A Month of Unpopular Opinions | October Wrap Up

[@OverlyAverageBen]

Me informing the TSA before they do a full body search: No, you don't understand! My box cutter is a metaphor for how anyone can hijack your life, but I won't let them because I'm my own person!

[@merphynapierreviews]

😂😂😂

[@billyalarie929]

Absolutely perfect 😂😂😂

[@VetinariClone]

I tend to disagree with the cigarette on the plane bit. If someone wants to have a cigarette in their mouth on a plane I just… just don’t care? As long as they don’t light it, why on earth would it matter? I am someone incredibly sensitive to cigarette smoke. I would absolutely be willing to straight up toss people smoking out of airplanes, but just having a cigarette in their mouth, unlit? Could not begin to be less bothered.

[@Talezassian]

0:00 Intro 1:22 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 6:00 Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon 10:30 Skin Game by Jim Butcher 11:01 Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff Vandermeer 15:24 Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky 18:01 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 25:10 Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

[@jellevanbreugel325]

thank you!

[@AsuraSantosha]

Thank you!! I really, really dislike when I can't jump back to where they said the name of the book without random scrolling. You did forget: 15:24 Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky

[@thejustinwestra]

An unpopular opinions video on Halloween? SPOOKY.

[@mikaelab7485]

Never Let Me Go is a book I didn’t enjoy in the moment but finds myself thinking about a lot. Remains of the Day is definitely my favorite of his books and may be one of my favorite books ever

[@Dunybrook]

I've not read any of John Green's books because they don't interest me for various reasons but, as an avid Vlogbrothers fan, I get the impression from his videos that they all-at least in part-were written to start interesting conversations about complex issues. I'm very tempted to give his book of essays, The Anthropocene Reviewed, and his upcoming one about tuberculosis a chance as they seem likely to be some engaging nonfiction.

[@impastomusic]

I’ve read a few of John Greene’s novels and they were okay, though I was older than the target audience. But I thoroughly enjoyed The Anthropocene Review (especially the audiobook), and I’m looking forward to the TB book 😊

[@cleanstitches]

Your notes in The Fault in Our Stars sound just like my notes in Name of the Wind 😅

[@pobbityboppity1110]

Ah yes a bunch of endless smug cleverness. I actually see this comparison. Yup

[@dianaayt]

@@pobbityboppity1110 I always find funny how people hate Kvothe just because he is clever and he isn't humble about it 😂Let the man know he is clever for gods sake 😂

[@pobbityboppity1110]

I suspect I loved Never Let Me Go since I read the whole thing in one sitting, since it’s not super long and I desperately wanted to know more. The melancholy also spoke to me.

[@michaelmasiello6752]

Yay!! I am the one who recommended Housekeeping. As a longtime viewer I just had a gut feeling you’d love it. I’m so glad you did! Made my day. Some of what makes the language and imagery so rich is its connection to biblical language and symbols. There’s the flood, of course. There’s the lake as the mirror of the sky. There’s the very name Ruth. Her opening line, “My name is Ruth,” rewrites Melville’s “Call me Ishmael.” In the latter we’re to assume the narrator’s real name is being disguised for a biblical type. In the former, we are told “this IS my name.” And yet she too is a biblical type in some sense: the Book of Ruth’s most famous line is “where you go, I will go.” It is also unusual in that among the so many patriarchal books of the Bible, it is about women and the bonds of love between them. Speaking of love, I love Sylvie, and I think she loves the girls-but she’s an eccentric, a homeless person uncomfortably rooted in Fingerbone, and it is Ruth who sees this. Where Sylvie goes Ruth goes-out of love and into eternity. It’s beautiful, I think, and it drives the language of the book. Robinson is fascinatingly in dialogue with theological ideas throughout her work. If you loved this, Gilead is your next stop. (It begins a luminous tetralogy.) My prediction for your favorite Ishiguro: The Buried Giant. Again, a gut feeling. Remains of the Day is a masterpiece, but The Buried Giant strikes me as a very Merphy book. But enough nattering from me. Happy to recommend more stuff any time. So glad you loved Housekeeping (and that my hunch was right)!

