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The Remains of the Day Buddy Read
Will eavesdrop on this. Enjoy reading!!
I'm done with the Prologue and I hesitated to begin Chapter 1. I would rather take it a chapter a day from tomorrow onwards and I will just chop chapters 2 and 5 in halves to fit in to the 10-day read. :)
That's okay, too! :D As long as okay pa rin pagbabasa hahaNapansin mo ang daming pasikot-sikot niya sa writing?
"I should say"
"I should point out"
"as I recall"
"But let me make it immediately clear what I mean by this"
"what I mean to say"
"and I would underline"
"But let me explain further"
"Nevertheless, I think you will understand"
"I can say I am in agreement with"
"it is only fair to point out"
All of that in the first three pages of my copy. And yet, I should point out, it doesn't seem artificial to me, because the text, I should say, paints a clear image of the narrator, whose voice, I think you will understand, sounds familiar and congenial, like a friendly high school librarian. But let me explain furth- just kidding.
Ang dami niyang pasikot-sikot, tapos ang ending din pala ng prologue ay excited siya bumili ng damit para bumisita sa isang babae. Malanding matanda. Hahaha
Aaron Vincent wrote: "Will eavesdrop on this. Enjoy reading!!"Reread ka na! Hahaha
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I am not certain if it is at all correct to introduce this song since it might not even reflect that much on the story of the novel, but apparently, Kazuo Ishiguro was inspired to write The Remains of the Day by Tom Waits' song Ruby's Arms.
The song begins with these lyrics:
"I will leave behind all of my clothes I wore when I was with you
All I need's my railroad boots and my leather jacket"
Similarly, the novel's prologue ends with Stevens looking for "costumes" to match his journey to West Country.
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When saying in his defense that he has no need to see the sights of England, Stevens says: "It has been my privilege to see the best of England over the years, sir, within these very walls." Pero some paragraphs later, parang para ma-convince niya lang sarili niya na mag-roadtrip para sa isang babae: "But there is no virtue at all in clinging as some do to tradition merely for its own sake." Hahaha!
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"[One] is not struck by the truth until prompted quite accidentally by some external events." Foreshadowing?
The trait that I can relate to his common choice of words is the simplicity of his expression based from what he observes especially with his daily interactions with Mr. Farraday. He may be reluctant to participate in any banter with Mr. Farraday but he can still relate himself with other valet-butlers of other known people within the circle of Mr. Farraday.
In my case, the trait Stevens possesses which I most relate to is his apprehension towards banter. I'm not good with banter, even more so with people in positions of power, and usually I resort to yeses and simple sounds. In contrast, Stevens is quick-witted, and I hazard a guess that years of supervising dinners and other social events in watchful silence has honed his conversational skills. Maybe this is why the text is written like a conversation between friends.
Waahh! I haven't started yet. I will try my best to catch up. Hehehe. Kakadownload ko lang ng ebook.
Go lang! Di naman kami nangangarera hahaha. Nothing is spoilable so far.Ako rin may sasalihan na buddy read, pero more than halfway through na sila. =))
Takeaways from Chapter 1:-> ‘I think I’d rather stay here. I happen to be embarking on a motoring trip during the course of which I hope to see many splendid views. To see the best before I have properly begun would be somewhat premature.’
-> Word of the chapter is DIGNITY.
Hello! I just started today and finished the Prologue. I have the same observation, what I noticed with Stevens is his hesitation to have a relaxed conversation with his employer. He is usually concerned that he may be misunderstood or he may get the wrong idea from Mr. Farraday's statements. --
It was actually funny when Mr. Farraday teased him about meeting a woman. Then, he was in denial that he was excited about the trip. :D
You were reading in the wee hours of the morning? Wow.
Reynaldo Ted II (Trewaldo) wrote: "You were reading in the wee hours of the morning? Wow."Hindi na Remains of the Day. The Very Beginnings of the Day haha Char!
Please allow me the indulgence of a brain fart. I would like to draw attention to the beginning of Chapter 1:"But then eventually, the surroundings grew unrecognizable and I knew I had gone beyond all previous boundaries. I have heard people describe the moment, when setting sail in a ship, when one finally loses sight of the land. I imagine the experience of unease mixed with exhilaration often described in connection with this moment is very similar to what I felt in the Ford as the surroundings grew strange around me."
