Reviews

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

betseyboo's review against another edition

4.0

Either readers like this book or they don't. I am on the side of liking this book and here is why. Recently I have been reading popular or highly rated books. What bothers me is how many authors sensationalize the stories by including a lot of sexual abuse, bizarre situations, and over-the-top experiences. This story felt more real to me with regards to the characters. Every time I felt the story was slowing down, Ishiguro would provide more insights into the different characters or introduce new ones. I have never read a book by Ishiguro before but I am excited to read more by this author.

klarita's review

3.0

What did I think about the book?
TAKE A PENCIL AND TAKE NOTES ON THE SIDE WHILE READING!!
I missed that opportunity and regret it a lot. Because this book isn't an easy read (the language isn't the problem at all though).

I was very into it at first. The overall idea of the book offers a unique view on society, on people engaging with each other. Interesting was as well how Klara never fails to describe things our society has set terms for.
This on the other hand gave room for a lot of confusion. It was hard to follow the plot, it felt like the story wasn't coherent.
Nevertheless I recommend powering through since the end is worth reading!

lark9086's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

lucyhicks's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loooooove this book which was predictable but I’m still happy about it. It was the kind of book where you only really get half the story because the narrator is so uninformed so you’re searching for little details to explain things further to you and you can never quite get a full picture. Maybe that’s frustrating for some people but I devour books like that. The perspective on the characters was so interesting because it was from the point of view of someone who wasn’t criticising them at all, even though they were quite clearly flawed. So much of what’s special about this book is what’s implied rather than what’s said outright and I love it. 

sinann_lambert's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

mewwy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

katieinca's review against another edition

2.0

I have no problem with a robot book. Or a vaguely unsettling eerie book. I don't love a dystopian setting, but I can get past that. I really don't mind a limited understanding or undersharing/untrustworthy narrator. But I found this odd in mostly uninteresting ways. I've now read half a dozen rave reviews about the wonderful things Ishiguro does in this book, and I remain unconvinced, and puzzled. And I think the only other Ishiguro I read was Remains of the Day something like twenty years ago, so maybe he's just not for me, but this was definitely not for me.

mtmbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

melissabraine's review against another edition

4.0

4.5*

And Ishiguro once again never failed to amaze me… wowza

eternalw0rm's review against another edition

4.0

Made me feel melancholic yet so hopeful. What does it mean to love?