June book selection: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Let's turn our attention to England and step into the quiet, reflective world of memory, dignity, and the passage of time.
Through the restrained voice of a devoted butler, we explore how loyalty, regret, and the stories we tell ourselves shape our understanding of the past.

About the Book
Stevens, an aging English butler, embarks on a road trip across the English countryside in the years following World War II. During the journey, he reflects on his decades of service at Darlington Hall, once the grand estate of the aristocratic Lord Darlington.
As Stevens revisits memories of professional pride, international political intrigue, and his complicated relationship with the former housekeeper Miss Kenton, the novel slowly reveals the emotional cost of a life devoted entirely to duty. What begins as a nostalgic journey through picturesque landscapes gradually becomes a deeply introspective exploration of missed opportunities, loyalty, and the quiet regrets that emerge when one looks back on a lifetime of choices.
With subtle humor and emotional restraint, the novel examines the tension between personal feeling and professional identity, and the fragile ways in which people construct meaning from their past.

About the Author
Kazuo Ishiguro is a British novelist, screenwriter, and short story writer widely celebrated for his subtle, introspective storytelling.
Ishiguro’s work often explores themes of memory, identity, moral responsibility, and the unreliability of personal narratives.

He gained international recognition with The Remains of the Day, which won the prestigious Booker Prize and was later adapted into a celebrated film. Over the course of his career, Ishiguro has written across genres—from historical fiction to speculative literature—while consistently examining the quiet emotional landscapes of his characters. In 2017, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his novels that uncover “the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.”

About the Location & Contributions
We will meet in Merienda Haus, a wonderful cosy coffee shop offering Argentinean and Uruguayan specialities. I invite you to order something and enjoy their drinks and food menu :=)