A Pale View of Hills

Name of the Book:         A Pale View of Hills

Name of the Author:      Kazuo Ishiguro

Name of the Publisher: Faber and Faber

Number of Pages:           183

A Pale View of Hills was the debut novel of the Nobel Prize Laureate, Kazuo Ishiguro. It is primarily set in Japan post the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It does not deal with the historical intricacies but with the personal lives of the characters: the impact of the war on their lives apart from the personal struggles that each one undergoes separately.  The protagonist is a Japanese woman named Etsuko who is living in England but has an over-powering past that keeps seeping through the present. In fact, the reader knows her better only though these flashbacks and can empathize with her consequently especially because she is imporous to even her own family.

 This is a tale of nostalgia and remembrance. The sense of loss and mystery echoes in the entire narrative. What happens to Sachiko and her daughter Mariko eventually? Why does Keiko commit suicide? How does Mrs. Fujiawara who has lost everyone except a son cope with her life? People are alone emotionally and physically, and yet mostly optimistic. It is the war that brought people to such a disheartening state.

The novel reflects upon the changing behaviors, lifestyles and attitudes of the younger generation from the eyes of the older generations. Some, such as Etsuko understand and accept the changes while others such as Ogata-san complain but have accepted it anyway.

Filial relationships have been explored especially that of a mother and daughter. However, everyone seems to either be neglectful or neglected; either cruel or the victim. This makes the novel rather difficult to read and gloomy. However, what propels it onwards is the suspense and the readers’ curiosity for how the individual stories wrap up.

The novel is extremely unpretentious and simple. The simplicity gives it an innocent, old-fashioned and rustic quality; one can actually sense the technology-wanting, slow-paced lives of the people. In this light, it is a pleasure and relief to be transported to an era in which people spent time with nature for recreation and sent postcards to one another.

What I enjoyed the most about the novel: a sneak into the Japanese culture and the interesting conversations between the characters!

                                                                                                                                        -Kriti Malhotra