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Book Club Discussion // The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro

June 1, 2015January 4, 2021 Crystal // Dreams, etc. Post a comment
Book Club Discussion // The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Happy Monday! And Happy June!

Have you had a chance to finish The Buried Giant yet? I hope you enjoyed/are enjoying the book! Ever since I finished it I’ve been looking forward to seeing what you thought of the book. But before we get into the discussion, it’s time to announce the book for June, which is…

THE HUSBAND’S SECRET BY LIANE MORIARTY

I’m so excited for the discussion for this book! I’ve already read it and am so excited to have people to talk to about the book.

And now, it’s time for the discussion of The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro. This novel follows Axl and Beatrice, an elderly couple who set off to find their son, who they have mostly forgotten due to the mist that is thought to make people forget bad memories.


I only have one question for the book, because every question that I had basically came down to this:

What do you think happened in the novel?

I really enjoyed the novel. I was totally intrigued about what was happening, especially in the beginning. I listened to the audiobook (which was very good!) and found that I was trying to find times to listen to it so that I could continue the story. About halfway through the novel, I started to lose a little bit of interest in it. I think it’s because I came up with my interpretation of the novel pretty early, so it started to feel about a bit repetitive. I thought it could have been a bit shorter.

There is one thing that really bothered me about the book: Axl constantly calling Beatrice “princess.” I think he called her princess every. single. time. that he spoke to her and it… rubbed me wrong the first time that I heard it. It’s repetition really made it sound condescending, in my opinion. I really didn’t like that. I thought he treated her… almost like she was a kid. It really bothered me and I didn’t feel the strong “love” that they both thought they shared. I thought their fear that if when the mist went away they’d remember that one of them did something to the other was very telling that they weren’t as in love or as close as they thought they were. And I thought it was mostly centered around him. I liked Beatrice, but I didn’t like Axl.

I really liked how the novel combined fantastical elements, but that it wasn’t a straight up fantasy novel; these elements lingered on the edges of the story a bit. The mist, in my opinion, was one of these elements, and that was really cool. I’ve always been intrigued by stories that include mist.

My interpretation of the novel came pretty much as soon as these elements were brought up is that when people go to the island they die and that’s why two people can’t go together. Their son had already gone to the island earlier.

This was the first book that I read by Kazuo Ishiguro and I’ll definitely read more in the future. I have a copy of one and there’s another that I have my eye on once I finish it.

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WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BOOK?

ERICA

The way that Axl called her “princess” came across, to me, as a constant
sucking up. It seemed as though he felt he did something in the past
that he was trying to be forgiven for but just couldn’t remember what he
did. Then at the end of the book when he lets Beatrice cross without
him even though he was permitted to go with her hinted that maybe she
was the one who did something wrong. I think they hinted towards an
affair. I didn’t feel any resolution at the end. I was left wanting
more, knowing I wouldn’t get answers. I know we were meant to make up
our own endings, however I felt that I just didn’t get enough.

I
agree that there was a lot of repitition. I actually started to slow
down when they were seperated and all met at the dragons lair. I was
hoping for a more action filled slay and was very disappointed that
there wasn’t even a slight struggle. It was way to easy, in my opinion.

Overall
though, I loved reading the book. The period and mystical elements just
kept me reading and wanting more. I live for dragons, Knights, Kings,
and even “princesses” šŸ˜‰

PS – Check out our discussion of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and City of Ember.

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About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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