am very interested in seeing where Tommy and Kathy's relationship goes. I skimmed through the other posts, not wanting to stumble upon some spoilers, and agree with many of the connections made by Maddie, Alyssa, Kayleigh, and Brooke. After reading the chapter about Kathy and her tape, I now see the tape as a sort of lifeline for Kathy. Music plays an important role in her life and provides a sort of comfort when dealing with the unknown. The tape is a sort of release, where Kathy can listen and feel comfortable without being scared of the world that surrounds her. Although, I do believe Kathy has yet to realize this herself, as she states “the music has nothing to do with anything. It’s an object… [and] it’s become one of [Kathy’s] most precious possessions,” (pg. 76). The object itself is what Kathy believes to be the most important, and it is important, but I believe she failed to realize that the contents play just as important of a role as the tape does. Let’s face it; the song itself is the title of the book.
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Samuel Tejchma
7/8/2015 03:48:49 am
When I first began this book, like any other beginning to a book, I had a lot of questions. This time around though is different, it seems more and more mysteries keep coming up yet nothing is being answered. What kind of school is Hailsham? It doesn't seem to be an ordinary school. I also wondered where the parents are like Maddie did. What exactly are guardians? What is the idea behind Hailsham? These are all question I keep asking myself that make me want to keep reading. It seems as if something big is coming to reveal more about the school but it just isn't happening. I also completely agree with Brooke, Maddie, and Alyssa about the lives at Hailsham being very secretive and sheltered. It reminds me of Harry Potter in the fact they can't really have much contact with the outside world, there are guardians everywhere, the school has very specific rules and schedules everyone must follow, and there are many secrets about the school. The more I read the more I become involved in the school, I want to know its secrets just like Kathy and her friends do. I am excited to keep progressing through this book and will check back here when I approach the halfway point.
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Gabby Cutler
7/8/2015 05:27:06 am
Surprisingly, during the beginning of the book, I was unaware of the unusual secrecy both Maddie and Brooke mentioned before. It's not until near chapter five I started noticing the children's odd environment such as their vocabulary, daily life, and the lack of information given to the students. Kathy's confusion throughout the beginning of the novel left me feeling the same. I wonder if the lack of early memories has something to do with some sort of physical or emotional interference from the guardians. My focus was fully brought to attention while reading the passage explaining the importance of the Sales to the children, which states, "The Sales were important to us because that was how we got hold of things from outside"(Page 41).This line was the moment I truly became aware of the unique and probably unhealthy living situation these children were being exposed to. Why is it that they are being sheltered, as Brooke stated, and from what do they need this protection from? I'm very interested in having some of these questions answered as I continue reading.
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Brooke Rollston
7/8/2015 06:46:04 am
I am a little more than half way through the book and the importance of the so far avoided topic of the donations has just been brought up by a guardian. Miss Lucy, a very open and all-telling guardian in the book, shares with the students that "[they] were brought into this world for a purpose and [their] futures, all of them, have been decided" (53%). This made me realize how trapped these kids are, how they act and live and are designed no different from any normal child and are just average kids but have no choice in what is to become of them. They will never gain the experience or live the life that any normal child would live. I feel as though this is very unfair and cruel that these students will never understand why they must all at some point donate their organs. They are just kids and are designed to think and act and live just as any other human but are destined for a terrible and painful life which they cannot comprehend.
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Gabby Cutler
7/9/2015 08:16:31 am
After finishing reading part one, my opinion of Hailsham has changed. The lack of information provided to the child, the potential donors, is disgusting. Children like Kathy are being brought up without the understanding of what will become of the once they reach a certain age. It's my understanding that these students are being growing into the ideal donor. Donating is a beautiful procedure, we as humans are able to participate in, in order to save lives. Yet when a person's choice is taken away from them, it becomes horrify. These students lives have and will continue to be shaped by these mysterious people who plan to turn them into donors. Miss Lucy confesses to the children in a moment of frustration, "None of you will go to America, none of you will be film stars.. Your lives are set out for you"(Page 81). Even after their teachers explanation of what they will become, the children seem ignorant to the dangers. Kathy mentions later on, during her adult years, her frustration after one of her donors had died from a messy surgery. That bit of information is enough to prove what is happening at Hailsham is unethical and murderous.
