Reviews with content warning for Grief - Klara and the Sun

sure i enjoyed this book but all i can think of is what would've happened if The Big Plot Twist at the 2/3 point was actually carried through... like,

yes, i was rooting for the kid to live,

but at the same time the author introduced a possible path that was SO bone-chilling and tragic and interesting that i was kind of disappointed to not see it explored yknow

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sequelmage's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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? No

3.5

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scruffie's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

I've always liked Ishiguro's writing style and in my opinion this book was, once again, very well-written; I really enjoyed reading every single page of it. The themes of classism and identity persist throughout the entire book, tying into the book's dystopian setting which is slowly explained. If I had one complaint it would be that the world-building wasn't as elaborate as I would have liked.

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albasapri's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

It reads easily but throughout the book I felt like I was missing part of the plot, like part of the book was going over my head and I wasn't quite getting it

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lonelamplighter's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Klara and the Sun is a difficult book to read, both because of the heartwrenching subject matter (chronic illness, looming death, etc) and because of the narrator. Ishiguro has managed to create a narrator that is both reliable and incomprehensible--Klara herself is extraordinarily observant, but lacks the human perspective that we have (and can see things that we cannot). Because of the gap between our understanding of the world and hers, it is often difficult to parse exactly what is going on via her descriptions, but I never felt like I was utterly lost in the narrative.

This is definitely a book that, if possible, you should read in tandem with other people so that you can discuss it. If you're reading it on your own, as I did, I would recommend that you simply roll with the punches. Don't get too stuck on particular details or sentences... drift through the narrative and let it wash over you. It all comes together, in the end. Trust the process.

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kathabooks's review against another edition

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challenging funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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bubblyfemme's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

I absolutely adored this book, but then again, I adore anything written by Ishiguro. The only reason I won't give this five stars is that there were a couple of small questions about the plot that were left unanswered, and I would've liked to have seen them explained. However, overall I really enjoyed this story and I think it was beautifully written.

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savvylit's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

At it's core, Klara and the Sun is a beautiful story about platonic love. Ishiguro instantly immerses readers in Klara's perspective. Thus, many aspects of the dystopian world around her stay intentionally vague. Though that may frustrate some readers who appreciate more world building in their sci-fi, I found the vagueness incredibly effective. Klara and the Sun is about humanity as perceived by artificial intelligence. Readers are not given specifics because we essentially are Klara and we learn what she is permitted to learn.

I could say so much more about this book but I'd like to avoid spoilers! I really enjoyed reading this novel. Klara is an all-around loveable character and an empathetic, curious narrator. Much like Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, this story has heartbreaking moments that question the ethics of existence. Should parents make life-altering choices for their children? Should we create beings whose only purpose is to serve? In writing Klara and the Sun, Ishiguro has yet again created a novel that is simultaneously heartwarming, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.

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