Book cover of Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall

Book description

*Kazuo Ishiguro's new novel Klara and the Sun is now available*

In Nocturnes, Kazuo Ishiguro explores ideas of love, music and the passing of time. From the piazzas of Italy to the 'hush-hush floor' of an exclusive Hollywood Hotel, the characters we encounter range from young dreamers to cafe musicians…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Nocturnes as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

In these five stories music is the catalyst that shapes the narrators’ encounters with regret, failure, and loss. Through seemingly straightforward but complex dialogue, surprising plot twists, and individual revelations, Ishiguro mixes whimsy and melancholy with moments of connection and revelation—a cocktail that is oddly comforting.   

From Edward's list on loss and discovery.

This is an interesting medley of stories by a writer I really admire. Some of them are connected by characters in common, and all set around music in some form. As usual with this writer, the prose is delicious. His depiction of twilight is particularly evocative.

My favourite story centred on an American movie actor and his wife. Their star is descending and their careers need a boost if they are to maintain their standing in the limelight. The actor hires a guitar player to serenade his wife beneath their window in Venice. That the two are deeply in love…

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Virtual Insanity by Kevin Klehr,

A dystopian tale about Tayler's brush with deadly augmented reality players who are out to kill him, and a wise cracking robot keen to take over the world.

As reviewer Joseph Sullivan from Aurealis magazine wrote, “Virtual Insanity will resonate with readers who enjoy modern takes on science fiction…

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