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Jared Cloutier
7/9/2015 08:49:07 am
So far I am about twelve chapters into the book Never Let Me Go and up to this point it has had a pretty profound effect on me. At first, I did not really know what to expect from the story, having virtually no foreknowledge about the story's plot before reading it. From the very beginning of the novel, I am intrigued by this place that the narrator keeps talking about called Hailsham. I question the significance of the place and think about what might have happened there. As I keep reading I start to understand that there is something slightly different about the environment that the narrator grew up in compared to what kids most kids today grow up in. Like Sam, I was reminded of the students at Hogwarts with teachers that also took on a "Guardian" type role, and I also think that the relationship between Ruth, Kathy, and Tommy has some similarities to that of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in that they are both friendships of three that are also intertwined with a decent amount of romance. I recognize that the students stay at Hailsham all the time and there is never any talk of going to see families, which is a hint at the fact that something about these students is different. As Kathy begins to narrate her past and describe certain key events in detail, I think back on my own life and how, just as Kathy does, I too can remember only certain key events that happened throughout my youth, but those events which I do remember are in pretty clear detail. One example of this is when she recalls the story of Tommy's watercolor elephant that, "Took him no more than twenty minutes and it got a laugh, sure enough, though not quite the sort he'd expected" (Page 19). This part of the story especially makes me remember certain actions that I took when I was much younger that I thought would get one reaction and ended up getting something completely different. These are the key thoughts that I have had about the story so far.
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Jared Cloutier
7/9/2015 09:39:22 pm
*Spoiler* Today I continued reading Never Let Me Go, starting at Chapter 12, and continuing through Chapter 15. These chapters are pretty dense with information, and I believe that at least two key events happen throughout these four chapters. The first key event is when Kathy explains to the reader that each of the Hailsham students, "Was copied at some point from a normal person," revealing that the students from Hailsham are actually not real people at all, but rather models of other real people (Page 139). This part of the story is significant because it shows the reader why Kathy never speaks about having parents, and it also gives the reader another piece of insight as to why the Hailsham students live so uniquely. The second key event that occurs during these chapters is Tommy finding the Judy Bridgewater cassette tape. I think that this part of the story is significant because it shows that despite all of the ramifications involved with these students already having their destinies determined for them, as Gabby mentioned, the students are still able to have both relationships and feelings, and Tommy proves that in this part of the story. I think that this is a really deep and complex detail for the author to incorporate, because even in our lives where our future can be determined by what we decide, we still never know what may happen, yet we continue living and allowing ourselves to have relationships and feelings. I think that this is deep because the author shows through this that life is not all just about where you end up, but also about the journey you take along the way. These are my thoughts concerning Chapter 12-15 of Never Let Me Go.
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Jamie Fortenbacher
7/10/2015 01:23:44 am
SLIGHT SPOILER: I too was unaware at first when I started reading this book, like Gabby was. As I kept going I noticed how sheltered all the children were and saw all of the secrecy of the outside, previously mentioned by many others in the blog. I have found it interesting though, how much the children actually know about what their lives entail after Hailsham. I came to wonder if the guardians were trying to protect the children from the outside world, or, if the guardians were trying to keep the outside world from knowing about these children? Halfway through the book Kathy is talking about “possibles”, and mentions that “each of [the children] [were] copied at some point from a normal person,” (pg. 139), Jared has also mentioned this. Some point along the way at Hailsham, the children found out that they were copies, so apparently the guardians are not keeping everything secret. My question is, why keep anything a secret at all?
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Samuel Tejchma
7/10/2015 12:10:33 pm
I am about halfway through the book currently and I'm not sure if everyone was as caught off guard as I was about what exactly a carer is. Coming into the book I had no previous knowledge of what it was about besides the back of the book and as soon as I learned exactly the purpose of Hailsham and these kids I had to stop reading and think for a minute. The whole book so far has been almost completely based on life inside the school so after learning about the purpose of the children's life I tried imagining what exactly the outside world must be like to allow something like this. It raised a few questions, is what they are doing legal? Does the government or people in charge in this book know they are doing this? Is this based in a different time period or culture? It very much intrigued me and forced me to keep reading. I also would like to know why there is so much talk about sex in this book? There is a large chunk where 90% of the pages contain something relating to sex.