[@merphynapierreviews]

thank you so much for recommending it and I love reading your thoughts on it as well! It was such a surprise as I wouldn't think of it as one I'd love but it just ended up striking me just right

[@sparradile]

Really glad you enjoyed Housekeeping! Robinson's books are definitely ones for prose appreciators and hard to recommend to others, but whenever I encounter someone who Gets Them it's a beautiful thing.

[@alwayschooseorange]

I can’t stress this enough but reading the Fault in Our Stars is EXACTLY what it felt like to be in college creative writing classes in 2013 😂

[@pobbityboppity1110]

Books reflect the culture of the times, for sure…

[@brenndasouzaa]

I completely agree with your feelings on Klara and the Sun and Never let me go. Klara is a much more likable and sympathetic character that made me invested on her and the story. Never let me go is much more analytical but the main character feels distant, but she tells a brilliant story.

[@Secondhelix]

TFIOS is not my favorite of John Green's books from a writing standpoint, but it is the book that comes most from him working through a feeling of loss. It was written in remembrance of Esther Earl, a member of the community who passed from cancer, and who's dying wish was to create a holiday that acknowledges platonic forms of love. While I don't love reading the book, I feel like, at least for me, it is the most impactful.

[@KittyxKult]

If you haven’t read this star won’t go out, please do! I criedddd

[@edwardlayer4259]

Just a little point, as it is one John has made himself, but TFiOS wasn't written for Esther, but John has stated that he wouldn't be able to write the book having not known Esther.

[@KittyxKult]

@ I think what secondhelix means is that the book is dedicated to her officially, she was already deceased when it was written, so it was not written FOR her, but in honor of her memory.

[@Secondhelix]

@@KittyxKult Yeah, I'd meant moreso that the book was written to help him work through his emotions and to honor Esther.

[@Montie-Adkins]

I just finished Changes. Butcher wasn't messing around with that title. That whole last act and ending was the most dramatic of the series to that point. On to Ghost Story!

[@Rope_Adope]

I love Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera. Those furies, right?❤ He was a late bloomer too 😂🎉

[@Montie-Adkins]

@@Rope_Adope I have not read any other Butcher books.

[@Rope_Adope]

@@Montie-Adkins want a summary?

[@Montie-Adkins]

@@Rope_Adope Sure!

[@R3C_Tech]

Love hearing someone talking about Deeds of Paksennarion. I picked up the omnibus of the trilogy at a library back in highschool on a whim and loved it. That tragedy you eluded.to was one of the most brutal things I'd read to that point. I recently reread/listened via audible and still liked it a lot but can kind of see what you're saying but overall still a 5 star for me as I like a book that gives me "boring points" for my mind to fantasize about what is yet to come.

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks ❤I absolutely love the Dresden Files

[@edwardtrainor8927]

Love that you got "Housekeeping" in there. Ironically (given how genre fans complain that their favs are treated reductively) I see a lot of genre fans being weirdly reductive about more traditional litfic. So I'm really glad you branch out in your reviews.

[@kevynlevi9894]

Man, someone REALLY ressurected a novel. I didnt remember i read this, i remenber just reading Turtles All The Way Down.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I read the fault in our stars years ago, but I’m so curious what I would think about it now 😂

[@gayanegasparyan4137]

I’d recommend you Remains of the Day by Ishiguro Merphy! Phenomenal book imo

[@MojiiOkay]

I think the Never Let Me Go film is a bit better than the book, the main character is a sort of passenger in her life, but the film manages to show you how it all still affects her, due in no small part to Carey Mulligan's performance in the main character role. It all still maintains the quiet sadness that all of Ishiguro's books have. Idk if its an accurate movie, to be honest, it might be perfectly accurate, it might be inaccurate, but I think the vibes are there.

[@swordfish1929]

Having been a pretentious teenager I do think John nailed the pretentious teen voice. Honestly though you have the same criticisms of the book as my mum

[@hollym7878]

So, about Divided Allegiance: I fully agree with your assessment about the weakness of the writing and storying telling. That being said, this trilogy is one of the finest examples of the hero's journey that I've ever read, and you don't see the full payoff until book 3.

