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beel12's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lynnenad's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is an interesting sci-fi book about the role of robots as artificial friends, and how people respond to them. It’s also about creating class dichotomies with technology. The story is skilfully written and the voice of the narrator is clever and adds to the story. The reason for my lower than usual rating is the slow pace, which does not vary throughout the entire book, and the fact that there were no interesting or challenging ideas to give me pause. I sort of expected more from this highly acclaimed author.
inkylabyrinth's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
This could have been amazing commentary on the horrors of eugenics, but instead it was about a robot who has unlimited information and intelligence but somehow doesn't know how the sun works. Incredibly disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
stephperrino's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
irisameliaink's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reader_astray's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
esthersedition's review against another edition
5.0
What a wholesome and insightful read.
Truly beautiful, and fantastically written. I spent the first 60 or so, pages trying to figure out what exactly the characters were, because this book is simply like nothing i’ve read before. I expected absolutely nothing because the storyline was so unique and unprecedented but I understood the deeper meaning to every event that went on and how truly it relates to situations in our everyday lives today.
I must note, however, that two of the characters were hard to digest - Josie and her Mother. Though, the writer (Kazuo Ishiguro) tried to be fair by showing both Josie’s good and bad nature and the reason behind the mother’s fragility and borderline insanity. In honesty, I wasn’t very fond of Josie or her mother at all and had no interest in their storyline.
However, the ending was just right for the story. Though I wish more was detailed about the “manager” character and what she did as clearly she wasn’t just a “manager” but the novel was quite vague about all of it. I would have also loved to read more into the developments of Rick and Klara’s unique friendship.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this book and it’s insights on complex human relationships, technology, pollution, morality, race tensions and the belief in a higher power. This is quite possibly the best example of philosophical fiction, only that you don’t realise it until you actually reflect on the novel. The philosophical meanings were so beautifully disguised in the storyline that you just become immersed in the story itself.
After reading this masterpiece- “Klara and The Sun,” I can definitely say I’m a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing style, it was so easy to read but the deeper meanings it held were so complex that I could enjoy a fairly light-hearted read but have something meaningful to take from it.
So, in conclusion, the novel was remarkable and beautifully written. It easily gets 5/5 just for its unique storyline but the insights itself detailed in the book deserve a whole other acclaim!
Truly beautiful, and fantastically written. I spent the first 60 or so, pages trying to figure out what exactly the characters were, because this book is simply like nothing i’ve read before. I expected absolutely nothing because the storyline was so unique and unprecedented but I understood the deeper meaning to every event that went on and how truly it relates to situations in our everyday lives today.
I must note, however, that two of the characters were hard to digest - Josie and her Mother. Though, the writer (Kazuo Ishiguro) tried to be fair by showing both Josie’s good and bad nature and the reason behind the mother’s fragility and borderline insanity. In honesty, I wasn’t very fond of Josie or her mother at all and had no interest in their storyline.
However, the ending was just right for the story. Though I wish more was detailed about the “manager” character and what she did as clearly she wasn’t just a “manager” but the novel was quite vague about all of it. I would have also loved to read more into the developments of Rick and Klara’s unique friendship.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this book and it’s insights on complex human relationships, technology, pollution, morality, race tensions and the belief in a higher power. This is quite possibly the best example of philosophical fiction, only that you don’t realise it until you actually reflect on the novel. The philosophical meanings were so beautifully disguised in the storyline that you just become immersed in the story itself.
After reading this masterpiece- “Klara and The Sun,” I can definitely say I’m a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing style, it was so easy to read but the deeper meanings it held were so complex that I could enjoy a fairly light-hearted read but have something meaningful to take from it.
So, in conclusion, the novel was remarkable and beautifully written. It easily gets 5/5 just for its unique storyline but the insights itself detailed in the book deserve a whole other acclaim!
thebobsphere's review
4.0
I have to admit that Klara and the Sun took me by surprise. What started out as a disappointing read actually turned into one that broke me completely.
Over the years I have always said the same thing about Ishiguro: he writes the same book but covers it with a different dressing. The main plot of his is the the unreliability of memory. However, although it does crop up, I think Klara and the Sun’s themes go deeper.
Klara is an android called an Artificial Friend, or AF ( I know, I know I giggled sometimes). One of her main character traits is that she is observant. Also due to her model she gets energy from the sun, which she worships. When the book opens Klara is still in a shop waiting to be bought.
