also in this section A work of satirical fiction, and a good one

A good one by the author of "Remains of the Day"

a book review by Roxanna Cain

When We Were Orphans
By Kazuo Ishiguro

Alfred A. Knopf 2000, 335 pages

The writings of Kazuo Ishiguro, 47, appear almost classical in nature. Readers who have enjoyed works by the likes, say, of Edith Wharton or Somerset Maugham, will find that When We Were Orphans, and the earlier Remains of the Day - of movie fame - provide, like their classical predecessors, the elegance, economy of words, and universality of setting, characters and plot that are often absent from many contemporary novels.

In this story, the main character, Christopher Banks, is a famed British detective, who came to the profession after having lost both his parents to kidnappers when he was a child. The kidnappings broke the life of enchantment he enjoyed with his family in pre-World War Two Shanghai, and catapulted him to the harsh realities of morose boarding school life in England.

For those who knew nothing of his past, Banks was mostly a regular bloke. Professionally, he gained prominence, and was admired in the highest circles of London society. But as he solved one difficult case after another, the case of his kidnapped parents continued to haunt him. So when a turn of events takes him back to the Orient, he is hard pressed to solve his parents' case: not only is it expected of him; he harbors hope he will find his parents alive after all these years. Following clues that only childhood experiences and his keen detective's nose are able to follow, Banks' investigation gains speed and the plot thickens, taking dangerous, unexpected turns toward resolution.

Developments, particularly in the final leg of the tale, will elicit 'oohs' and 'ahs' from the reader. But beyond that, they will unveil telling aspects of man's failings, weaknesses, and courage as he seeks out or runs from his past.

In all, this is a well-crafted novel. The plot is well organized, one that readers may follow effortlessly, though not predictably. Although this reviewer found some sections of the book to move to slowly, that is small criticism for what we believe is a good novel, a fine example of modern literature. Good recommended reading for a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Kashuo Ishiguro, the author, was born in Japan, and traveled to England at a very early age. He lives in London with his family.