A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

"A Pale View of Hills" is a novel about a Japanese woman named Etsuko, who, after the suicide of her eldest daughter, reflects on her past in post-war Nagasaki. She recalls her friendship with Sachiko, a woman who plans to escape her miserable life by moving to America with her daughter Mariko. The narrative subtly explores themes of memory, guilt, and cultural dislocation while unveiling the complexities of human relationships and the haunting effects of the past on the present.

The 1826th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 234

Since this book was first published in 1982, there is a penalty of 12.8%. The age adjusted score is 204.05.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.