22.5k reviews for:

Klara and the Sun

Kazuo Ishiguro

3.75 AVERAGE

yostertag's review against another edition

3.0

This book had a very interesting tone throughout. It's narrated by an AI robot friend, so it makes sense that the language wouldn't feel totally human. But more than that I felt like maybe it was a YA novel? Perhaps that's just because a majority of the time it centers on children. It was quite winning and charming, with just a touch of dystopian nightmare to make things interesting. I enjoyed the commentary on class and social dynamics, but the lack of centering this made it feel more childlike in a way. In sum, not a bad book, just not sure what I was expecting and what I ultimately came away with.

myllstogo's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

I don’t understand why people rave about this book. It was very “meh” to me.

marielephant's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

hsway's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated

4.5

I could easily see David Lynch making a movie of this book. I found Klara, the AF narrator, quite lovable, and the way Kazuo showed how her inner mind worked was genius. I also liked how he hinted at darker developments in the society at large (fascism, out of control AIs, stratification) without ever turning focus to that fully. A work of great imagination like all of his books are.

bingbongbeepbeep's review against another edition

2.0

Ishiguro's work always has a sense of eerieness that attracts me so. But frankly, I wished for more brevity. Part 4 was phenomenal and my heart panged with each complex emotion, not only Klara experienced, but with each spiderweb of those connected to Josie. The essence of the unknown, or perhaps the imenent sensation of impending doom, that constantly teetered bath and forth was portrayed masterfully in the writing. Each character painfully struggled to move forward and yet strongly clung to nothing but blind hope. Unfortunately for me, all other parts of the reading, despite it distinctively painting the tone of the fictitious world, my sympathy and connection to the characters only remained superficially and I found it tasking to read moreso than enjoyable.

laure_rz's review against another edition

4.0

Un récit tendre qui aborde des thématiques intéressantes comme l'intelligence artificielle, le fondement des émotions ou encore l'importance de l'espoir et de l'amour.
J'ai lu plusieurs critiques qui regrette que ce soit uniquement abordé et non creusé en profondeur....personnellement j'ai aimé lire ce roman qui au fond est plus une histoire de vie qu'un roman de science fiction.

lchoii's review against another edition

5.0

I can see why this book is so polarizing... Through Klara's lens, it's sometimes difficult to pinpoint what is actually happening since the world is told through the lens of an Artificial Friend. Books with a dystopian backdrop and sci-fi themes are sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around and connect with, but this felt different.

Ishiguro captured the essence of being human so, so beautifully. Using Klara's viewpoint, he allowed the reader to step back from being human themselves and stand with someone who was trying to understand the way humans interacted, to understand the 'why' of every subtle reaction and feeling, and to describe them through this beautiful microscopic lens. It made me tear up multiple times, the way he articulated human connection and the bond between loved ones.

This is one of those books where you read for the tiny, small moments.

"There was something very special, but it wasn’t inside Josie. It was inside those who loved her."

camila_as's review against another edition

5.0

Una belleza.

ndsr's review against another edition

5.0

Klara saved Josie by interceding with the sun.

gveach's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0