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Maddie Thomas-Little
7/10/2015 11:57:28 pm
SPOILER: As I have come to the end of Never Let Me Go, I now understand the irony in the title. Kathy lost not only Ruth and Tommy, but she lost Hailsham and its secrecy. Before Tommy passed away, Kathy and Tommy confront Madame and Miss Emily about whether deferrals exited. When they were let down by the news that the deferrals were nothing but a mere rumor, Kathy still felt as if there was something more Madame wanted to say.
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Alyssa Lodes
7/11/2015 01:24:57 am
Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are now staying at the cottage working on their essays. Ruth is spending most of her time working towards being ‘normal’ ever since she left Hailsham. In Hailsham TV and books were very limited, but now all of the students have more freedom living in the cottage since there is no guardians around. Ruth watches TV and sees the couples on TV shows. Kathy is very frustrated because after all those couples on TV are just acting. Ruth also pays very close attention to the ways of Chrissie and Rodney since they are veterans and have been away from Hailsham living a so called normal life. Ruth copies Chrissie's relationship with Rodney when she is spending time with her boyfriend, Tommy. Kathy appears to be annoyed with Ruth's actions of trying to forget and move on from their lives at Hailsham and for trying so hard to be normal when all of them know they will never be able to live a normal life. Ruth says to Kathy, "You're upset because I've managed to move on, make new friends. Some of the veterans hardly remember your name, and who can blame them? You never talk to anyone unless they're Hailsham" (124). After all, maybe Kathy is making friends, but only with the few one-night stands she had. I am still unsure what it is about Hailsham that Kathy is holding on to so tightly. As well as Ruth, what is it that is making her want to forget about her life at Hailsham?
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Gabby Cutler
7/11/2015 04:25:58 am
As I continue diving deeper into the lives of the characters in Never Let Me Go, I grow more appreciative of their relationships. The friendships and roles are clearly written. Its clear after a trip to Norfolk, Ruth is the dramatic, demanding, presence in the duo. Kathy has a gentle nature to herself. There have been multiple moments through out the book where she is the one to see the other's point of view during a fight. She is always making an effort to back up her friends and care for them. What worries me is the effects her and Ruth's friendship has on Kathy. Kathy tends to be belittled and stomped on by Ruth. For example, during one of Ruth's rants about not finding her "possible", she tears down Kathy, saying, "Oh, look who's upset now. Poor Kathy. She never likes straight talking" (Page 167). I see it as Ruth using Kathy as a way to boost herself up in a selfish manner. On the other hand, there is Kathy and Tommy's friendship. Tommy is quiet and careful when it comes to Kathy. He does his best to support her. Their friendship is extremely open and honest. They bounce ideas off of each other while coming up with extensive theories based on their days at Hailsham. I greatly appreciate the balance in their friendship. I'm hoping as the book proceeds to unroll more secrets and answers, that we will see more of their friendship.
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Jamie Fortenbacher
7/11/2015 01:04:08 pm
I am almost finished with the book and I am shocked with a few of the events that have happened. One, I was VERY surprised to find Ruth and Tommy in a relationship. This was very odd to me since they seem like polar opposites. Next, I was surprised to see how much Ruth was changing after leaving Hailsham, and need less to say, I do not care for the person Ruth has become. I was very happy though, to see that Kathy found her tape, and I was hoping that this would lead to the re-strengthening of Tommy and Kathy's relationship. Unfortunately, these hopes were not fulfilled. after finishing part two, and progressing into part three, questions are starting to be answered, though more are arising. I now know more of what being a carer entails, and also that of a donor. I was surprised when Kathy states that most of the carers are "waiting for the day they're told they can stop and become donors," (pg. 208) because it seems strange to me that they are looking forward to the process that will result in their death. Why is this so? Is being a carer really that bad?
