Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro)

I knew the library CAIS have it on the shelves, but I never really bothered to check it out until I read about the film Never Let Me Go (starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield) based on the novel of the same name in one of the TIME issues. Then I did some Googling before I borrowed it. So yeah, I already knew about the twist before reading it.

I first started reading it right after my finals. But I only finished reading the story shortly before I went to Royals, which was about 1 week before the Christmas. I suppose I could have taken longer period of time to finish it but seeing that I was left with nothing much to do at home by that time, I could have finished it way earlier either. Like I said, I knew about the twist beforehand, hence I wasn't left that puzzled about many things (that went explained or unexplained) in the book.

The story started off with Tommy getting bullied by other students because of some silly harmless joke he pulled during the art class, and also because of his poor reputation for "creativity". There was once Kathy tried to be friendly to him and that was how their friendship was established. Later, Tommoy got into a relationship with Kathy's buddy, Ruth.

Growing up in Hailsham hadn't been easy. There were so many unwritten rules the students imposed on themselves. There were topics they avoided because bringing up would make their guardians awkward whenever they came near this territory. Kathy, Ruth, Tommy and other students at Hailsham had been constantly reminded of how special or important they were, that they must always keep themselves well and healthy. They were different from their guardians, and also from the normal people outside. Nevertheless, they didn't really know what that meant until they were older.

Mind u, even though these kids were "different" and they were isolated from the outside world, they were nonetheless like u and I when there were cliques, dramas occurring in daily life and they were curious about sex when they had entered the teenage years. But none of them would live the way they planned, either being the film stars or working in supermarkets. And this is because "Your lives are set out for you. You'll become adults, then before you're old, before you're even middle-aged, you'll start to donate your vital organs. That's what each of you was created to do. You're brought into this world for a purpose, and your futures, all of them have been decided." Yeah, the twist is they were cloned for organ donating purpose.

After they moved and lived at the Cottages, one day Kathy decided to leave to start her training to become a carer after something happened between her, Tommy and Ruth. Of course, the three of them met again and spent some time together many years later before Tommy and Ruth had had their last donation and died. Also, Tommy and Kathy at last did go to see one of their guardians, Miss Emily and Madame. A lot of mysteries which puzzled them in those early days were answered. Like why Madame turning up several times each year to select their best work etc.

It is not like I didn't enjoy this book. I did. But I started to skim through it upon entering those chapters where the characters met each other many years later. It seemed like I lost my interest or maybe all I needed was more time. And last but not least, although Ruth was the bad guy in the story, I couldn't help but like her. Yes, she was indeed manipulative and selfish.. but I believe under most circumstances, that's how it should be, especially when u are on your own.

P/S: Looking forward to get a soft copy of the film itself!!! Wanna watch Keira Knightley.

(Once again, think it's a bit too long. Also, I seriously need to work on my writing. And it obviously took me ages to finish a review too :S )

A Painted House (John Grisham)

I have tried reading several John Grisham's books before, but I always ended up quitting half way through. So this is the first ever John Grisham's book that I have finished reading. And it is also the last book I read in 2010.

As contrast to his usual work, A Painted House is nothing about law or courtroom dramas or criminal justice. In fact, it is about the Chandler family who lived in rural Arkansas. The story is told through the eyes of Luke Chandler, a seven year-old boy.

The story started off with Luke and his grandfather, to whom he referred to as Pappy looking to hire hill people to work in their cotton field. With the cotton waiting to be picked, they were desperate for help in the fields. They eventually got the Spruill family and ten Mexicans who would be living with them until the harvest was over.

I must admit, I really enjoyed reading this book, mainly because it portrays the thoughts of a seven year-old on what was happening around him, some of his fears and dreams as well. Luke dreamed of a life away from the fields and a baseball career. He wondered why anyone would want to be a farmer as they barely made money with the debts and all. Like everyone else, Luke had to pick cotton before sunrise till evening not because he wanted to but he was forced to, although he was getting paid for his hard work and the money was needed to purchase the Cardinal jacket he dreamed of. While working through the stalks of cotton, he had to worry about the snakes which he feared so much of.

Upon the arrival of the migrant workers, dramas and secrets started to come into play. Luke getting picked on by Hank. Luke developing a crush on Tally. Luke discovering the romance between Tally and Cowboy. Luke seeing the fight between Hank and the Sisco brothers where he had no choice but to become the witness when Jerry Sisco was dead. Luke sneaking out with Tally to watch Libby Latcher in labor, later only to discover that his uncle, Ricky who was fighting in the Korean War was believed to have impregnated that girl. Luke getting beaten up by the Latcher brothers. Luke once again witnessing the death of another man - Hank who was murdered by Cowboy. Luke subsequently getting threatened by Cowboy to kill his mother if he didn't keep the secret. And many more.

Most of the time, Luke was struggled emotionally, whether to tell the adults the secrets he knew or suffer alone. When he was interrogated about the death of Jerry Sisco by Chief Stick, he was in dilemma whether to tell the truth or lie. Since the Chandler family was dependent on migrant workers on field hands, Luke was very much aware that they couldn't afford to lose them. Therefore he always weighed the situation before he did something. After all, being left short-handed also meant Luke had to pick more cottons, something a seven year-old was dread of. With no siblings to talk and play with (although it is later revealed that his mother was pregnant), Luke was desperately hoping for the return of his uncle. As a seven year-old, he could never understand why the adults had to always keep him away from any controversy. Also, he was confused with religion, especially with the worship and all the preaching Brother Akers gave. He thought it was ridiculous that his grandmother had invented the sin of taking food from the less fortunate when he was found of taking the Mexicans' tortilla. " As Baptists, we were never short on sins to haunt us."

With the men worrying and fretting about the weather and cotton prices, another character that I liked a lot is Luke's mother. Being born as a city girl, she was determined to flee the farm life, have a house in a town/ city with indoor plumbing. She also made sure that she brainwashed Luke into not staying on the farm. She got her dream when heavy downpours started to hit Black Oak and the Chandler's fields were flooded. The Spruills left after their daughter, Tally was running off with a Mexican, Cowboy. The Mexicans were dismissed to other farms where they were still needed. Because of the bad weather and the crop failure, Luke and his parents had to move North to find job to help erasing the debts. Before their departure, Luke with the help of the Mexicans had finished painting their house. The work was initially started by Trot after Luke was made fun of by Hank for living in an unpainted house on rented land. Despite feeling sad about the departure and leaving behind his grandparents living with the Latchers knowing that they would never return, Luke was looking forward to his new life - attend better school, go to new church, make new friends etc

(Damn, think it's a bit too long :S)