If you haven’t yet read Kazuo Ishiguro’s "Never Let Me Go," it is time.

The story is difficult to categorize. It could be considered science fiction, a dystopian cautionary tale, a romance or a combination of all three. Fortunately, it does not need to be defined at all, other than to say it is a remarkable glimpse into humanity for better and for worse.

Kathy H. is the narrator. She shares her thoughts about her current life as a “carer”, her future life as a “donor” and her past as a student of Hailsham, a school in the English countryside where she and her fellow students are consistently and gravely reminded of their specialness. Kathy’s relationship with her childhood friends Tommy and Ruth is explored, including the trio’s willing acceptance of their disquieting future.

Ishiguro focuses on the sense of duty and connection the three feel as their lives progress to “completion” (the term for the death of donors). Ishiguro’s strong suit shines here as he lets the story unfold between the lines. He couples the mundane with life’s bigger questions, a motif reminiscent of his masterpiece Remains of the Day. Kathy’s matter of factness sets a tone that can seem, at times, removed or resigned, but as the story evolves we find her to be sad yet affirming of humanity rather than bitter or resentful.

The truth in "Never Let Me Go" is told but not told; neither Kathy nor her comrades nor the reader is given a straight answer. Incrementally, details emerge until finally they reveal the horrifying ability of humans to delineate who is expendable and who is not, what has a soul and what does not. The reader is left to wonder who could possibly decide these major questions.

Ishiguro is a sparse, controlled writer. While you may desire more plot, the unwavering voice of Kathy H. will pull you into a world where there is not only despair, but also incredibly humane deeds.

"Never Let Me Go" is also a film, both are recommended.

Susan Scott is the library director at the Gale Free Library in Holden. First drawn to the library by the impressive and extensive collection of titles that grace its shelves, Scott is a voracious reader that has always had a love for immersing herself into literature of all kinds.

In a new feature for TheDailyHolden.com, Scott will share her own book recommendations with residents, who can then venture forth into the book stacks and delve into the varied worlds that she has enjoyed exploring, one good read at a time.