Stevens is an aging butler in an era when butlers such as him are becoming an antiquated notion. They still exist, but rare are those of his caliber who oversee a great house. (Let's face it: think Mr. Carson in Downton Abbey - that's Stevens.) He has just passed into the possession, as it were, of a new master of the house for which he has served 30 years. The new master is an American, quite ignorant of the customs of the house and quite different than the lord which Stevens previously served. 
 On a car trip through the country, the first time Stevens has really traveled, Stevens reflects upon his current situation, his old, and all of the things done and undone that have brought him to the life he is currently leading. 
 This book was DELIGHTFUL. Who would have thought that a book about a mid-century reserved English butler would have kept me so entranced? The language was beautiful and the first-person narrative so well done. Stevens was quite real to me. And when he spoke to me, the reader, as if I understood the workings of butlership and early-to-mid century English life, I really believed it. I felt, why yes, I understand what you're saying perfectly. 
 There were moments when I, a modern American woman, wanted to scream at Stevens for his propriety and his keen devotion to his butlership. I wanted to shake him and say, "Your lord's dinner is not as important as this other event that is happening in YOUR personal life." I wanted to tell him, "Stevens, how can you be so blind as to what is going on?" But that is kind of the beauty of this book! Ishiguro does such a good job of creating this character that we can related to and love, while still being so different from ourselves. 
 This is a tragic story of time wasted, love lost, and opportunities laid aside. Yet, at the same time, is it really our place to say that the life Stevens leads isn't worth the loss of all that we deem him having lost? It's bittersweet, truly. 
 My favorite part of this novel was, as I hinted at, the narration. Specifically, how well crafted Stevens is as an unreliable narrator. He is at once so firm and trustworthy, while also being aged and, at his own admission, constantly mixing up parts of the story. He reminds us over and over that he is speaking of things long past and his memory is not perfect. But he remembers the feeling of situations, even if he doesn't remember exactly the situation itself. 
 This is my first time reading Kazuo Ishiguro and I'm ashamed it took him winning the Nobel Prize to give him a chance. It was, as I said, delightful.