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The Buried Giant
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
From the author of Never Let Me Goand the Booker Prize-winning The Remains of the Day The Romans have long since departed and Britain is steadily declining into ruin. But, at least, the wars that once ravaged the country have ceased. Axl and Beatrice, a couple of elderly Britons, decide that now is the time, finally, for them to set off across this troubled land of mist and rain to find the son they have not seen for years, the son they can scarcely remember. They know they will face many hazardssome strange and otherworldlybut they cannot foresee how their journey will reveal to them the dark and forgotten corners of their love for each other. Nor can they foresee that they will be joined on their journey by a Saxon warrior, his orphan charge, and a knighteach of them, like Axl and Beatrice, lost in some way to his own past, but drawn inexorably toward the comfort, and the burden, of the fullness of a lifes memories. Sometimes savage, sometimes mysterious, always intensely moving, Kazuo Ishiguros first novel in a decade tells a luminous story about the act of forgetting and the power of memory, a resonant tale of love, vengeance, and war.From the Hardcover edition.
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Billypar
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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#Top23of23
It worked out that I had 22 5-star reads this year (I was tempted to bump one of the ratings up 🤓). Here they are in rough order of enthusiasm and broken down by fiction and nonfiction (+1 poetry).
-The Buried Giant wins for my favorite of the year, as I knew it would immediately after finishing it.
-Strangest Read: Stranger to the Moon
-Best Essay Collection: Pulphead
-Best Memoir: The Man Who Could Move Clouds
Happy reading in 2024!!

Ruthiella Such an eclectic list! Love it‘ 👍 3mo
sarahbarnes I still really want to read Buried Giant! Great list! 3mo
See All 12 Comments
merelybookish Great list! I have that Dorthe Nors book on my tbr. 3mo
BarbaraBB The Buried Giant. Such a lovely book. I also loved The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Dept of Speculation! 3mo
Billypar @Ruthiella Yeah, I enjoyed the variety - it was a good reading year! 3mo
Billypar @sarahbarnes I was looking forward to it, but I never imagined going in that it would be my favorite of the year. I still have a lot more Ishiguro to read - that was only my second one. 3mo
Billypar @merelybookish I really liked it - the kind of essays that blend descriptions of the landscape with history and personal experiences in a way that's totally seamless. 3mo
Billypar @BarbaraBB Both DoS and RF have such daring styles. They're not going to be for everyone, but they really sold me. 3mo
Megabooks 📸 3mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I need to get to both Buried Giant and Reluctant Fundamentalist. Fantastic list @Billypar ! 3mo
Billypar @Megabooks Both of those were my second read from each author. I think the other two were 5 stars also, so I should definitely check out some more from them! 3mo
34 likes12 comments
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The_Book_Ninja
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

Profound storytelling at its most beautiful. On a casual level, a compelling story of a couple‘s pilgrimage, set in a fantastical, Arthurian time: A tale that‘s assured and confident in its ability to hide as much as it tells. On a deeper level it‘s about how enduring, yet troubled, relationships (not just marriage) can last because of, or despite, the hurt we can cause each other. Does memory/healing affect the “prize” at the end of the journey?

Billypar Great review! This was my favorite read all year - equally thought-provoking and emotional. 3mo
The_Book_Ninja @Billypar Thank you! 3mo
29 likes2 comments
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DHill
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Of the Kazuo Ishiguro that I‘ve read, this one resonated with me the most. It was for me, poignant and bittersweet.

#AuthorAMonth
@Soubhiville

AmyG I enjoyed this one, too. 4mo
Dilara Same here! 4mo
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DHill
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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I‘m ready to go for November‘s #AuthorAMonth !

@Soubhiville

TEArificbooks I liked this one 5mo
Soubhiville Nice! 5mo
40 likes2 comments
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kitapkurdu
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mehso-so

Beatrice, who was so reluctant to be away from her husband, physically and mentally distances herself by the end, fianlly choosing her own opportunity to reunite with her son in death over a broken life with Axl. Axl who consistently tried to hold onto Beatrice throughout the book tries to help them get over his betrayal yet ends up moving on to a life of loneliness until the boatman (death) comes back for him as he said he would.

