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lizzie24601's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another incredible work from Ishiguro with very similar vibes to Never Let Me Go. Loved Klara's characterization as well as her relationships with Josie and her family and friends. Perfect pacing, balancing slow, reflective moments with some very tense plot points. Also, I'm just obsessed with the idea of solar-powered robots viewing the sun as a god since it's what gives them life. I loved Klara's religious connection with the sun and am SO glad Josie was saved at the end - after reading Never Let Me Go I was expecting a much sadder ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical trauma, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Classism and Child death
kabornman's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really loved Klara. I had to pause this book partway through to read another that I only had for a short time, and I missed her during that time.
Using AI to look at human emotions - mainly loneliness and the bad decisions we make out of love - was both refreshing and confusing to parse. Klara was almost an unreliable narrator because her interpretations differ from our common knowledge. Things become clear over time, but it can feel like a struggle at the beginning to understand the world.
The human characters were so frustrating and at the same time so understandable and relatable. They showed the parts of us we are least proud of, especially for someone as innocent and naive as Klara to see.
I could definitely see myself coming back to this book and am likely to recommend it.
Using AI to look at human emotions - mainly loneliness and the bad decisions we make out of love - was both refreshing and confusing to parse. Klara was almost an unreliable narrator because her interpretations differ from our common knowledge. Things become clear over time, but it can feel like a struggle at the beginning to understand the world.
The human characters were so frustrating and at the same time so understandable and relatable. They showed the parts of us we are least proud of, especially for someone as innocent and naive as Klara to see.
I could definitely see myself coming back to this book and am likely to recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Grief
Minor: Child death
augustst's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Toxic friendship
stardustdreamer's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment and Child death
montsebens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Keep in mind, I read it in Spanish.
The story has its moments when it completely captivates the reader; other times, if you don’t focus on what’s going on, you’ll be lost the rest of the chapter.
All of the characters are very questionable, which grew to be quite frustrating.
There’s a giant plot twist in part four that quite literally ripped the soul out of my body, and I’m pretty sure it’s still floating around my kitchen. The plot twist is honestly a very simple one that can be predicted if you’re really thinking about it since the beginning, but when you’re too focused on yelling at Klara to stop being so stupid the last thing you expect is a slaps in the face of information in 50 pages.
Nevertheless, I’d recommend this book to a very specifically niche audience of science fiction fans that don’t mind reading a story mainly character based, even if the characters get on your nerves sometimes.
The story has its moments when it completely captivates the reader; other times, if you don’t focus on what’s going on, you’ll be lost the rest of the chapter.
All of the characters are very questionable, which grew to be quite frustrating.
Nevertheless, I’d recommend this book to a very specifically niche audience of science fiction fans that don’t mind reading a story mainly character based, even if the characters get on your nerves sometimes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief
Minor: Cursing
quinn24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Child death, and Medical content
trickphoenix's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Child death, and Mental illness
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i just loved klara's pov and getting to know the world through her eyes. the description of her vision being separated into boxes tended to confuse me at times, but other than that, i enjoyed the writing a lot and i am particularly in love with the way this dystopian world doesn't get overexplained to the reader - we only know as much as klara does, and learn it at her pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Classism and Bullying
luxxltyd's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death
sorcha's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Grief, Child death, and Death