[@slothkng]

your thoughts on Never Let Me Go are literally what I put in my review it's cool to see i was the not alone with that idea

[@nikolahetn944]

In October I read: - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan - I enjoyed it and I'm going to continue the series but I'm afraid it's not going to be a new favourite (I hope I'm wrong!) - Book Lovers by Emily Henry - this was great! - Hobbit by Tolkien - just like I expected, loved it infinitely more than the first time I read it in middle-grade (I thought it was boring, underwhelming and schematic 🙈). I wish I could stay in this story longer, I love Tolkien's prose. It was a rough month for me, I started a lot of books but they didn't grab me yet. Hopefully I will finish them in November. I read Never Let Me Go in Semptember and also gave it 3.5 stars. Although the writing style is wonderful I ultimately found it underwhelming. I love the message but the execution not so much. I kept waiting for "something". I saw some people saying it has amazing plot twist which set me up for dissapointment since I very much disagree with that. Similarly to the main characters I didn't know but I also knew at the same time and I think it's very cool and fitting for the story but I thought there will be more to it, something unexpected.

[@bebebrownsdollhaul6444]

Never Let You Go gets under your skin after you’ve read it. Much later. During the reading of it, it seems slow. I loved Klara but the experience of reading NLYG and realizing later it’s profound beauty is such a strange experience that I am stunned at how it was created.

[@natasharedmane]

The rule of thumb for Weird fiction on goodreads is that if the rating is around 3.5 stars, that book is fire for weird fiction fans lmao I finished Absolution two days ago and I'm very curious to hear your thoughts!!! I loved it!

[@commonviewer2488]

So often in High School did I pick up a book and think "are they just trying to appeal to me without understanding? Because this doesn't sound right at all."

[@SamNot-so-wise]

That’s understandable about Never Let Me Go, I felt similarly when I first read it. However upon reread it became one of my favourite books :)

[@TimeTravelReads]

I saw the movie and then read The Fault in Our Stars years ago. At the time, I was going through quite a bit mentally and physically. It described my pain and religious questions pretty well. That's mostly what I needed and noticed at the time. I wonder what I'd think of it now that I'm in a much better and more mature place?

[@Waywoah]

I'm curious if you'd like John Green's non-fiction book The Anthropocene Reviewed. I've never been able to get into his books, despite being a big fan of his and his brother's youtube channel for years, but I absolutely loved TAR

[@Secondhelix]

He has another nonfic coming out about the history of tuberculosis, which has been his passion topic for a few years

[@Leos131]

Never let me go was life changing 😂 I read that in college

[@jamielikzht]

Since high school I’ve always hated John green’s writing. Love his TikTok’s though 😂

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

You've hated his nonfiction too?

[@alecstuckeyguitar]

Can’t recommend The Remains of the Day enough. It’s an all time classic

[@anthonym.7653]

Loved every Ishiguro I have read including NLMG. But his true masterpiece is Remains of the Day.

[@PonderingsOfPete]

What if Humidity would kill you is somehow the most Southern horror story written by a british man as a sci-fi

[@mndrew1]

My view on the Paksenarrion books - The original trilogy is great; the follow up series was fantastic the first prequel stand alone was ok; the second was better; but not as good as either of the series. I'm hoping Merphy's pop will convince her to read Oath of Gold. :)

[@Torsin2000]

I agree. Because I read this as the omnibus 'The Deed of Paksenarrion, ' it had a slightly different pacing feel. I do think Oath of Gold has some of the most memorable scenes, as well as the darkest. Hopefully she'll fit it in at some point, it does complete the story arc.

[@R3C_Tech]

Found the Paks Pack lol I read it as omnibus too and followed on for the Gird stories. Which lead me to playing a 5e paladin that was aimed at being a Paks homage 😅 with Girds oath slightly modified being included.

[@Torsin2000]

@@R3C_Tech cool. In some ways it helps to know that Moon wrote it as a D&D campaign. So you can look at the Legacy of gird as a evil mage lord campaign as well. With the Legacy of Paksenarrion books as the wrap up of the entire story ark. I did read the omnibus prior to going to boot camp and then several times since then, with some aspects making way more sense after. Although I've also read everything else by Elisabeth Moon as well, The Speed of Dark was a phenomenal novel about a high functioning autistic guy. and very understable how it won the Hugo Award in 2003. While the sci-fi series blew me away 'Vatta's War' and the "Serrano Universe" books were great, I think the first one I read was 'Once a Hero'.

[@rammelbroadcasting]

I also liked Klara and the sun better. Actually, it is still my favorite of his books. Although I've only read 3.

