The Best Middle Ever?

20240523

I’m still thinking about the middle (or part two) of Never Let Me Go (2005) after re-reading it for a second time. A lot of storytellers complain about how difficult the middle is. But with this novel, I feel like Ishiguro has written one of the best novel middles ever. A lot of my thoughts on it feel a little scattered and halfway there right now though, so I’m going to try and formalize (or memorialize) it all with a proper analysis here. Let’s start with a table.

Some notes before I start. Chapter 6 is in Part 1. Chapter 10 is when Part 2 starts. Chapter 12-15 is where the threaded setup-payoffs really kick into overddrive. And also…

⚠️ SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD (obviously). ⚠️

ch	pg	%	Plot Point	tag
6	p.65	23%	Intro Norfolk bit	dsr: GLIMMER A
6	p.71	24%	Madame catches Kath dancing	dsr: SECRET B
6	p.73	25%	Tape goes missing	Setup inq: RUMOR A
11	p.133	47%	Intro Steve’s mags	Foreshadow C
11	p.136	47%	Tommy catches Kath with porn	Setup inq: MISBEHAVE C
12	p.139	48%	Yes, clones. Intro “possibles”	Setup inq: RUMOR D
13	p.153	53%	Intro concept of “deferrals”	Setup inq: RUMOR E
14	p.156	54%	Spy on “possible”	Close inq: RUMOR D
14	p.166	58%	Ruth mono: “we are trash”	Build inq: MISBEHAVE C
15	p.171	59%	Finds lost tape	Close inq: RUMOR A
15	p.174	60%	Art gallery theory	Build inq: RUMOR E
15	p.174	60%	Porn mag theory	Close inq: MISBEHAVE C

So in effect, Ishiguro closes three setups in this middle:

A - the lost tape ended up in Norfolk after all
C - Tommy figures out Kath’s porn obsession, riffling through them instead of using it for arousal
D - The possible is confirmed, then denied. From exhilaration, to Ruth dragging it out, to disappointment in the art gallery

B and E is left hanging for Part 3.

I think what’s utterly fascinating is how, really, all these threads peak from chapters 12-15. Just 35ish pages.

I suppose there’s also a thread I failed to include here too… the love triangle where Ruth proactively keeps Tommy away from Kath. That’s a ntw: WIELD thread there that I could probably breakdown as well.