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Jared Cloutier
7/11/2015 09:56:17 pm
So far I have read up through Chapter 19 of Never Let Me Go, and some of the events that took place in the last few chapters were crucially important in my opinion. One of these events is when Tommy and Ruth are having a conversation privately and Kathy walks up to them, not realizing what type of conversation they are having. When Ruth tells Tommy that both her and Kathy think Tommy's imaginary animals to be a joke, I think that it is hard not to feel sympathy for both Tommy and Kathy, knowing how this must have made both of them feel. I feel like Ruth slowly starts to become more and more of an antagonist in these chapters, especially when she tells Kathy that she would never have a chance with Tommy even though it is clear to the reader that this is not true. Although Ruth does become somewhat of an antagonist during the days at the cottages, it is nice to see her redeem herself once Kathy becomes her Carer and they both go to see Tommy in his elderly age, which is the second critical event that takes place in these chapters. Ruth tells Kathy, "You and Tommy, you've got to try and get a deferral. If it's you two, there's got to be a chance. A real chance," ultimately telling Kathy what every reader has been thinking all along (Page 233). I think it is important that Ruth finally does admit that it should have been Kathy and Tommy, I just think it is a shame that she doesn't do this earlier. Nevertheless, it is important that she does, and I am excited to read what happens as a result of this.
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Kayleigh Newman
7/12/2015 05:32:26 am
As I read further into the novel, I learn that not all guardians at Hailsham have a desire for the students to be the same, robotic people that the boarding school has been bringing up. For the whole of the students' lives up to this point has consisted of obeying, listening, and performing given tasks for the enjoyment of others (the gallery, the exchanges etc.). However, Miss Lucy enlightens the children to a crucial practice of life when she says: "if you're to live decent lives, you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of you"(page 81). The students are now faced with the reality of them having to truly think for themselves. It's difficult to tell if Miss Lucy is trying to evoke individuality within the students, or if this is just her regular outlook on life. But with that aside, the characters are now faced with one of life's greatest challenges: finding yourself. This is something that could take years and various specific events. But also knowing what lies ahead for you, even death. Since Ruth and Tommy are both donors, this is something that they had know is in front of them. With being frequent donors like they are, death as a result is seemingly inevitable.
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Kayleigh Newman
7/12/2015 05:55:18 am
As I approach the end of the novel, what I originally thought was of importance was indeed so. In my opinion, Hailsham is a very dark place. The guardians and the entire staff are secretive for a reason. And the medicinal education the characters received now serves a clear purpose. The students are being raised to become donors. This ties numerous paramount elements together. The enlightenment of medicine and donating to the students is to raise their interest in the topics and of course, let them know what they're in for, well, sort of. Some details of how excruciating donating can be are left out because then Hailsham would produce far less donors. I believe this reveals the purpose of the gallery as well. The best works of the students are taken and displayed almost as if they are memories. This is so because Madame knows those who attend Hailsham will be donors and are condemned to a shorter life. The gallery is to recognize what they were able to accomplish within their smaller window of time. I believe the key theme in the novel is a question. Should we spend time living our lives even though death is a certainty? Kathy contemplates these feelings and asks "why did we do all of that work in the first place? Why train us, encourage us, make us produce all of that? If we're just going to give donations away, then die, why all those lessons? Why all those books and discussions?" (page 259). Kathy does not understand the point of learning and working, if all they were to end up doing is donating and dying. These question, and ideas that have come full-circle paint Hailsham to be its only little dystopian society. Teaching children only to have them die because of what they taught them to do. It's a business. The children are the products as long as they are ignorant and are not aware of the morals and the standing of the outside world
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Marisa Carmean
7/12/2015 06:39:06 am
Like many of the other students who have posted, I had many questions while reading the book. Because of my many questions, I decided to blog after I had finished reading so I could write about the book as a whole, and not piece by piece. In this post I would like to expand upon the donations. I agree with Gabby that with our perspective, the donations are terrible. I believe the author chose to add the donations to construct symbolism. Even after Kathy and Tommy find out the truth about the donations, they still participate in them without trying to find another way out. This is where the symbolism comes into play. Kathy and Tommy did not fight the donations further, because they were raised to believe that there only purpose in life was to donate. Us readers may see these donations as horrifying, but for the characters, it is natural. Some may not realize, but the donations symbolize our very lives. Our world contains many different beliefs on how to live. Some choose to devote their entire lives to God, and others want to live life to the fullest without rules or guidelines. The characters in Never Let Me Go are very similar to us, they just have different beliefs.