[@TheNickNutter]

Not 12 hours after seeing this, I was reading a book where a character said they were reading "Never Let Me Go". The scene takes place in a bar three miles from where I was reading the book. What is this life?

[@jasonfisher8689]

I would love to see you review a space opra. Please avoid anything that's Star Trek or Star Wars.

[@dianaayt]

I read the fault in our starts twice in high school and I gave it 5 starts both times for how lovely their love story is. how they sounded like they were meant to be together. Such a good fit. And how it brought awareness to diseases in teenage years and how love can be a beautiful thing through that. If I would read it now I would probably agree with that too (the most sold author in my country writes books like that. The only I read i annotated it saying "OH SHUT UP" just like you multiple times because the main character was said to be this romantic guy but then he just tried to impress the girl that he didnt like clearly ut thought he would forcing her to be extroverted when she wasnt, making her uncomfortable like "of, you have milk on your mustache but i wont take it cause that would be romantic and you dont like those stuff" WELL THEN SHUT UP ahaha In the beginning of the book we learn her father had depression and she is trying to navigate that while this "nice guy" who has a mental disabled brother and takes care of him (how much of a nice guy is he omg /j) met her and was trying to date her changing her making her leave the house more and talk to strangers and be loud in public. She struggled a lot to try to help her father while trying to make mom happy too since she was a lawyer and expected much from her too (divorced parents). In the end of the book (i skipped like 40%) we learned that the father never had depression. His therapist concluded that his daughter was depressed so they came up with this story that he was depressed so she would get out more to try to make the dad happy by being in activities in the medical company (for them to keep track of her while she met more people). So basically her father lied to her for a year making her live with her own depression and his depression trying her best to make him feel better and while having this stupid dude trying to change every single part of her. Basically the premise of the book was "if you are introverted you are depressed" cause she had no other symptom other than feeling a bit lost in life in the beginning and being introverted. The book told us 400 times she was introverted and her "boyfriend" tried everything to change that. I cant believe how that book gets praise and was the most sold that year as it mocks depression, is completely harmful saying that lying that a parent has depression will help to shift focus and shows romanticism as someone completely shaming and trying to change the other person. And trying to say that a guy is nice even if he is truly a Nice guy from the nice guy subreddit. ugh. I made a 1h review in my channel for the maybe 150 pages I read (deleted now) and I still cant get over it. How bad. So, i know how you feel haha

[@edwardlayer4259]

My main issue with Never Let Me Go is that, because I am from the real life Hailsham, I just find it jarring.

[@uvadoc06]

I thought The Remains of the Day was pretty widely considered Ishiguro's most popular book?

[@danielclasson9737]

It is in the wider world but maybe not on booktube.

[@michaelmasiello6752]

Not necessarily his most popular-but often it is considered his best. It is pretty damn great!

[@michaelmasiello6752]

@@danielclasson9737Facts

[@evilgenius4213]

Sometimes I think that some books can only br right or enjoyable for a person at a certain time in their life. A Fault in Our Stars is like that for me. I didn't love it (I still think it should have ended mid-sentence), but I did enjoy it, then. I don't think I would enjoy it now.

[@KMort]

Not you only becoming invested in a book when it stops being hopeful and starts being bleak😂

[@wiffelballbat]

Pretentious drivel is exactly how I feel about all John Green books. I have read 3 (trying to give him a chance based mainly on the apparently global praise) and hated them all. I have found often that books/series/authors that gain unilateral acclaim - I don't like!

[@burge2695]

That's what I thought when I read both fourth wing and iron flame...I was like this is what everyone is raving about???

[@KierTheScrivener]

Yes I love Klara and The Sun! and felt very similarly about Never Let Me Go (which I read after) and am confused why people are so down on Klara and love NLMG.

[@merphynapierreviews]

yes exactly!

[@shayLEVSHE]

OMG - I had the same opinion of fault in our stars!!! I made the mistake of listening to it on a road trip... that was a very boring ride.

[@litlbucky]

My favorite read in October was Gwynne’s compilation to the Bloodsworn saga (Fury of the Gods) Also enjoyed continuing Finlay Donovan & Miss Percy’s Guide series

[@jamesduggan7200]

I think I do understand how a person could be deeply invested while remaining ambivalent. However, for me I find series a little too demanding. Ofc I am always open to change;

[@Nightlightknight]

I don’t know how I had the patience or functioning eye muscles to finish TFIOS. Past me had the patience present me lacks. Hated the book then, loathe it now.

