When We Were Orphans

By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Christopher Banks, an English boy born in early-20th-century Shanghai, is orphaned at age nine when both his mother and father disappear under suspicious circumstances. He grows up to become a renowned detective, and more than 20 years later, returns to Shanghai to solve the mystery of the disappearances.

Within the layers of the narrative told in Christopher's precise, slightly detached voice are revealed what he can't, or wont, see: that the simplest desires, a child's for his parents, a man's for understanding, may give rise to the most complicated truths.

A feat of narrative skill and soaring imagination, When We Were Orphans is Kazuo Ishiguro at his brilliant best.

©2000 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2000 Books on Tape, Inc. and HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"John Lee conveys both Banks' intelligence and his uneasy depths in this fine performance, which far surpasses the print version as a reading experience." ( AudioFile)

"Goes much further than even The Remains of the Day in its examination of the roles we've had handed to us... His fullest achievement yet." ( The New York Times Book Review)

"With his characteristic finesse, Mr. Ishiguro infuses what seems like a classic adventure story with an ineffable tinge of strangeness." ( The Wall Street Journal)

Great Reading of a Not So Great Story

Lee's performance is terrific. His excellence carried me through much of the last half of this novel. I shall almoat certainly select my next audiobook from one he narrates.
Ishiguro's story is... disappointing to read. About three quarters of the way through I decided this was the work of a man who was not really feeling his story, but simply writing out something hastily plotted. This is the first of Ishiguro's novels that has failed to completely floor me, or reduce me to an awed, wet-eyed devotee.

Too Long

They could have cut an hour from this. Way to much detail. Plus parts of this made little sense. His search at times reminded me of Moby Dick. Obsessive. I won't say more so not to spoil it for others. But this was a disappointment.

absolutely devastatingly beautiful

a story about tragedy of circumstance. You won't know where the story is going to take you In the best possible way. ive heard it said that the author considered this book, " not my greatest work". I don't know if this is true, but I think this book is just phenomenal. there is just so much emotion.

Finding the Parents

"Old-fashioned write style that was perfect for the situation and the time. Good character development.

Entertaining

A hunting glimpse into the past. A very enjoyable book! I thoroughly enjoy this author.

A Lovely Reading....

John Lee is a superb narrator. His flawless expertise with a myriad of accents provides an unparalleled listening experience. Moreover, I am a fan of Ishiguro's writing, sometimes a dreamy, flowing experience which lends itself well to being read aloud. So, I'm happy with my choice here.

However. WHY did audible.com announce at the beginning of my download---in a very chirpy kids' chorus--AUDIBLE KIDS!! Did someone look at the title of this novel and incorrectly ASSUME this was a children's book? What happened, Audible??

great narration!

most of the book was amazing. the ending left several unanswered questions. great period piece

A forlorn story

Well written and narrated, this is a bittersweet tale. It reminds me of Remains of the Day.

Good narrator, good writing, dark story

Finished splendid and the vile right before this, and the narrator was so stilted and bad at female voices, I vowed to avoid anything else from him. But then, I heard this anyway, same guy, and it was like a different reader altogether. Lee is good, here.

Unfortunately, Ishiguro’s story itself is unsatisfying. It is extremely well phrased; his setting and timeline are elegant and civilized, and his characters are engrossing. And I love, once again, his use of the unreliable narrator, to add a bit of uncertainty into what would otherwise be a too-predictable mystery. Yet, it’s dark! I know not every story has to have a delightful ending, but I wanted this one to go differently. And, while still somewhat predictable, I felt let down that it went—not only bad—but SO bad... sorry if that’s a spoiler, but you might as well know it isn’t the romantic story you come to expect from the beginning.

This is now my second middling review of a book by ishiguro (the other was artist of the floating world). Ordinarily, that would be more than enough to justify my giving up on a writer. Yet, his style is so impeccable, his skill so obvious, I’m sure I will try another. He’s like that talented actor who keeps picking mediocre films.

Another masterpiece!

The subtle and nuanced emotions of youth becoming adults is the recurrent theme of all Ishiguro’s writing. To follow his characters through their complicated and self-reflective journey is to better understand one’s own life and own journey. A deep and mesmerizing tale, lovingly narrated.