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kitapkurdu
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
Mehso-so

I definitely felt dizzy and confused, as if I had been affected by the Mist myself; it felt like a fever-dream until the end, and I cannot remember spending this much time to try and finish a book. Shame as it was due to, for me, the writing style and too much descriptive detailing. The characters all exited the storyline in a very swift and meaningful way, and I would‘ve liked to have known more about them beyond the last 100 pages…

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Billypar
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

I'm not usually a fan of fantasy novels, and I don't usually cry from books, but this one broke both of those trends. I enjoy fantasy landscapes and themes, but I'm a poor visualizer of action sequences and prefer simpler world building. So Ishiguro's brand of fantasy that brings imagery to life through dialogue is perfect for me. The action is short and memorable, much of it being described through one character relaying a tale to another 👇

Billypar This brand of storytelling is crucial for the novel's themes of aging, memory, guilt, and regret. Again, not the usual stuff of an exciting adventure: the two main characters are an elderly couple beginning a quest to find their son, even as a dragon's enchanted breath has stolen their memories. They do meet a more conventional warrior hero, but his role is more complicated to say the least. Although there are many surprises along the way...👇 8mo
Billypar ... the ending is not one of them - you can guess it pretty early on. Yet, that turns out to be a strength rather than a failing because when it finally does come, it's all the more emotional and devastating based on how the story builds and how expertly Ishiguro renders the final pages. Sometimes you finish a novel that's a favorite of the year so far, but this is one of those reads where I'm quite sure I won't read a better one all year 🥇🏆 8mo
Ruthiella I loved this one too. So many readers were unhappy with its slow pace, but that didn‘t bother me. My favorite character was Wistan. I thought it was a complex and sad book, with no easy answers. 8mo
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Billypar @Ruthiella Yeah, it's not as action-packed as some fantasies, but it still has plenty of memorable sequences. The pixies in the river? Terrifying. It would have been easier to nudge Wistan's character more clearly into hero or villain territory, but that complexity makes it a stronger novel. 8mo
Cathythoughts Beautiful review and picture ♥️ 8mo
Billypar @Cathythoughts Thanks! I wish I could more information about the picture itself, besides that it portrays Charon. I got it from this site: https://bodyandface.ru/en/excretory/kto-perepravlyaet-dushi-cherez-reku-stiks-re... 8mo
Suet624 Hmmm…I don‘t usually read this kind of book but you‘re making me curious … 7mo
Billypar @Suet624 I think the higher talking to action ratio was a big plus for me, even though it may be a drawback for other readers. And how many fantasy novels do you get about aging? 7mo
Suet624 @Billypar The aging part is what really interested me... 7mo
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CrowCAH
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mehso-so

Finished this #ebook on #hoopla just in time for #bookclub discussion on Saturday with @VioletCavalier @hkapusta @WonderingGypsy !!!

The narrative was wandering, but I‘ll chalk it up to the mist. And the ending is vague, who knows what the outcome exactly is for Beatrice and Axl.

I‘ll be looking forward to hearing what the group thinks of the book.

451Degrees Loved the writing on this one but the story was lacking something. Great review! 10mo
CrowCAH @451Degrees I agree. That‘s why I gave it a so-so. It was well written, easy to read, but the story line could have used a bit more direction. 10mo
57 likes2 comments
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CrowCAH
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Started this #ebook for #bookclub. Reading on #Libby. Only in chapter one, but I‘m intrigued to see how the story will play out.

Zoes_Human I love this book so much. I hope you enjoy it! 10mo
CrowCAH @Zoes_Human thanks! I‘ll be sure to post a review. 10mo
53 likes2 comments
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AshleyHoss820
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

Axl & Beatrice and everyone in England are affected by a mist that induces memory loss. They embark on a journey to find their son, but they barely remember him nor know exactly where he is. They meet up w/ a Saxon warrior and a young boy who has a dragon bite. What will they uncover? This is, among other things, an exploration of the inevitable differences between age and youth. Are some things best left forgotten? My December #bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
27 likes1 comment
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Gadolby
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

I just finished this book and I‘m crying. I don‘t love most of the writing style and I have some of the symbolism left to sort through, but what a poignant and honest story about the end of life, growing old, and leaving life behind. The dragon‘s breath fills the land with fog. Is there any other fate for us?

