Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

9 reviews

evelynepisodes's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No

3.75

I loved the premise of this book initially, but like other Japanese books I’ve read it just went on without really adding anything interesting. The middle was exciting but the late start and end were quite disappointing. Like why do we need to know about the intricacies of their life when it hasn’t added anything? Personally I think this had such an interesting idea I just think the ending should’ve been tackled better and the pacing needs to be fixed. I almost wanted to give up on it around page 250 - but preserve if you can.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Classism and Ableism

Minor: Racism

thebetterstory's review against another edition

emotional sad tense 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

3.75

A very odd book, owing mostly to its very odd but lovable narrator. We still don't have all that many stories about an AI from their perspective, and those that we do tend to show the AI as very human (see: the delightful Murderbot). Klara's perspective is downright bizarre in a way that's continually surprising and interesting to read. I've never seen an author so successfully convey what it would look like if you essentially created a fully-fledged, mature human, had her live her entire life in a quiet retail store and then sent her out to experience the world with only that limited perspective to rely on. 

The central plot, or what there is of it, remains tense and absorbing as you're drawn into hoping that things will work out for these characters, against all odds and in spite of their blatant flaws.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Child death, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia

The characters are nuanced, but it's certain that they are all generally unkind to Klara at one point or another in the book. I wouldn't personally say that these relationships are solely toxic, and Klara isn't upset by it, but there's definitely significant dehumanization at times (if you count Klara as a human) and a background understanding and suggestion that AFs, including one we care about, have been and continue to be abused.

miyothecat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Abandonment

Minor: Racism

athenium's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Abandonment, and Bullying

Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, and Racism

trickphoenix's review

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

fraxisle's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense 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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Child death, Dementia, and Mental illness

Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Xenophobia, and Gun violence

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

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

4.5

Of the three Kazuo Ishiguro books I’ve read, this is the only one with anything resembling a happy ending. It was also emotionally devastating, and I may be recovering from it for some time.

This book has so many conceptual layers, and I’m not sure I understand any of them. I may need to read some analyses to feel like I really get all of what was going on.

If you’re looking for a weird, sweet, high-concept novel with a fascinating AI narrator who is equal parts intelligent and naive, I highly recommend Klara and the Sun. If sick kids or artificial intelligence or genetic enhancement are triggers for you, you might want to give it a miss.

Honestly, I kind of feel like this book exists in the same conceptual space as Never Let Me Go, so I will definitely be thinking about potential links between the two for a while.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness

Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Bullying

Minor: Racism

maliap's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness

Moderate: Racism, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Child death

orangesoda733's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia