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Come and chat to KAZUO ISHIGURO about his extraordinary writing career on Thurs 9 April, 9-10pm

141 replies

TillyBookClub · 24/02/2015 13:15

Kazuo Ishiguro OBE is a multiple nominee and winner of the Booker Prize and dozens of other international awards. Throughout his hugely successful and varied career, from the exquisitely poignant REMAINS OF THE DAY to the dystopian NEVER LET ME GO, he has often explored the idea of memory: how it shapes us, its fickle nature, how it distorts the choices we make.

Ishiguro’s new novel, THE BURIED GIANT, is an adventure fantasy, set in a Dark Ages Britain populated with knights, giants, monks and dragons. All the inhabitants appear to have suffered a loss of memory. The central characters, Axl and Beatrice, are an elderly married couple on a journey to find their son. As with all fantastical quests, they encounter mysterious strangers and dangerous escapades. Throughout the novel, an overriding question hangs in the air: is it worth suffering painful memories, or better to live in ignorance?

For more details, go to our book of the month page. You might also like Mark Lawson's interview with the author on BBC iplayer.

Faber have very generously offered 50 hardbacks of The Buried Giant to give to Mumsnetters. To claim yours, please fill in your details on the book of the month page. We’ll post on this thread when the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a copy here.

We have the very rare and special opportunity to talk to Kazuo Ishiguro when he joins us on Thursday April 9th, 9-10pm for a live web chat. The discussion will range from his latest book to his previous bestsellers and future projects. So whether you have read THE BURIED GIANT, or are a lifelong fan of REMAINS OF THE DAY, or would like a few tips from one of the UK’s most experienced and acclaimed writers, please come along and say hello. Look forward to seeing you on Thurs 9th…

OP posts:
KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 21:46

@SomethingFunny

Thank you for writing The Buried Giant and for coming on here to talk to us about it! I enjoyed reading the book- it really made me think both about myths of this country, but also about our dark "missing" history too.

The book has also lead me to talk to others about it who have read your other books and together we were really praising how amazing it was that you could write such wide range of different books. I would love to read more of your books as I enjoyed this one!

I loved how you used Arthurian legends in The Buried Giant. I also read somewhere that Tolkin was an inspiration to you too as was Beowulf. Did you have any other literary influences in writing the book?

Thank you for this. My answer to hackmum above covers most of this, so I won't dwell, but I really appreciate your kind words.

hackmum · 09/04/2015 21:47

I love Stacey Kent - saw her perform on Easter Sunday and she mentioned you a few times! (This is by the by - not expecting a reply.)

Arti · 09/04/2015 21:48

Another question regarding the Arthurian elements of the book-did you do any field based research into this, e.g visiting locations linked to Arthurian legends, and if so, how much did this influence your writing?

MNHQ
TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 21:51

My fault about the OBE by the way. I think I worried that somehow you should always have it there, correct procedure and all that. If you are knighted in the future (and I rather think you should be because your books are outstandingly marvellous), I'll definitely check whether the Sir should be used..

atrociouscook · 09/04/2015 21:51

Do you ever ask "ordinary members of the public" to read your books prior to publication? I know you said your wife read this one but maybe she might be a little bit biased?

0ryx · 09/04/2015 21:53

Your last novel was made into a film adaptation, could you visualise a production of The Buried Giant being made in a few years time?

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 21:53

@FernieB

I usually avoid films of books I love as they quite often spoil the book for me, especially if, as you say Kazuo, they try to stay too close to the book. The images in the film never live up to the pictures I've imagined. If film makers move further away from the book, the film becomes a separate entity to me.

I take your point. But I do think the alliance that has grown between the novel and the film adaptation is a crucial one in today's culture. A few years ago, people were predicting no-one would be reading novels, but today novels seem quite central to our lives, and one of the reasons is that practically every week the might of the Hollywood machine gets behind the film adaptation of a contemporary or classic book, and then the book becomes central in everyone's minds too. Movies and novels really need each other, and I think it's one of the really encouraging things about the way things are going in our saturated culture right now.

frogletsmum · 09/04/2015 21:53

Just thought of another question. You mention that you often come back to things after a break and find the 2nd or 3rd draft goes better. Do you still find this, even as a writer with many novels under your belt, or do you find it easier now to work out what is wrong with an early draft and put it right?

I'm definitely going to seek out Stacey Kent songs now, as well as your other novels!

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 21:54

@FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson

The Remains of the Day has to be the most beautifully written book I have ever read. I'm a huge Kazuo Ishiguro fan and look forward to the webchat.