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Marisa Carmean
7/12/2015 07:18:17 am
In Never Let Me Go, the author includes more symbolism around Kathy's life. As Jamie mentioned, the tape holds meaning for Kathy. When listening to the tape, she pictures "a woman who'd been told she couldn't have babies, who'd really, really wanted them all her life. Then there's a sort of miracle and she has a baby, and she holds the baby very close to her and walks around singing."(pg. 70) The tape represents the key to opening the door of a new life for Kathy. She knows she will never be able to give birth to a child, but the tape gives her a new world in which she could have a baby to hold and sing to. Another of the biggest symbols for Kathy is Hailsham. Hailsham symbolizes her childhood and where she belongs. Later in the book, Kathy finds out that Hailsham had closed and she compares that experience with "someone coming along with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwined... [and] once that happened, there'd be no real sense in which those balloons belonged with each other any more."(pg.213) Kathy is a balloon and she feared that the closing of Hailsham would cause her to lose the place where she belonged, but she learns that she still lives in the memories from her childhood. Lastly, Norfolk proves to be very symbolic throughout the book. Throughout her life, Kathy uses Norfolk as her hope. She believes this place is where all lost things are found and she holds on to the hope that anything or anyone she loses will go to Norfolk and wait for her to find them. At the end of the book Kathy travels to Norfolk, and here she imagines that if she "waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear..., and gradually [it would] get larger until [she'd] see it was Tommy..." (pg 287) Tommy had died during a donation and Kathy held the hope that he would return to her in Norfolk. All three of these symbols prove to be very important for Kathy, whether it be for a new life, an old life, or hope.
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Samuel Tejchma
7/12/2015 07:25:28 am
I am nearing the end of the book and it's slowing starting to come together and make sense. Just as Jamie thought seeing Ruth and Tommy together seemed wrong to me. Tommy is a caring, more down to earth kinda guy and Ruth is kind of a bully. She only cares about what the "cool" kids think and even though she claims Kathy is a friend she treats her like a little sister when the older sisters friends are around. I predict Tommy and Kathy will end up together. For example on page 167 Ruth mocks Kathy after Ruth is the one who made a big deal out of nothing, "Oh, look who's the upset one now? Poor Kathy. She never likes straight talking." She always belittles Kathy and like Jamie I also couldn't care less for the person Ruth has become. One event I read through in this book that really shocked me was when Ruth referred to everyone as being "modeled from trash" (page 166). It made me start to think is that why they all have their personality problems? This could be hinting towards why Ruth is a self-absorbed bully, why Tommy is a bullied kid people take advantage of, and why Kathy always thinks she is right and doesn't do anything wrong. Also, one reason I believe Kathy and Tommy will end up together is when he helped search for a new tape for her. He absolutely adores her and they just seem right together.
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William Krohn
7/12/2015 08:53:02 am
Nearing halfway through the book, I have realized Kathy must be writing/remembering all of these events for reason. She has mentioned something to the effect of "how it was where you were" a few times, which gives me the idea the miscellaneous stories she has been telling are building to enforce and idea or purpose to whomever her audience is. Something I have found strange is her variety in confidence about her narration. Often, she will state something that happened and what Ruth or Tommy thought happened, and then immediately say they must be wrong and she, herself, is correct. Yet, at other points will blatantly say she is exaggerating the scenario or imagining things. I am not sure whether this makes her more reliable, in that she is honest when she does not have the whole story correct and firm when she does--or if that makes her less reliable because she is hazy on some bits and more confident about something she could have made up. The book being named after the Judy Bridgewater song leads me to believe it must have a vast importance somewhere. Perhaps Madame will have a hefty plot point associated with her down the line or the baby things will resurface. Of what has been revealed about the purpose of the students lives, it is peculiar to me how school-esque Hailsham is. Considering the role the students are supposed to play, I would have imagined Hailsham should be more of a facility for containing/raising them until they can be put to use. Since the Guardians are going to lengths to have the students educated and, evidently, be really creative, I assume some purpose for all of it will become apparent at some point. I am shocked at how--when Kathy explains scenes from when they were all young--realistic the children are. The mannerisms she describes and events that took place with the children are all relatable and easy to believe; whereas in some books/movies, the kids are so corny and not at all believable characters.