This is such a great image. We have Stevens, an older man, setting sail, so to speak, to parts unknown (or at least unknown beyond the pages of Mrs. Jane Symons' travelogue "The Wonders of England"). He paints a rousing picture of an adventurer, aging instead of adolescent, attired in traveling clothes he is self-admittedly unaccustomed to, and driving a Ford, a car not his own but his master's. A rousing picture, though rousing not just excitement but also compassion. For, again, he is a middle-aged man.
A chapter ago we are told that Stevens had an abiding but unconsummated interest in travel, poring over Mrs. Symons' books whenever he had an "odd moment". In the decades of his service to Darlington Hall, "odd moments" are all he had. And it also took him several weeks of inner reflection on whether to take the journey at all. He was to that extent resigned to a restrained life.
And restraint figures prominently in his concept of greatness. In the spot where he sees the beauty of the English landscape, he thinks: "And yet what precisely is this 'greatness'? Just where, or in what, does it lie? I am quite aware it would take a far wiser head than mine to answer such a question, but if I were forced to hazard a guess, I would say that it is the very lack of ovious drama or spectacle that sets the beauty of our land apart. What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint. It is as though the land knows of its own beauty, of its own greatness, and feels no need to shout it."
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I apologize for the lateness. I will reread the first half of Chapter 2 and sploosh my brainfarts here later.
Chapter 2 1st half character highlights:- Mr. Stevens Sr as under-butler working with Mr. Stevens.
- Miss Kenton and her awkward encounters with Mr. Stevens.
- Nellie the hen.
I usually read after my shift sa work. haha. Kaya kadalasan madaling araw ako nagbabasa. hehe.
That's cool, Darlene. :)
I enjoyed reading the beginning of Chapter 1, we are given a clear picture of what Stevens was feeling as he begin his journey outside Darlington Hall. Somehow "stepping out of his comfort zone" as I metaphorically interpret it. ---
When he started to talk about "dignity", there was a hint that he was proud of his father and wanted to achieve the same.
"Remains of the Day" can be read as being two kinds of allegorical narrative. First of all, the novel represents the end of the British as a world power, the end of this idea of a kind of Britain as an Empire embodied by Stevens, the old-fashioned Englishman. While it is rarely directly referenced, the end of the novel takes place during the Suez Crisis. The notion of Britain as a world power was symbolically swept away due to their having to bow down to American pressure, highlighting their dependence after the war essentially bankrupted them as a nation. In effect, there are only the remains of the day left on the empire on which the sun never sets.
Secondly, Stevens also represents Plato's allegory of the cave. He is shown as too comfortable in his ignorance in his cave, too timid to venture outside of that safe ignorance and to seek enlightenment. Hence, will he be able to venture outside of his comfort zone? Will he be able to break out of his reserved, dignified role that society and his career have imposed on him?
Will he, as Prufrock pondered in Eliot's poem, dare to eat a peach? Dare to do something outre, different, bold, emotional?
Eavesdropping too! :) Read this last 2014, as also recommended by our bookclucb friends.
The way Chapter 2 ended made recall my own father's death four years ago.
I'm sorry, I'm running into some trouble. I'll reply as soon as possible.
Chapter 3."Let me say that Lord Darlington was a gentleman of great moral stature – a stature to dwarf most of these persons you will find talking this sort of nonsense about him – and I will readily vouch that he remained that to the last. Nothing could be less accurate than to suggest that I regret my association with such a gentleman."
I sincerely felt how true his admiration of Lord Darlington is in these words. One of the finest words of acknowledgment to character that I will have ever hear a butler would utter about his master.
Chapter 4."There are certain members of our profession who would have it that it ultimately makes little difference what sort of employer one serves; who believe that the sort of idealism prevalent amongst our generation – namely the notion that we butlers should aspire to serve those great gentlemen who further the cause of humanity – is just high-flown talk with no grounding in reality."
How did I get here? I don't know. I can't remember. I tried checking the cover, but I'm still in the same book. This chapter has gone too deep and profound in more ways than I could have ever expected.
Here are my thoughts on Chapter 2:-We are given a glimpse of his relationship with his father and his early encounters with Miss Kenton.
-It was evident that he value his profession as butler and made sure to always leave a good impression. He takes pride in compliments or trust given by his employer or the guests of the Darlington Hall.
-I cried towards the end of the chapter. I dare not comment further. hahaha huhuhu
You can cry here, Darlene. This is a safe place. Hahaha
*nakikitsismis plus hanash*The book talked of Dignity. And the butler has carried this word with silence and unspoken sentiments.
