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nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Kazuo Ishiguro is truly a master of slow, uncomfortable, disorienting, stunning prose. Klara is an AF--an Artificial Friend--who begins her conscious existence in a store, eagerly observing anything she can of the outside world, seeking to understand and empathize with the human experience, and waiting for a child to choose her and take her home. When Klara gets her turn at the shop window, she is mesmerized by all of the activity and her unfettered access to the sun's strengthening power. She basks in the light, noticing and asking questions of the world beyond the store, and I was completely enamored of her from the very first line.
Sura Siu narrates this perfectly, capturing Klara's innocence and curiosity with just the slightest lilt indicate, as Ishiguro's writing itself does, that something is not quite right, that Klara's questions and observations go beyond her individual interest to make a statement about the state of the world. Indeed, the questions that this book explores about the role of technology, our desires for our children's success, the essence of the human condition, are universal and relevant.
When Klara is finally chosen by Josie to come home with her, her observations are unceasing, and the slow build of the plot and the relationships reaches a dramatic, devastating climax. As Klara attempts to protect Josie and her family and navigates her own experience of under-developed emotions (she is a robot, after all), her endearing innocence and determination carry the story through to a heart-breaking, quiet conclusion.
Despite my belief in the absolute beauty of this book, it didn't receive 5 stars from me because a few too many things were left unexplained. The critique of pollution was interesting but minimally contributed to the plot, serving primarily to create additional suspense that, in my opinion, was unnecessary. Furthermore, I wanted more explicit explanation of Klara's sight blocks and what it meant to be lifted. Ishiguro's writing is effective to a large extent because it is eerie and unclear, but I was left with a few too many questions about these elements to be 5 star-satisfied.
Sura Siu narrates this perfectly, capturing Klara's innocence and curiosity with just the slightest lilt indicate, as Ishiguro's writing itself does, that something is not quite right, that Klara's questions and observations go beyond her individual interest to make a statement about the state of the world. Indeed, the questions that this book explores about the role of technology, our desires for our children's success, the essence of the human condition, are universal and relevant.
When Klara is finally chosen by Josie to come home with her, her observations are unceasing, and the slow build of the plot and the relationships reaches a dramatic, devastating climax. As Klara attempts to protect Josie and her family and navigates her own experience of under-developed emotions (she is a robot, after all), her endearing innocence and determination carry the story through to a heart-breaking, quiet conclusion.
Despite my belief in the absolute beauty of this book, it didn't receive 5 stars from me because a few too many things were left unexplained. The critique of pollution was interesting but minimally contributed to the plot, serving primarily to create additional suspense that, in my opinion, was unnecessary. Furthermore, I wanted more explicit explanation of Klara's sight blocks and what it meant to be lifted. Ishiguro's writing is effective to a large extent because it is eerie and unclear, but I was left with a few too many questions about these elements to be 5 star-satisfied.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Grief
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