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Alyssa Lodes
7/12/2015 12:43:16 pm
As I am near the end of part two the connection between Kathy and Tommy has become very strong. While in Norfolk Ruth, Cassie, and Rodney travel to see a friend, Martin, and Kathy and Tommy go on an adventure to search for the Judy Bridgewater cassette tape Kathy lost. Tommy explains to Kathy how hard he searched for her tape while they were still in Hailsham because he knew how special it was it her. When Kathy found the cassette tape at a second-hand shop in Norfolk Tommy was happy, but he was also upset because Kathy was the one who found the tape and not him. Tommy was looking forward to the moment when he could surprise her with something very special, but unfortunately it did not happen the way he was hoping it would. Throughout their time together in Norfolk, Tommy told Kathy many secrets, “I haven’t told anyone, not even Ruth” (Page 178). Ruth is Tommy’s girlfriend, but it seems like the importance of telling Kathy is greater. Kathy and Tommy share a very powerful bond. I am very curious to find out how Tommy really feels for Kathy. Are they only friends? Or does Tommy truly care about her more than he cares for Ruth? I agree with Sam; I think Tommy and Ruth will end up together.
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Gabby Cutler
7/12/2015 01:37:46 pm
Finally, it seems, all of my questions have been answered. Though sometimes I found myself frustrated by the lack of important details in the story, I believe it is that same wonder that motivated me to continue reading. Never Let Me Go is a extremely thought provoking read. Would I be willing to manipulate a person's life for the benefit of someone else's health? Would I risk killing another for my own safety? My first instinct is to think of my needs before others, but then I think of Kathy asking Miss Emily "..why would people want students to be treated so badly in the first place" (Page 262). Man's fear of sickness and death is not a substantial reason to brainwash and brutalize, innocent children. Even though Hailsham did nothing to stop the donating of donor organs, it did try to improve the students quality of life. It was a step in the right direction. Behind all the secrecy and the deceit, the guardians intentions were pure. This was a surprising discovering, after having seen Hailsham be painted in a darker light throughout the story.
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Brooke Rollston
7/12/2015 02:49:34 pm
As I am nearing the end of Never Let Me Go, I am beginning to see the moral aspect to the world of having these organ donors. It is beginning to become clear why these kids have been subjected to a world of isolation and being feared by the outside world. Kathy and Tom are speaking with Miss Emily and Madame when Miss Lucy explains the issues with having donors and how having them crosses many moral boundaries. She explains to them how the people in the outside world view donors and how, "they didn't want to think about [the] students, or the conditions [they] were brought up in. In other words...they wanted [them] back in the shadows" (88%). The kids at Hailsham have never been more to Madame, to the guardians, or to the rest of the world than a constant reminder of the mess they have all worked to nourish and grow. This is why the kids have all been pushed away and put into places where the people do not have to be reminded of their makings and also why Madame and the guardians treated the kids as pests; they cause them to second guess their actions and wish to take it back because that is simply human to feel sickened by something as donors and to want to push it away for someone farther down to deal with.