Naisip ko eight years later after the first read is: does Dignity bear weight by not saying what one was truly feeling?
Enjoy reading guys... it gets deeper when you started the fourth chapter. And Ted experienced it first-hand.
Thanks, Ella. :)I hope Abdul is just running some butler-like errands. :)
Chapter 5. Can't believe I get to finish this long chapter in one sitting.- "Democracy is something for a bygone era. The world’s far too complicated a place now for universal suffrage and such like."
- "Of course, it is quite absurd to expect any butler to be in a position to answer authoritatively questions of the sort Mr Spencer had put to me that night, and the claim of people like Mr Harry Smith that one’s ‘dignity’ is conditional on being able to do so can be seen for the nonsense it is. Let us establish this quite clearly: a butler’s duty is to provide good service. It is not to meddle in the great affairs of the nation. The fact is, such great affairs will always be beyond the understanding of those such as you and I, and those of us who wish to make our mark must realize that we best do so by concentrating on what is within our realm; that is to say, by devoting our attention to providing the best possible service to those great gentlemen in whose hands the destiny of civilization truly lies."
- "Indeed, I would be among the last to advocate bestowing one’s loyalty carelessly on any lady or gentleman who happens to employ one for a time. However, if a butler is to be of any worth to anything or anybody in life, there must surely come a time when he ceases his searching; a time when he must say to himself: ‘This employer embodies all that I find noble and admirable. I will hereafter devote myself to serving him.’ This is loyalty intelligently bestowed."
This chapter is nothing short of being astounding, insightful and profound. Mr Stevens has personified dignity, composure and prudence even in the most pressing of circumstances.
I might be able to finish this by tomorrow. No, Abdul, I'm not a fast reader. Hahaha
I'm done with The Remains of the Book. - 'After all, there’s no turning back the clock now. One can’t be forever dwelling on what might have been. One should realize one has as good as most, perhaps better, and be grateful.’
- 'You see, I trusted. I trusted in his lordship’s wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I can’t even say I made my own mistakes. Really – one has to ask oneself – what dignity is there in that?’
- 'What is the point in worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one’s life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment.'
Day Two, Morning, Parts 1 and 2The ending of the chapter took the wind out of my sails. That was, for lack of a better term, heavy. I hope you'll forgive me for using a term so inept and inexact for an event as enormous as a parent's death, under circumstances as crushing as that night.
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When Mr. Stevens talks of Miss Kenton's letter, he leads us to think that her life is "dominated by a sense of waste." I disagree with that conclusion, at least, in so far as what has been divulged from that letter betrays no "sense of waste" on Miss Kenton's part. I assess more nostalgia than regret. He quotes her letter: "'The rest of my life stretches out as an emptiness before me.'" Nonetheless, apprehension is not quite the same animal as remorse.
Of course, any novel written in the first person perspective will usually display some degree of misalignment to reality. My chief concern is: to what degree is Mr. Stevens delusional in hearing these sentiments from Miss Kenton's letter? I have a general understanding, based on my fuzzy memories of the film, that his Lord Darlington was foolish, or easily fooled in world affairs, so I wonder if that is paralleled by Mr. Stevens in the reading of this letter and in this journey. It would be catastrophic if Miss Kenton never possessed any of those sentiments in her letter.
Then again, these are British professionals in the 1950s, using euphemisms such as "glories of nature" and the like, so I can't say for certain if Stevens is reading into the letter too much, or I am reading into it too little.
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I laughed at this part:
"It's a shame more sun doesn't get in here. The walls are even a little damp, are they not, Mr Stevens?"
"Merely condensation, I believe, Miss Kenton."
A most romantic reply.
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When Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton watch Mr. Stevens senior practice the steps where he first collapsed, Stevens says he thinks Miss Kenton was "no doubt" "feeling a certain a sense of guilt". I don't think, however, that it is simply the guilt of one who has pointed her fingers at a 72-year-old man for failing to perform his duties in a satisfactory manner. It could be guilt from not being able to convey to Stevens junior the severity of Stevens senior's state, so as to prevent something like the fall from happening.
When Miss Kenton wrote that it was as if Mr. Stevens senior was looking at the ground "as though he hoped to find some precious jewel he had dropped there," I am reminded of Mr. Stevens senior's favorite story of the discreet butler removing the wayward tiger in the dining room. The butler in that story said, "...[There] will be no discernible traces left of the recent occurrence by that time." Both Stevens set great store on being inconspicuous as if it were a prerequisite to dignity. So in that public fall before the summerhouse, Mr. Stevens senior's tiger stole his precious jewel.
