Kazuo Ishiguro was the most recent Nobel laureate in literature. I read Remains of the Day in graduate school, and I’m left with memories of restraint and quiet regret but not a lot of more distinct feelings or pictures. I was planning on rereading that one, but it was checked out from my library while the ebook of Nocturnes was available. When I saw that Nocturnes was a book of short stories about music and the night, I was in.
I love short stories. I’ve already read 4 short story collections this year. I like that they tend to be quick reads, but you can get completely immersed in intense feelings or scenes or just explore one idea without worrying as much about a big overarching plot.
The first story in Nocturnes, “Crooner,” was exactly what I expected from an Ishiguro short story. A beautifully written breakup story with plenty of loss and regret. But I found the second story, “Come Rain or Come Shine” hilarious. It was like an episode of a sitcom, and I loved the way he blended farce with some more somber and tender moments. The other stories all had a blend of humor and seriousness. I was probably the most moved by “Malvern Hills.” “Cellists was a great example of what I think of as a “one idea” short story. A person who can’t play the cello teaches cello. You won’t believe what happens next! I already feel bad about describing it as one idea because it has so much more going on than that, but it seems like the very best possible outcome of letting yourself run away with one idea. That one ended up being much more poignant and tender than I would expect with such a funny premise.
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