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nialiversuch's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
scruffie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Classism
Moderate: Grief and Child death
littlehibou7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Classism, Cursing, Medical content, Child death, Terminal illness, and Ableism
Minor: Bullying and Abandonment
the_tridentarii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Bullying
sophtruepenny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Moderate: Chronic illness and Ableism
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Grief
moonm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism and Child death
fiainkvinna's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Bullying, Grief, and Ableism