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RaeLovesToRead
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

After only a chapter or two, I fully expected a pretentious, whimsical, moralising parable.

What I got instead was a quietly enchanting story about a husband and wife travelling through the misty plains of the dark ages, meeting characters and creatures along the way.

Themes of memory, forgiveness, loyalty and revenge weave themselves through the simple story imbuing it with both meaning and ambiguity.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

@The_Penniless_Author #randyspiles

HeyT Some days I just can't handle how cute Pickles is! 😻 1y
vivastory This sounds fantastic 1y
Ruthiella I loved this slow, contemplative novel too. It also asks big questions about who‘s the outsider, who‘s the hero, etc. that I appreciated thinking about. 1y
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Liz_M 😸 👋 1y
BarbaraBB Great review. I enjoyed this one too. 1y
RaeLovesToRead @HeyT @Liz_M She is a cutie pie 💕🐈 1y
RaeLovesToRead @vivastory I suspect you'd like it, Scott! Have you read any Ishiguro? 1y
RaeLovesToRead @Ruthiella What a beautiful way of putting it! Yes! Who is the hero / who is the outsider... that's something the book does remarkably well 😊 1y
RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB Thanks, Barbara! 🙂💕 1y
vivastory I have! I have read 3 books by Ishiguro: Never Let Me G0 (one of my favorites of all time), Klara & the Sun (disappointing, but I oddly can't forget it) & Artist of the Floating World (I recall finding it interesting when I read it. In retrospect it is my least fave of the 3) 1y
RaeLovesToRead @vivastory The only one I'd read before was Never Let Me Go. I gave it 3 stars at the time but the premise has haunted me. I'd like to re-read it some day. It's on my GR Haunting / Memorable shelf (a shelf I made for books that have lingered with me against my expectations). 1y
BarbaraBB @vivastory I don‘t mean to be pushy but you MUST read 1y
Liz_M @vivastory As in all things, @BarbaraBB is right about this ⬆️ 1y
vivastory @BarbaraBB @Liz_M It's on my TBR 👍 1y
BarbaraBB @Liz_M 😂😉 1y
64 likes2 stack adds15 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Cappuccino and Ishiguro!

@The_Penniless_Author

Readergrrl I really enjoyed this novel. I still ponder it occasionally and I‘m not entirely sure I understood all of it, but I really liked it! 2y
Yuki_Onna You always take the yummiest and cosiest pictures, Rae! 😊 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Readergrrl I genuinely don't know how to feel about it so far. It's... puzzling. At first I thought, oh no this is going to be a snooze, but I'm getting drawn in... 2y
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RaeLovesToRead @Yuki_Onna You should see the amaretto cake and hot chocolate that followed 😉😋💕 2y
Yuki_Onna Uuuuhhh!!! 😋 I see I must visit you asap for a tour de cafés around England... 🤣😋
2y
RaeLovesToRead @Yuki_Onna Definitely! 😊 And if you like sushi, I know a great place in Nottingham!! 😁 2y
Branwen Delightful! 💕📚☕ 2y
68 likes7 comments
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451Degrees
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
This post contains spoilers
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I again have to commend the author on his writing style. The story wasn‘t for me but his writing certainly is! At the beginning of this novel the characters mention a buried giant that is disguised as a hill and is to be avoided. One thinks that that is why the title is what it is. But then at the end of the book is this quote. Touching on the buried giant actually being the feud between the Britons and Saxons. And I just loved that!

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451Degrees
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mehso-so

Ishiguro I have to say has an extremely eloquent and persuasive way with his writing. As I started this novel I was very much pulled forward wanting to find out what was behind every mystery and lost memory of the characters. However I was underwhelmed by the story the more I neared the end. The absolute end of the story was perhaps my favorite part of the book but I felt like it took too long to get there with not much substance in the middle.

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DimeryRene
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

I do not understand the negative reviews of this. Slow, yes.. not actually a fantasy, yes… repetitive, yes …. However all that is purposeful. I thought it was lovely.

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451Degrees
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
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We finished our last discussion on The Help last night in our book club and it was my turn to pick sooooo…. Here it is! Hopefully it‘s a good pick!☺️ They have beautiful covers for the book and the audio!