As for Stevens junior on the night of his father's death, I am honestly too sad to process. Both Reginald Cardinal and Lord Darlington saw that he was distressed - the "discernible traces" - but his denials and assurances guaranteed his dignity. What the butler in the story essentially did was to minimize the significance of the tiger into a "recent occurrence". To minimize a parent's death, however...
Mr. Stevens junior maintained his dignity at the expense of his final moments with his father. The tiger came back to take his father's life, meanwhile he had to tend to the sores on the foot of a Frenchman.
Mr. Stevens says the question of 'what is a great butler?' is a matter close to his heart, but he never wondered what it is to be a good son.
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"I hope I've been a good father to you."
"I'm so glad you're feeling better now."
"I'm proud of you. A good son. I hope I've been a good father to you. I suppose I haven't."
"I'm afraid we're extremely busy now, but we can talk again in the morning... I'm so glad you're feeling better now."
Maria Ella wrote: "*nakikitsismis plus hanash*"Bennard wrote: "Eavesdropping!"
Meliza wrote: "Eavesdropping too! :) Read this last 2014, as also recommended by our bookclucb friends."
Reread na! Samahan niyo akong naiwanan ni Ted sa read-along. Hahaha
Reynaldo Ted II (Trewaldo) wrote: "I'm done with The Remains of the Book."
Quick reader talaga, oh. Hindi pa kami makarecover ni Darlene sa Chapter 2.
Grazie wrote: "It was evident that he value his profession as butler and made sure to always leave a good impression. He takes pride in compliments or trust given by his employer or the guests of the Darlington Hall."
Grabe, parang ang sakit nung sinabi ni Lord Darlington sa kanya na bawasan yung duties ng tatay niya as Under-butler. Idol na idol pa naman niya dad niya.
P.S. Bakit nga pala Darlene tawag sayo ni Ted? Wala ako sa F2Fs paminsan, sorry.
Maria Ella wrote: "Naisip ko eight years later after the first read is: does Dignity bear weight by not saying what one was truly feeling?"Naisip ko yung "dignity" ni Stevens junior pero sobrang naimpress ako sa "dignity" ni Stevens senior. Imagine the piling shame of (1) being unemployed, (2) then being hired by your cold, somewhat estranged son (3) to work under you, (4) then having a stroke, something which you can't control, (5) in front of your employer (6) and their guests, and (7) being forced to relinquish some duties that were beneath you in the first place (8) by your son.
Hindi ako nang-iwan, Abdul. Mabagal ka lang. Hahaha
Darlene is Grazie's second name in Viber and Linkedin. It was even talked about last October's F2F. That's the gist, Abdul.
Stray thoughts:(1) Buti pa si Mrs. Mortimer, yung cook, at least na-identify niya na nagka-stroke si Mr. Stevens senior. Si Dr. Meredith, bano.
(2) Reginald Cardinal is a very weird name. It rhymes and it means King Cardinal, implying a sort of king of celibates. No wonder the issue of whether he knew about sex weighed heavy in his father's mind.
(3) Reginald Cardinal: "I mean, all this we've been talking about. Treaties and boundaries and reparations and occupations. But Mother Nature just carries on her own sweet way. Funny to think of it like that, don't you think?"
(4) Also Reginald Cardinal: "But we could still have chaps like you taking messages back and forth, bringing tea, that sort of thing. Otherwise, how would we ever get anything done?"
Stevens missed his father's death to tend to your drinks. The least you could do is not call him a mere "chap."
(5) Maybe Stevens junior tending to Monsieur DuPont's foot sores is there to belabor the point that despite Stevens' status as a butler, the people upstairs still treat him as nothing more than a footman. Status downstairs is flattened upstairs.
Reynaldo Ted II (Trewaldo) wrote: "Hindi ako nang-iwan, Abdul. Mabagal ka lang. Hahaha"Pasensya na! Hahaha! Dapat nga binabasa ko na First Law trilogy ngayon. Pero wala, wala, wala. Sa speed ko, hanggang pangarap na lang Hahahaha
Reynaldo Ted II (Trewaldo) wrote: "Darlene is Grazie's second name in Viber and Linkedin. It was even talked about last October's F2F. That's the gist, Abdul."Late ata ako nung October F2F. Halfway through na kayo sa Nickel Boys nun. Hahaha
I enjoyed how he recalls those historical events in Darlington Hall while he was motoring from Salisbury to Weymouth. The trip to Moscombe was one of the most interesting stopovers he did.