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Jared Cloutier
7/12/2015 10:50:26 pm
*Spoiler* I have now finished the book Never Let Me Go and I must say that the ending was quite a bit more disappointing then I thought it would be. I suppose that looking in hindsight, I could not have honestly expected Tommy's theory about the gallery to be true, but the way the author builds up to the moment of truth throughout almost the entire book really made me want to believe that it would be possible for Tommy and Kathy to get a deferral. Nevertheless, what Tommy and Kathy to come to learn is pretty substantial, and although my initial feelings would probably be resentment had I been in their shoes, it is necessary to realize that Miss Emily and Madame did all they could to give the donors the best life possible, so they have to be at least somewhat grateful. I agree with Gabby that the idea of children being raised up in the world simply to donate their organs once they became old is pretty sickening, but I am at least happy that Kathy and Tommy were eventually able to end up together. I think the hardest part of the story for me to read was at the end when Tommy talks about the river in his mind, saying, "The current's too strong...That's how I think it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever" (Page 282). I think it was hard for me to read this part, because due to my faith, I believe that pure love is eternal. But even so, sometimes events in life draw people who were once in love apart. It is this conclusion that made the end of this story a bit disappointing for me, but besides that I think that this was certainly a very interesting read, and I am glad I chose to read this book.
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William Krohn
7/13/2015 04:23:29 am
After learning the students were to be put through "donations," I have been attempting to guess why they need to donate their organs. A fleeting thought was that there was some sort of disease or plague running rampant in the world and the cloned students were the governments idea to help with it, but that seems unlikely due to the rest of the world being seemingly normal, at this point. Which disproves a numerous amount of theories I could have had regarding the reasoning for the necessity of the students' donations. At this point in the book, Rodney and Chrissie are suspicious characters. They are reminding me, all too much, of the two crazies from the Ozarks in Gone Girl. The way the two of them talk about Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy being Hailsham is offsetting--especially, how coveting the two seem to be of the idea of a deferral. Also, with the gang being away from Hailsham and in a more "real" setting, their true colors are beginning to shine through. Ruth is very concerned with her image and keeping herself (and Tommy and Kathy) on good terms with the veterans because she must see some greater purpose for assuring they are all aligned. Tommy appears to be stressed/anxiety-ridden about being away from Hailsham, like he just seems very distant. Kathy is definitely more concerned about things than she lets on. On pages 134-135, as she looks through the porn magazines, she scans the models faces, which I have inferred to be her looking for a "possible," though later (page 140), when Kathy is explaining the whole "possibles" thing, she claims to find "possibles" irrelevant. I wonder why she is in denial about wanting find her possible.
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Marisa Carmean
7/13/2015 04:37:21 am
As Sam discusses, Kathy and Ruth have a relationship with many ups and downs, and Ruth treats Kathy in ways to which many would consider manipulative and controlling. Throughout the book, I was very frustrated because of all the things Ruth did and how easily Kathy forgave her for the acts. After finishing the book though, I came to realize that the purpose of this relationship was to open the eyes of the readers to their own personal relationships. Ruth committed many wrong things against Kathy, but the audience must realize, whether we will admit it or not, we all have someone in our lives who does wrong by us but we choose to forgive them anyway. Why should we forgive them? Because at least once in our lives we have become the person who makes a wrong decision which hurts someone else. Even Kathy, the supposedly innocent main character, brought pain upon Ruth. She exposed the truth about Ruth's pencil case, after which she regrets because she "could think of no way now to repair the damage" done to Ruth. (pg. 60) Kathy forgives Ruth of all her malicious acts because she understands the panic of knowing you hurt someone and could never take it back.
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Marisa Carmean
7/13/2015 04:53:02 am
Overall, the book proved to be very enlightening. I compared many of the aspects from the book to the real world, and was frightened by how similar the two were. Though we may not have involuntary donations, we have minorities who are treated as the "students" are in the book, with fear and misunderstanding. We hold rallies and protests for human rights, just as Miss Emily and Madame had collected the students' work to "prove [they] had souls". (pg. 260) Humans are afraid of the things which they do not understand, which is why people like the donors are isolated away from the rest of the world. Gay rights has been one the biggest fights in the past few years, and before then, people were too afraid of what might happen to them if they "came out of the closet". While reading, I wondered why the students also became carers and had to treat each other, instead of people from the outside world doing the job. This point made me realize that because of the fear, the outside world isolated the students and even forced them to do the dirty work. We are similar to the characters in the book because of the actions we take to protect ourselves from the unknown.