Readergrrl I really enjoyed this novel. Yes, some parts are meandering and a bit foggy, but that‘s the point of the novel, so…. It was a lick for me and I still think about this one! 2y
451Degrees @Readergrrl that‘s a relief to hear! It seems like people either hate or or love it so it‘ll be an interesting read! 2y
Readergrrl That should say “pick” and not “lick”!! 🤣 2y
Readergrrl I liked it. It‘s a quiet read, but worth the time, I think. It reminded me of This Census Taker by China Miéville. (edited) 2y
41 likes5 comments
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Csn
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

A good book, very different from his other novels. Takes you to a distant place shrouded in mystery but skilfully depicted. Worth a read.

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Nebklvr
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

An atmospheric tale of knights, a dragon, and a strange mist which impairs memories. At times, this story felt bogged down while at other times the pace was frenetic. A tale of melancholy. I would have preferred a different ending.

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Nebklvr
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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I doubt the Saxons thought their fence looked like pencils.

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The_Penniless_Author
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz

1. Arthurian for sure, but I was interested in most every type of mythology I could find.
2. Greece
3. A lot of candidates I could think of, but this one was probably my favorite.

BookmarkTavern Oh I‘ve had this one on my TBR for a while! I‘m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing! 3y
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Lucy_Anywhere
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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#TBRPile 📚 “You would have searched a long time for the sort of winding lane or tranquil meadow for which England later became celebrated.”

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Jaimeb3th
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

Interesting commentary on relational forgiveness and memory.

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j.rye
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Bailedbailed

This one is a slooooooooowwww read. The payoff wasn‘t there to finish it. It may be a good story, but I‘ll never know. 1/3 in and all I know is no one knows anything and Axl looks like somebody that somebody used to know. The author doesn‘t drop enough breadcrumbs to make this interesting enough to follow.
(I will say the art for the book on google makes it seem a lot more interesting than what I read...)

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OBorggs
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
Mehso-so

I enjoyed the reading and I think most of you will too. It seems like the hole plot is spent on a cloud. It's metaphorical and beautiful. It was just not my usual type of book 😊

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andrew61
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

A married couple leave their post roman camp to find their son. On their journey they meet tribes of Britons + saxons, a mighty warrior as well as sir Gawain seeking a dragon who has created a mist making people forget, an oarsman to a mysterious island, ogres, and monks. An unusual but compelling story about memory and whether life is simpler if we can forget animosity, betrayals and loss. For my rdg grp this wk it shd be an interesting chat.

The_Penniless_Author Loved this book! 👍 3y
40 likes1 comment
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The_Penniless_Author
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Ishiguro famously said that he tends to "write the same book over and over", but as skilled as he is and with a theme as rich for exploration as the caprices of memory, that's hardly a bad thing. It's tempting to say that #TheBuriedGiant is just Remains of the Day set in a fictionalized, Arthurian England, the story of a man and a society dealing with the trauma lurking beneath their foundational myths. Fair enough - it is, and it's totally great!

TheKidUpstairs He writes so beautifully, I will happily read the "same book over and over" 3y
14 likes1 comment
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Violetta
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Pickpick

5⭐It's an intricate retelling of the Arthurian legend - with medieval setting, mythological creatures and the Britons against the Saxons conflict, though Arthur himself is long gone. It's also an insightful story about memory, asking important questions whether it's better to remember old sorrows and grudges, letting the vicious circle of hatred and grief spin further, or resort to oblivion and forget what you once have been...Beautiful writing 💜

Cinfhen Sounds great!! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I had no idea Ishiguro did an Arthurian retelling. Fascinating! 💙👊🏻📚 3y
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheEllieMo
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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1. Cats, without a doubt.

2. I‘m grateful that it‘s a short week this week, it having been a bank holiday on Monday.

#ThankfulThursday
@Cosmos_Moon

Cosmos_Moon 😻 happy Thursday and long weekend! 4y
28 likes1 comment
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Andrea313
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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One reviewer summed up this novel perfectly: "It's a beautiful, heartbreaking book about the duty to remember and the urge to #forget." #FlyHighJuly
@Eggs

Eggs Great cover 👏🏻📚👏🏻 4y
16 likes1 comment
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Amandajoy
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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I‘m posting one book a day from my extensive TBR pile. No description. No explanation. Some will be new. Some will be old. They all spoke to me at one time. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in on the fun if you want to.

