“There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one.”
Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the most celebrated of recent times, renowned for his poignant storytelling and profound exploration of memory, identity and humanity. With a Nobel Prize in Literature and a repertoire of novels that span genres and eras, Ishiguro’s stories captivate readers across the world. Whether you’re a newcomer to his writing or a longtime fan eager to revisit his classic, knowing the best Kazuo Ishiguro books in order can enhance your experience. From the heart-wrenching Never Let Me Go to the elegant The Remains of the Day, each novel offers something unique. Join us at What We Reading as we go through Ishiguro’s books in order of release and show why it is going through these works in this order! Dive in to discover the essential works of a masterful storyteller and decide which Kazuo Ishiguro book deserves a spot on your reading list.
Why Read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Books In Order?
Kazuo Ishiguro’s novels are renowned for their emotional depth, subtle storytelling and exploration of universal themes like memory, identity and morality. While his books can be enjoyed as standalone works, reading them in chronological order offers a fresh perspective on the way his writing style and thematic focus have evolved.
Starting with A Pale View of Hills and An Artist of the Floating World, you’ll notice how Ishiguro’s early exploration of unreliable narrators and post-war settings form the framework for his signature narrative voice. As you progress through to classics like The Remains of the Day, his storytelling becomes more refined, blending historical fiction with profound emotional resonance.
Later works such as Never Let Me Go and Klara and the Sun delve into dystopian and speculative fiction, demonstrating his ability to transcend genre while retaining his trademark introspection.
Reading Ishiguro’s books in order allows you to trace his growth as a writer and appreciate the subtle connection between his works, making for a hugely rewarding reading journey.
A Pale View Of Hills (1982)
In his highly acclaimed debut novel, A Pale View of Hills, Kazuo Ishiguro tells the story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman residing in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her daughter. Retreating into the past, she finds herself reliving a particularly hot summer in Nagasaki when she and her friends struggled to rebuild their lives after the conclusion of the Second World War.
But then, as she recounts her strange friendship with Sachiko – an affluent woman reduced to vagrancy – the memories begin to take on a disturbing cast. One of the most lauded pieces of Japanese literature, A Pale View of Hills is an exploration of memory, loss, cultural identity, the effects of war and how people struggle to reconcile their past with their present.
An Artist Of The Floating World (1986)
In the face of the misery within his homeland, the artist Masuji Ono was unwilling to devote his art solely to the celebration of physical beauty. Instead, he put his work in the services of the imperialism movement that led Japan into World War II.
Now, as the older Ono struggles through the aftermath of the conflict, his memories of his younger years and of the ‘floating world’ – the nocturnal world of pleasure, entertainment and drink – offer him both escape and redemption, even as they punish him for betraying his early promise. Indicted by society for its defeat and reviled for his past aesthetics, Ono recounts the passage through his personal history in An Artist of the Floating World, presenting himself as a hero, coward and, above all, incredibly human.
The Remains Of The Day (1989)
The story that helped catapult Kazuo Ishiguro to global recognition, The Remains of the Day is set in the summer of 1956 and follows Stevens, the long-serving butler at Darlington Hall. One day, Stevens decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. This six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars and unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper.
The Remains of the Day is one of the best Kazuo Ishiguro books and remains a profound exploration of repressed emotions, self-delusion and the missed opportunities of life. It is also a poignant piece of subversion that showcases the English obsession with class against a backdrop of post-war England.
The Unconsoled (1995)
Ryder is a renowned pianist and arrives in a Central European city he cannot identify for a concert performance he cannot remember agreeing to play. But then, as he sets out across a landscape by turns eerie and comical – and as strangely malleable as a dream might be – he gradually comes to realise that he is facing perhaps the most crucial performance of his life.
First published in 1995, Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled is an incredibly compelling and rewarding study of a man which delves into poignant themes such as trauma, childhood memories and isolation in the community.
When We Were Orphans (2000)
Christopher Banks, an English boy born in early-twentieth-century Shanghai, is orphaned at the age of nine when both his mother and father vanish in suspicious circumstances. Growing up in England, he becomes a renowned detective and, two decades on, returns to Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War to finally deduce the mystery behind his parents’ disappearance.
Whilst the narrative of When We Were Orphans appears straightforward enough, its delivery helps make it one of the most breathtaking Ishiguro novels. Through the lens of a man who has devoted his life to details and objective thinking, readers see how what he can’t, or won’t, see is affected by his childhood tragedies. The novel is a potent illustration of how the simplest wants – a child for his parents, a man for understanding – can lead to some of the most complicated truths.