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Alyssa Lodes
7/13/2015 10:01:25 am
I agree with Marisa; reading about the way in which the students were treated differently from people living outside of Hailsham is very irritating and outrageous. It is easy to realize the students were not normal kids, but knowing of the isolation was heartbreaking. As well as seeing different character’s dreams, such as Ruth’s, shattered because of the realization of unrealistic goals. Towards the end of the book when Miss Emily referred to the students at Hailsham as, “Shadowy objects in test tubes” (Page 261) I was really upset, but surprised to find out some of the guardians tried to make ‘normal’ people realize, “these children are anything less than fully human” (Page 262). Throughout all of the time spent with the students the guardians realized the student clones really deserved more than the way they were all treated. Similar to the way Jared felt, I expected more to occur before the ending of the book, such as the possibility of a deferral, but overall the unusual events made the book very interesting to read.
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Jamie Fortenbacher
7/13/2015 11:23:41 am
After finishing Never Let Me Go, I have to disagree a little with Alyssa and Jared, I actually really liked the end. I am glad that Kathy and Tommy were able to reconnect and have an actual relationship, although I was hoping the whole idea behind deferrals was true. I'm pleased with how Kathy and Tommy parted and preferred this compared to a potentially very sad ending. I am also glad to not have to experience Kathy going through the donations. Finally figuring out the truth behind Hailsham was a relief, along with what Madame was up to. When Madame explains the reason for her sadness the one day back at Hailsham, she explains, "I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel world," (pg. 272). I saw this as a look into the gentle side of Madame, showing that she was not simply okay with the whole clone/donation process, but truly felt sad for these kids. It was nice to know that some people cared for these kids and did not simply treat them as a form of merchandise. Most of my questions were answered after I finished reading and all in all, I am very pleased with this book.
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Samuel Tejchma
7/13/2015 12:22:52 pm
I have finished the book Never Let Me Go and along with Jared I also was little disappointed with the ending. I felt as this story kept going along teasing you with little details of what is really going on then in the end kind of just wraps it up with the obvious answers. I'm really happy that Tommy and Kathy did get to have a little bit of a relationship even though most of it was awkward encounters. Also, the whole moral issue behind how clones should be treated didn't seem so science fiction the more I thought about it. The reason they kept the kids artwork was "to prove you had souls at all" (page 260). Speaking of the kids in this quote. It reminded me not only of the racism around the world today but also gay rights. Obviously this book is a very extreme version of this but it's got the same idea behind it. There is a different "type" of person in the world and once again society has trouble accepting it. There are groups fighting for them and groups against them just like in the real world. When I finished I was still happy that I chose this book and overall was pleased with it even if the ending wasn't exactly what I had hoped.
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William Krohn
7/13/2015 01:14:13 pm
Oh, earlier me, you were right about Kathy looking for her possibles in the porn magazines. Although, it was not exactly the premise I was thinking. I find it interesting to watch the characters' personalities alter with each change of location. Every new place seems to bring out something else in each character. After the move to the cottages, Kathy mentions how awkward everyone new was acting because it was the first time out of Hailsham. This first move, I think, tested the bond between Ruth and Kathy. For a while they could keep it up, but after the Norfolk trip, there seems to be another edge to it. During the trip, Tommy's bond with Kathy definitely sparked back up with them talking about the Hailsham rumor. The significance of the cassette is becoming more clear to me as Kathy talks about letting things go. I am seeing Hailsham students having difficulty letting go of that part of them. As a carer, Kathy said she likes to find people from Hailsham--to create a form of kinship, a bond, over something neither could seem to let go.
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William Krohn
7/13/2015 01:58:34 pm
Again, earlier me, you were right about there needing to be a reason for the students to be creative. Though this whole book is more dismal than I had been imagining. Throughout this whole thing, I had been insisting to myself there had to be some dystopian aspect to it, but really it is just a moral-bending look on the medical industry. At least there is an answer to why they made donations because it was honestly irritating to only know half of it for most of the book. My idea from earlier, about attitudes changing after every new location, holds itself up again after Tommy and Kathy return from Madame's. The tension and coldness between them palpable. At the end though, all three of the trio could not let go of each other. All of them tried to save what they could of one another and somehow shelter their connection.
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