Day 11 #tbrpile

Dilara I also had this book on my TBR piles for ages, and got round to reading it in January this year. I loved it! 4y
annahenke I really like this book! 4y
36 likes2 comments
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saritaroth
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Bailedbailed

I did not really like this book. Again, it had an encouraging premise. An elderly couple leave their town to try to find their son before the mist surrounding the area wipes out their memory of him. I really enjoy the fantasy genre and this book is within that realm. But it never panned out for me; it was just boring. I am planning on reading more by this author, though; apparently, this is not his usual fare. 🌟

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cottagelantern
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

I can‘t say I “enjoyed” reading this book - it‘s tale is haunting. While it‘s not a story I will say I loved, I know it will stick with me for a long time.

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Astroneman
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mehso-so
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tessavi
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Mehso-so

Finished this last week. I enjoyed reading this story about love & memories but the ending was a bit disappointing.

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MorCan
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

While I have some issue with the book towards the end, this is a haunting read that will stay with you after the end.

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MorCan
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

Well I have some issue with the book towards the end, this is a haunting read that will stay with you after the end.

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Saari84
Buried Giant | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Schon lange stand der begrabene Riese auf meiner Wunschliste und dann fand ich ihn neulich in einem Bücherschrank 😍
Bisher gefällt es mir auch echt gut.
Habt ihr bereits ein Buch von #kazuoishiguro gelesen? Welches hat euch am besten gefallen?
Habt einen gemütlichen Sonntag!
#coffeeandbooks #reader #currentlyreading #bookaholic #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #buch #leseliebe #lesen #buecher #buecherwurm #bookstagram #ilovetoread #

Buechersuechtling Ich kenn bisher nur „Was vom Tage übrig blieb“. Erst als Film (vor Jahren) und dann vor einigen Monaten als Hörbuch. Das mochte ich sehr, war mir aber nicht sicher, ob ich es als Buch genauso gern gelesen hätte wie ich es gehört habe. Vielleicht ist das für mich so ein „Hörbuch“-Autor. ??‍♀️ – Aber: Glückwunsch ?zu deinem Zufallsfund‼️ Sowas ist immer ein großartiges Gefühl, oder❓ Fröhliches Weiterlesen‼️ ? 4y
Saari84 @Buechersuechtling das fand ich als Buch langweilig und hab es erst Mal weggelegt 😅 4y
7 likes2 comments
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RowReads1
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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Andrew65 I need to read this! 4y
BarbaraBB It‘s gorgeous and touching. 4y
TheEllieMo I loved this one! 4y
48 likes3 comments
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Leomuren
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro

Beautiful and melancholy about memories, and what they mean to us. What they do to us. How they shape us.

3 likes1 stack add
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Yesmynameistable
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro

It would be the saddest thing to me, Princess. To walk separately from you, when the ground will let us go as we always did. Page 252

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Nute
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
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#CoverCrush #7Covers7Days

Would you like to show us some of your favorite book covers @pariisannja ? No explanation needed. Post a photo of that moving cover art and tag one Litten each day for the week. Can‘t wait to see what you got! Have fun!!💕

Day Four:
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Cover and Book Design by Peter Mendelsund

Melissa_J I like that one! 5y
Ruthiella Beautiful! I almost chose this one too but I could not have presented it as beautifully as this!😍 5y
batsy This is so lovely 💙 5y
See All 8 Comments
Leftcoastzen Beautiful 5y
Tanisha_A 😍 5y
Nute @Melissa_J @Ruthiella @batsy @Leftcoastzen @Tanisha_A No doubt, it was a cover/book design purchase, but I trust this author after my absolute enjoyment of 5y
EllieDottie Such s beautiful cover!!! 5y
Tanisha_A @Nute Oh I love love The Remains of the Day. Haven't read this one yet. 5y
102 likes8 comments
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MichaelGoertzen
The Buried Giant: A novel | Kazuo Ishiguro
Pickpick

Fantastic historical fantasy! Riveting and bittersweet.