[@dugonman8360]

My problem with John Green books is that they read like indie films. Here's an average, slight intelligent boy/girl who has some issue that is stalling their lives and here comes the magnetic manic pixie dream boy/girl to gives them a lesson on how to live, which involve many many life affirming moments. Meanwhile, all his/her friends drop everything at a moments notice to fixate on aiding them in their issues as if they had none to concern themselves. Yeah, the life afflicting issue in fault in our stars IS actually life afflicting but that doesn't mean it's not used for the same effect.

[@mrstrangeworld5977]

I don't see the issue

[@andrewberenson5717]

Merphy. Did you watch the movie adaptation of the Fault of the Stars? If so, did you like it? I did not read the book. I thought the movie was fine (a grade of B)

[@samsparks4035]

I couldn’t even get passed the early part of Fault in our Stars without getting really annoyed with the writing style. But, mostly with the characters

[@lucydahlstrom2293]

What VanderMeer book would you recommend to start with? Hummingbird Salamander sounds pretty good!

[@michaelmasiello6752]

I’m going to guess Merphy would say Annihilation (but I could be wrong). I am also a big VanderMeer fan, though, and I’d say Annihilation or Borne are where one should start. I’m also oddly fond of his debut, Veniss Underground. That book is n-u-t-s nuts. Enjoy!

[@merphynapierreviews]

Michael is right, I say Annihilation!

[@unavezms8167]

SPOILERS for never letting go Never letting go is one of those books where the characters are warned they are better not knowing, but proceed to find out anyway. And at the end you wonder if it was all worth it. And they can't treat these kids as human because if they do then the whole organ donation looks immoral and inhumane and they'd be slowly killing them. It's better not to question the status quo.

[@itsjoxius]

Saying Merphy has an unpopular opinion is like saying Locke did nothing wrong.

[@iSamwise]

I don’t like John Greens novels….but he has one line from a book that I LOVE! “She fell in love like you fall asleep. Slowly at first and then all at once.”

[@CantankerousDave]

Borrowed from Hemingway.

[@iSamwise]

@ still love the line. Haha

[@KierTheScrivener]

Every time people talk about how pretentious The Fault In Our Stars and I think . . . these are the teenagers I related to as a teen and now. I do understand this is a common complaint. Like other commentors, I would love to hear your thoughts on The Anthropocene Reviewed

[@keravnos2231]

Wait a minute......wut!?! John green wrote fault in our stars!!!?? This whole time i just assumed it was Nicholas Sparks 😅

[@GlitterEnby]

Finally, somebody else week doesn't like The Fault in Our Stars!

[@Rope_Adope]

How do you read so many books at the same time? All my “authors” names get mixed up for me (granted, names like Butcher, Anderson, Weeks, etc don’t really stand out in the lineup…oh snap! What if that’s the reason they use two middle initials lol) So many good books tho. “The Saga of Seven Suns” is also a personal favorite. So creative yet makes you think about plausibility. Just a fun light read. Don’t have to do too much thinking lol

[@Rope_Adope]

Also, say there was no cover to a story, would you be able to tell whether the author is male or female? Just curious. I just mean it tends to be especially noticeable when writing dialog for the opposite sex. How terrible was that last “divergent” book?

[@2whitie]

Like *checks comment section* everyone else, in excited for you to react to the Anthropocene Reviewed. That said, I'd recommend listening to an episode or two of the podcast of the same name--it'll let you know if you like it

[@Punkandcannonballer]

John Green does a very amazing job of replicating how self-important and entirely genuinen in how dramatic they think and act. Most teenagers find themselves reflected in the pages and a lot of adults just can't stand it. HOWEVER. John also goes way too far with the pretentious drama of a teenager to the point it becomes laughably stupid. Looking for Alaska did the same thing. Not to the same degree as mr. "I don't ever light it" but not far off either.

[@mrstrangeworld5977]

I don't agree I thought the I don't ever light it was actually kl

[@badfaith4u]

I figured you wouldn't like The Fault in Our Stars.

[@pobbityboppity1110]

Fault in our Stars is definitely a relic of its era IMO. The first wave of Tumblr and Reddit starting to influence books, especially YA.