Never Let Me Go (2005)
Hailsham looks like a perfectly pleasant English boarding school, far-flung from the sordid influences of the city. Its students are well cared for and supported, trained in art and literature, and grow up to become the sorts of people society wants them to be. Although, the students are taught nothing of the world outside and are afforded little contact with it.
Within the Hailsham grounds, Kathy grows from a schoolgirl to a young woman. However, it is only when she and her friends, Ruth and Tommy, leave the school that they begin to realise the full truth of Hailsham. Part dystopian mystery, part beautiful love story and part critique of human arrogance, Never Let Me Go is undoubtedly one of the most powerful Kazuo Ishiguro books for exploring the impact of memory, nostalgia, friendship and freedom.
Check Out The Best Books Like Never Let Me Go
The Buried Giant (2015)
The Buried Giant follows an elderly couple, Axl and Beatrice, who embark on a journey to find their long-lost son. As they travel across a landscape ravaged by violence and fraught with danger, they encounter various characters including Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur’s court and a Saxon warrior named Wistan.
Central to the storyline is the enigmatic mist that causes collective amnesia, making individuals forget their pasts, both personal and communal. As the couple inches closer to their final destination, they begin to wrestle with the secrets and traumas lodged in their memories. Blending myth, allegory and poignant human emotion, The Buried Giant explores how memory shapes relationships and society, leaving readers to ponder whether some truths are best left buried. Ishiguro’s signature style – a fine balance of restraint and emotional depth – infuses this fantasy-tinged tale with profound meaning that is sure to resonate with any reader.
Klara And The Sun (2021)
From her place in the shop, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational abilities, watches intently the behaviours of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass by on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility arises that her circumstances could be changed forever, Klara is warned not to invest too much into the promises of humans.
In his latest novel, Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro examines our rapidly changing modern world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, attempting to answer the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
Where Should You Start?
Kazuo Ishiguro’s works span a variety of genres and themes, making it easy to find a perfect entry point based on your reading preferences. Here are some suggestions to help you dive into his literary world:
For Historical Fiction Fans: The Remains Of The Day
Set in post-World War II England, this Booker Prize-winning novel is a masterclass in emotional depth. It follows Stevens, a devoted butler, as he reflects on his life of service and the personal sacrifices he has made along the way. With its rich historical context and profound exploration of duty, regret and dignity, The Remains of the Day is the ultimate go-to for fans of historical fiction.
For Dystopian Enthusiasts: Never Let Me Go
This haunting tale combines dystopian fiction with a deeply human story about love, identity and mortality. Set in a seemingly idyllic English boarding school, the novel unravels a chilling secret about the students’ purpose in life. If you enjoy speculative fiction with a solid emotional core, Never Let Me Go is the perfect place to start.
For Newcomers To His Style: Klara And The Sun
This accessible yet profound novel introduces readers to Ishiguro’s trademark themes – memory, love and humanity – through the lens of Klara, an artificial friend designed to care for children. Its speculative setting and poignant storytelling make it an ideal starting point for readers new to Ishiguro’s work.
FAQs
Do You Need To Read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Books In Order?
No, you do not need to read Kazuo Ishiguro’s books in order. Each of his novels are stand-alone with their own unique narrative, characters and themes. However, reading his books in chronological order can provide insights into the evolution of his writing style and recurring motifs such as memory, identity and emotional restraint.
What Is Kazuo Ishiguro’s Most Famous Book?
Arguably, Kazuo Ishiguro’s most famous is The Remains of the Day, which won the Booker Prize in 1989 and was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film. This novel is widely regarded as a masterpiece in modern literature, celebrated for its exploration of duty, love, and regret. Another popular novel is Never Let Me Go, a critically acclaimed dystopian novel that has also been adapted into a feature film starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley.
What Genre Does Kazuo Ishiguro Write?
Kazuo Ishiguro’s works defy an easy categorisation, but his writing often blends literary fiction with elements of other genres. His earlier novels, like The Remains of the Day, lean toward historical fiction, whereas later works such as Never Let Me Go or Klara and the Sun incorporate more speculative and dystopian elements. Across genres, his focus remains on deeply human themes like memory, morality and relationships.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
