This book review was part of a podcast discussion.
Listen to the episode here.“Some of you will have fine monuments by which the living may remember the evil done to you. Some of you will have only crude wooden crosses or painted rocks, while yet others of you must remain hidden in the shadows of history. You are in any case part of an ancient procession…”
Best described as an exploration of remembrance—or forgetfulness—The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro is set in a post-Arthurian Britain, during which a magical curse renders the ability to recount simple memories nearly impossible.
We follow two elderly Britons who set off on a journey to see their son, who they’ve nearly forgotten and certainly don’t know how to find. After learning the cause of their forgetfulness, their mission shifts gears, and with the help of a former Knight of King Arthur himself, along with a Saxon warrior and his apprentice, they work towards restoring this memory to the world.
But perhaps some things are better left forgotten…
On its face, the book ticks all of the proverbial “fantasy genre” boxes: Dragon? Check. Brave Knights? Check. Saving the Princess? Metaphorically speaking… sure.
In reality, this book is about none of those things. It is instead an examination of our fleeting lives, the things we have done or left undone, the things worth remembering, and the things we might rather forget.
Ishiguro seems to have an appreciation for the dead and long forgotten, and their place in the “ancient progression” that has led humanity to this point.
While the story is slightly confusing at times—especially in terms of chronology—this confusion seems to be purposeful and adds to the experience.
At just over 300 pages, The Buried Giant is a fantastic quick read to keep you thinking long after you have put it down.
Cincinnati, OH
Co-host of 'Why is This a Thing?' and 'Fantasy Book of the Month' Podcast. Coffee lover, cat-dad, fantasy nerd and workaholic.