One day she is chosen by Josie. Straight away Josie’s mother keeps asking Klara to mimic Josie. As Klara is observant she does this. We readers find out that Josie is ill and has a close friend called Rick who plans to become Josie’s life partner.
Eventually Klara discovers that she will have an important role to play in Josie’s life which leads to some decisions that will affect both Klara and Josie’s futures.
In Moliere’s Dom Juan, The sun is a metaphor for God. In this book, the sun has the same role. Klara depends on the sun, and prays to it, or actually, it is gendered and called him. Yet Klara has continuous faith in him and , as stated in Christian teaching, when someone has faith in God, that person will be rewarded. Indeed things do work out for Klara due to the sun’s intervention.
The theme of sacrifice also is present. When Klara’s predicament occurs, she becomes a Christ figure and gives a part of herself for Josie’s behalf. Does Klara benefit? I’ll be honest – no but it proves one thing. Despite the fact that she is an android, Klara is capable of showing love and displaying faith, two qualities that are attributed to humans. Maybe an android can learn to become human?
The environment also has a role, and as I mentioned before Ishiguro’s trademark ‘unreliable memory’ theme. As important as these are to the book, I essentially saw it as a novel about the power of belief and how it humanises society. In fact Klara is shown to be more sensitive than some of the other protagonists in the book.
When reading Klara and the Sun, be careful. There are 200 pages of exposition. At first I was bored, even irritated at how banal the plot was at first then by page 200 there is a reveal and everything makes sense. By the end I was completely in awe of the book and how clever Ishiguro is. Needless to say the writing style is on top form here, especially during the final 50 pages where Ishiguro really unleashes the power of his pen.
Klara and the Sun may test readers but hang on there because the rewards are great. I should have not doubted Ishiguro and I’m glad I stuck with the book as I’m still in awe. From a Booker perspective I can see this shortlisted but we’ll see what the next 11 books will be like.
Over the years I have always said the same thing about Ishiguro: he writes the same book but covers it with a different dressing. The main plot of his is the the unreliability of memory. However, although it does crop up, I think Klara and the Sun’s themes go deeper.
Klara is an android called an Artificial Friend, or AF ( I know, I know I giggled sometimes). One of her main character traits is that she is observant. Also due to her model she gets energy from the sun, which she worships. When the book opens Klara is still in a shop waiting to be bought.
One day she is chosen by Josie. Straight away Josie’s mother keeps asking Klara to mimic Josie. As Klara is observant she does this. We readers find out that Josie is ill and has a close friend called Rick who plans to become Josie’s life partner.
Eventually Klara discovers that she will have an important role to play in Josie’s life which leads to some decisions that will affect both Klara and Josie’s futures.
In Moliere’s Dom Juan, The sun is a metaphor for God. In this book, the sun has the same role. Klara depends on the sun, and prays to it, or actually, it is gendered and called him. Yet Klara has continuous faith in him and , as stated in Christian teaching, when someone has faith in God, that person will be rewarded. Indeed things do work out for Klara due to the sun’s intervention.
The theme of sacrifice also is present. When Klara’s predicament occurs, she becomes a Christ figure and gives a part of herself for Josie’s behalf. Does Klara benefit? I’ll be honest – no but it proves one thing. Despite the fact that she is an android, Klara is capable of showing love and displaying faith, two qualities that are attributed to humans. Maybe an android can learn to become human?
The environment also has a role, and as I mentioned before Ishiguro’s trademark ‘unreliable memory’ theme. As important as these are to the book, I essentially saw it as a novel about the power of belief and how it humanises society. In fact Klara is shown to be more sensitive than some of the other protagonists in the book.
When reading Klara and the Sun, be careful. There are 200 pages of exposition. At first I was bored, even irritated at how banal the plot was at first then by page 200 there is a reveal and everything makes sense. By the end I was completely in awe of the book and how clever Ishiguro is. Needless to say the writing style is on top form here, especially during the final 50 pages where Ishiguro really unleashes the power of his pen.
Klara and the Sun may test readers but hang on there because the rewards are great. I should have not doubted Ishiguro and I’m glad I stuck with the book as I’m still in awe. From a Booker perspective I can see this shortlisted but we’ll see what the next 11 books will be like.