Reynaldo Ted II (Trewaldo) wrote: "I enjoyed how he recalls those historical events in Darlington Hall while he was motoring from Salisbury to Weymouth. The trip to Moscombe was one of the most interesting stopovers he did."I think the best part of his trip has already happened in Salisbury, because he has already met Nellie. Nellie is undoubtedly this book's Best Girl.
I recall one time I was also on the road when I came upon a stationary hen. I will never forget that hen and its kind eyes.
Here's a picture of that hen:
In all seriousness, I really enjoyed that short scene with Nellie. "...[The] simple kindness I had been thanked for, and the simple kindness I had been offered in return..." It serves as a great contrast to the end of the chapter, where it is only the downstairs people who are imparting kindness to each other. (Almost as if kindness becomes freer if hierarchies are nonexistent?)
I'll have a less stupid response when I get to Moscombe. =))
I appreciate your mention of Nellie, since I first noted her with her brief encounter with Mr. Stevens. I wonder if this is an intentional bit that gives a nod to the decades-old pun "Why did the chicken cross the street?" To The Lighthouse? (foreshadowing intended) Hahaha
Finished Chapter 3 yesterday lang. I don't have much time to read nung weekend. Will try to catch up. hehe@Abdul: Darlene is my 2nd name. Di ko rin alam na nabanggit ba siya nung October F2F. haha.
Di pa ko nakarecover sa Chapter 2. Nalungkot ako na mas pinahalagahan ni Stevens ung duty niya that night rather than to be with his father. However, I think that was his father wanted him to do.
Darlene, I remember it was Miss Roni who first mentioned it. She even commented on my profile photo (which reminded her of Ninoy). That's how far my memory can recall. Hahaha
Abdul, when do you intend to start on First Law Trilogy. I'm keeping those in my TBR for a long time. Hahaha
*that was what his father wanted him to do
I finished the book. YAY! Sharing my thoughts here(spoiler alert):
Chapter 3
When Mr. Stevens denied that he worked with Lord Darlington, I didn't understand why but was eventually enlightened when he shared an instance when he first denied working with him. Although necessary, I think it was better if he didn't lie.
Chapter 4
It painted a clear picture that he was out of place with the present time. He kept on reminiscing his past experiences where he was proud of. Small successess as a butler.
It seems that he would always take the opportunity to defend Lord Darlington despite the views of other people about his deeds before the World War II. He was in denial that he was also mistaken on his opinion about his employer.
Chapter 5
I liked that there were a lot of stories about him and Miss Kenton. She was really into him but he was naive. Hahaha.
A lot happened here but the one that made an impression was the scene with the townspeople at the Taylor's house. It was a really an awkward encounter with strangers. If I were him, I would have excused myself and locked up in my room immediately. Pero kasalanan naman niya kung bakit nagkaroon ng misunderstanding hahaha bakit kasi di na lang niya sabihin na butler siya? Di ba? Hahahha
Chapter 6
The love story of Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton continues here. He lack empathy and he always hesitates.
There a lot of instances that Mr. Stevens showed as a character most of us will relate to. Once in our lives, we were blinded by our principles and cannot see beyond the truth. Lol
Chapter 7
The last chapter was just the right scene to end the book. We are faced with the remains of the day and we can't really turn back time. We just have to enjoy the evening.
Dami ko sinabi haha. Pasensya na sa grammar or typo errors lol.i enjoyed reading guys, next time uli. :)
We'll read at a leisurely pace of 25 pages per day for ten days, starting today, or what remains of it, to accommodate the hectic Christmas season work schedules. For those who prefer audiobooks, do note that one dramatic reading boasts a length of nine hours and 23 minutes while another spans a solid seven hours.
This book was already discussed by this group way back in 2012, the seventh (!) book in the group's history of F2F discussions. Arguments made in its defense during yesterday's book bracket tournament were, so to say, intriguing. Some of us weren't TFG members eight years ago, so this is a chance to catch up~
Reading ahead is a-okay, and rereaders are also very, very welcome, so long as spoilers are tagged with the discretion befitting a Hayes Society butler.
Let's start our journey from Darlington Hall!