In this novel all about motherhood, Etsuko is an older woman, originally from Japan but now living in rural England. She receives a visit from her daughter, Nikki, causing her to reminisce about her first daughter, Keiko who committed suicide many years ago. Etsuko is also reminded of a former time back in Nagasaki in the aftermath of the second world war of an old friend named Sachiko whose relationship with her daughter, Mariko suddenly seems startlingly familiar to her own with Keiko.

This novel has all the quiet muted tones of a simplistic narrative that is also very powerful. The significance of the poetic irony wasn't lost on me though I for the most part found the novel to be wholly disinteresting.

I also think that certain things could've done with better development, such as the path that finally lead to Keiko's suicide, which we learn next to nothing about. I get that Keiko's troubled youth is somewhat mirrored in Mariko, especially when you consider the fact that the narrative sometimes switches between referring to Mariko by her name and "the little girl."

I believe Ishiguro's novel was powerfully written but for some reason it failed to have any lasting impact on me, probably because too much of the story was implied and left much to supposition.