The Unconsoled

By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

From the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and author of the Booker Prize-winning novel The Remains of the Day, here is a novel that is at once a gripping psychological mystery, a wicked satire of the cult of art, and a poignant character study of a man whose public life has accelerated beyond his control.

The setting is a nameless Central European city where Ryder, a renowned pianist, has come to give the most important performance of his life. Instead, he finds himself diverted on a series of cryptic and infuriating errands that nevertheless provide him with vital clues to his own past.

In The Unconsoled Ishiguro creates a work that is itself a virtuoso performance, strange, haunting, and resonant with humanity and wit.

©1995 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"With this stunning new novel, cast in the form of a postmodern nightmare, Ishiguro tells a powerful story in which he once again exploits a narrator's utter lack of self-knowledge to create a devastating deadpan irony." ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

What

the hell was Ishiguro on when he wrote this? Still, I listened to the end, so it was at least compelling.

A masterpiece of modern-day Alice in Wonderland

Would you listen to The Unconsoled again? Why?

Yes, to decide if the book took place anywhere outside of Mr. Ryder's stressful mind. The book is about the three-day adventures of a famous pianist, Mr Ryder. Or is it actually about the author, Mr. Kazuo Ishiguro, the famous Writer, while during, or after his book tour? Did he lay awake imagining, really have the experiences, or was it all a nightmare?

What other book might you compare The Unconsoled to and why?

Alice and Wonderland. Alice, meet Mr. Ryder, not in Wonderland but in Stress-land. I desperately wanted to jump into the book, The Unconsoled, and immediately rescue Mr. Ryder, from himself. The adventures of the famous pianist, Mr Ryder, are similar to the distracted adventures Alice encounters in her Wonderland.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Simon Vance is the gold standard of narrators. Each and every one of his books are exceptional. The Unconsoled rates among on of his best performances. His effortless and smooth performance was as addictive, complex and diverse as the characters themselves.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, even though at times it was very uncomfortable, I really wanted the characters to show love towards each other. Of course, I also wanted Mr. Ryder to learn the gentle art of saying no.

Any additional comments?

The Unconsoled is a book about stress, stressful to read, but with absolute pleasure. Mr. Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my favorite authors and has created a masterfully written classic that should go down in history. Simon Vance nails the narration.

great narration of post-modern novel

I liked much of this book since I like post-modern types of off-beat stories. What I didn't like was the way the protagonist didn't resist the other, rather pushy characters, He was so passive in his actions and decisions. I suspect this was intentional but it annoyed me a lot. That said, I would recommend it, and Simon Vance is excellent as always.

Absolute masterpiece!

And the reading kept pace! And what an inspiration — to have perfected a dog’s burial and encouraged a young musician — did Buddha abandon family or Jesus leave his mother at the gate to do anything but send the world backwards comparatively? I know they’re very busy, and It pains me terribly to have to bother them, but I feel if the writer and reader wouid only take a short refreshing break from their busy schedules to visit my humble abode in red hook, brookkyn and allow me and my dog to touch and lick, respectively, the hem of their garments, it would make just the difference I’ve been hoping for. Presently I am missing the dreamy narrator terribly, reminding me as he does of my late spouse. Please if you have access do send this onto the appropriate parties to arrange this brief encounter, I will be otherwise unconsolable!

Dreamscape

It took me a while to settle into the dream like sequences of this book. Once I realized the dreamscapes, as when the narrator said that the backend of this house was actually the front part of the hotel, I settled in. I also found it hard at first because I got very annoyed when the narrator decided to be shitty and withholding in an interaction, and then it got clearer to me that this was the author's way of expressing/acknowledging our unflattering but true responses at times.

Very satisfied with this book!!

I randomly picked this book up at a sale in the past and read it. Although a little confusing at times I really enjoyed it and it ranks up in my top 5 books. Seeing that they had it on Audible I immediately got it since I was thinking about reading it again. The narrator was great giving different voices to each character and I was very happy when I finished it. I'm sure I will listen to it again in the near future.

Beautifully Written and Brilliantly Read

The narrator breathes life into the longest and most enigmatic novel of Ishiguro's bibliography, through animated delivery and compelling character range.

Anxiety Dream

This novel is my first Ishiguro and it has angered me in the most wonderful way… the plot is senseless at times, and most frustrating is the inability of the main character to get a hold of his life. But that’s exactly what happens in an anxiety dream. As I’m reading I can recall dreams where the same scenarios happened to me - and it made the frustration and anger more personal, and I became sympathetic to the main character at times. His life seems to be unfolding through other characters such as Boris, Stephan, and Mr. Brodsky. They seem to be agents of him from his past and future. In the end he’s stuck in a loop on a seemingly endless and lonely journey… Well paced, well written, and very anxiety inducing.

Beautiful and haunting

This is the world of a confusing dream filled with meaning. beautifully narrated. Just as in a dream, it’s never clear how one stage of experience leads to the next, but the mind works its own magic to make sense of our past experiences and place in the world. It is also a heartbreaking account of the narrator’s continual distraction from what he seems to cherish and value the most; though each distraction also ends up an opportunity leading back to what is cherished.

Not Ishiguro’s Best

I have dreams much the same so don’t be surprised that nothing connects and no resolution. After many hours you wake up and think what really happened?