It's hard to summarize my feelings on this book, and I think one reason is that it is such a complex set of emotions and subtext. On its face, this book's premise sounds worse on paper than it actually is - a butler reminiscing about his time spent working for a Lord. But, the subtext of romance, lost opportunities, written in a nostalgic yet humorous style, really made this book enjoyable to read. The allegorical power of the plot, in terms of deciding ones fate, the purpose of your career, ones role in opposing fascism, etc., is likewise fascinating. Having read this and *An Artist of the Floating World* Ishiguro seems to capture the complex depth of a person looking back on their life with both regret and hope.

4.5/5, rounding up