[@tinagarcia3571]

the teens are realistic [ANNOYING], i've raised 11 of them, good luck in the future raising teens. LOL! Oh you said the magic words , like Fredrik Backman ordering Housekeeping.

[@kvsbestian]

have you read Bed by david whitehouse

[@cjmostes99]

I used to be obsessed with John Green's books and TFIOS is the worst one. I will never understand why people liked it so much

[@pobbityboppity1110]

Yeah I bounced off of Fault but I liked Looking For Alaska a fair amount.

[@readingwarlock]

I read TFIOS the year it was published and was so excited for it but it ended up being a massive letdown. It felt pretentious and I could also tell that the author wanted to make us cry (so the result was the opposite). Sad because I love metaphors and a good cry

[@tiananesbitt7156]

📚 🐛 🌸💛

[@rachelspencer9456]

🧡📚🧡📚🧡📚🧡

[@vesch5083]

My unpopular opinion for this channel is that I really dislike Klara and the Sun and Piranesi. I'd place Klara higher ranked than Piranesi. In Klara I can see the good writing and the deeper issues. In Piranesi I hated everything about it. Waste of my time

[@strawberrylime33]

Hi! Are you a full-time youtuber? Because i dont understand how else you'd have time to read so many books (unless you survive on 4 hours of sleep!). I'm only on my 30th book this year. How are you able to make time for all these chonky fantasies?

[@Lynn-CA]

Yes Merphy is a full time booktuber but while that helps it isn't the whole contribution to how someone can read a lot. I have a full time job, but so far this year I've read 125 books. How much you read is influenced by a lot of things. How quick you can read, how much time you dedicate to reading, what other influences are pulling your attention away from reading etc. But how many you read is pretty irrelevant imo. As long as your reading and enjoying yourself then what does it matter if the other person has read 100 more books than you? It really doesn't.

[@richardbrown8966]

hey! don't be so disparaging about spiders in space!!

[@notrixamoris3318]

People like the movies more...

[@thatsci-firogue]

I read Fault in Our Stars when I was a teenager because a lot of friends liked it, I thought it was pretentious too.

[@snehapradhan5591]

❤

[@dianaayt]

I was going to bring ishiguro from the library but since you are still not completely sold i will wait for more reviews on his work

[@MusicalErika]

Ughhhhh. Your opinion of a Fault in Our Stars sums up a lot of my irritation with YA litfic. They have to be so pretentious and "meaningful" which, to me, reads as insufferable ignorant teens. Yes, they're teenagers and have a lot to learn about life, but not everyone has to have an obnoxious "quirk". Stop it!!!!

[@scantor8648]

I hope you're doing Side Jobs, and not Brief Cases for the Dresden short stories. Brief Cases has spoilers for the next three books you've yet to cover.

[@ukiluser]

No, she already read skin game and side jobs

[@scantor8648]

@@ukiluser She's gonna get Cold Days, Peace Talks, and Battle Ground spoiled to heck then.

[@ukiluser]

@@scantor8648 nope, cold days comes before skin game and brief cases comes before peace talks

[@Lynn-CA]

She's reading Brief Cases exactly where she's supposed to. After Skin Game and before Peach Talks

[@scantor8648]

@@ukiluser Isn't Toot's story in Brief Cases? The one that's AFTER Battle Ground? As for me mixing up Cold Days and Skin Game, I hadn't had my coffee yet.

[@maxthemaker9845]

Its funny that the same day I watched this video I listened to a podcast also reviewing (The Fault in Our Stars) and she still loved after reading in her teens and 20s and then most recently in her 30s. its cool seeing differing opinion accidentally link to potions of podcast with review kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2WoYZ96mdCbqsk

[@genteelblackhole]

My first Ishiguro book was The Remains of the Day, which I LOVED. I was really disappointed by Never Let Me Go - even more disappointed than you were, I think. Anyway, I highly recommend Remains, if you want an Ishiguro book with no sci-fi / speculative elements.

[@michaelmasiello6752]

This is dead-on-and yet my gut says Merphy would especially love The Buried Giant. What do you think?

[@genteelblackhole]

@ I haven’t read the Buried Giant yet (Remains and NLMG are my only Ishiguro books so far). I’m definitely intrigued by that one too, it’s on my radar as one to try.