Thank you. Are you really a soldier?

FernieB · 09/04/2015 21:56

Thank you for answering my questions Kazuo and good luck with the rest of your book tour.

mildlyacquiescent · 09/04/2015 21:56

'Remains of the Day' contains some of the most perfect prose I have ever read.

Did you rewrite it much or did the muse deliver it to you in more or less that form?

atrociouscook · 09/04/2015 21:57

First Officer Richardson could be an airline [ilot! Do tell us.

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 21:57

@frogletsmum

Just thought of another question. You mention that you often come back to things after a break and find the 2nd or 3rd draft goes better. Do you still find this, even as a writer with many novels under your belt, or do you find it easier now to work out what is wrong with an early draft and put it right?

I'm definitely going to seek out Stacey Kent songs now, as well as your other novels!

It happens more than ever - the BG experience was the latest - but I think it's fine to put things to one side until the idea is fully mature. I suppose I can anticipate problems a little easier after years of writing, but what we're talking about isn't so much 'problems' as large gaps in the concept. Definitely recommend Stacey Kent. Finest jazz singer around at the moment.

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 21:59

@0ryx

Your last novel was made into a film adaptation, could you visualise a production of The Buried Giant being made in a few years time?

The BG is under option. Scott Rudin has it. Interesting developments. I want to know who'll play Sir Gawain. I'm keen on James Stewart, but I think there are practical problems with that idea.

BoffinMum · 09/04/2015 22:00

OMG just noticed this web chat. Two quick questions.

In Never Let Me Go, do we think the people pay for their organ donations?

also

There's a slight element of Frankenstein's Monster in there, perhaps? Good and bad all mixed up?

AshtonL · 09/04/2015 22:00

Did you worry about the hint that Lord Darlington was a Nazi sympathiser would make Stevens an unlikeable character in Remains of the Day? I don't think it did at all- but just wondered if it was a concern during the writing process.

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 22:00

@mildlyacquiescent

'Remains of the Day' contains some of the most perfect prose I have ever read.

Did you rewrite it much or did the muse deliver it to you in more or less that form?

I re-wrote and re-wrote and re-wrote. There's no other way.

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 22:02

@atrociouscook

Do you ever ask "ordinary members of the public" to read your books prior to publication? I know you said your wife read this one but maybe she might be a little bit biased?

She's biased okay. She thinks of me as a complete upstart who reckons he can write. That's because we've known each other from before I began writing, and she sees me that way. That's why she does things like tell me to scrap everything and start again.

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 09/04/2015 22:04

why did you start that first novel?

booksandwool · 09/04/2015 22:04

I'm feeling unreasonably hurt that you haven't answered a single one of my excellent, insightful questions. Are you used to dealing with disappointed fans?

atrociouscook · 09/04/2015 22:04

Which is probably why your books are so marvellous -behind every great man ........... (only kidding!)

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 09/04/2015 22:05

I wonder how much the writing course aided you and whether you would have still become great writer without it - ( musing, he has probably gone now!)

KazuoIshiguro · 09/04/2015 22:06

@Putty

Hello Kazuo Ishiguro, I remember reading "Never Let me go" and loathing it and yet finding it compelling in equal measure. I couldn't put my finger on why I disliked it, perhaps because of the passiveness of the main characters, and yet I can remember it quite clearly because it also really moved me. I will never forget it. It was a "different" book for it's time, on the cusp of the explosion of dystopian fiction frenzy. The characters didn't follow standard fiction rules.

Did you encounter that much about this book at the time? The "I really found it hard to like, but I did" thing? Do you find people are more receptive to the book now that dystopian fiction is more mainstream?

I must say this is not a common response. I usually have people who really like my books or they can't stand them. It's very interesting, your reaction. Do you have it to a lot of books, films? Fascinating.

mildlyacquiescent · 09/04/2015 22:06

I have nothing else to ask, but I'm thrilled that you answered my question. How delightful to be talking to one of my favourite writers in real time. Thank you.

I look forward to buying your new book.

MNHQ
TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 22:07

I wish we had more time, but we have come to the end of our hour. Thank you to everyone for their questions and making this such an extremely lively discussion night, and apologies that there wasn't time to answer every question.

Kazuo, thank you so much for your thoughtful, engaged answers. As you can tell by the glowing messages, it means an enormous amount to us that you joined us tonight, and have given so much of your time and energy. It is deeply appreciated.

We never got round to what you are writing next, but please, if you can, come back again and talk to us about it when it is published. Good luck with the next book, and congratulations on all your success with The Buried Giant.

Many, many thanks once more.