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A review by hyunc456
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
3.0
Having read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nobel prize-winning masterpiece Never Let Me Go, I had high expectations for Klara and the Sun. I was expecting a fantastic tale with complex storytelling and a gorgeously written narrative, but what I received was a watered-down, simplified narrative told through a very staccato and “quiet” voice. Compared to Never Let Me Go, Klara and the Sun was definitely akin to a children’s fairy tale. While it did capture a sense of fantasy, it was lacking in many ways when it comes to how it’s told.
While “quiet” characters, those that observe the plot from the background rather than driving it, are difficult to establish but can still work, Ishiguro’s success with Klara’s voice was kind of in a sort of gray area. While the robotic narrative was a unique touch that could certainly be utilized to create a story of a more observant nature, Klara and the Sun failed to utilize this exact aspect. Throughout the novel, there were many references to problems and situations that could be meaningfully focused on, such as those to pollution, caste differences, and advanced technologies in general, but none was set into focus. Instead, all we got was a banal observation of one single question. If there were other things going on in the background, it definitely wasn’t emphasized enough to let it become a larger topic within the novel.
Additionally, the characters were not very memorable. The characters’ surface-level dialogues along with Klara’s detached narrative make them blend in even with background characters. While the story mostly revolved around Josie, Rick, and the mother, none of these characters hit any of my heartstrings or make a lasting impression. Reading this, I’ve felt that Ishiguro sometimes told rather than show; it was noted in the novel itself that the mother and Josie had a complex relationship while it really was just some sort of one-sided relationship where the mother believed doing one thing would make it alright somehow. Another thing that bothers me is while Klara is supposed to be “remarkably observant”, she doesn’t note anything about vague items and concepts such as the oblong and lifting. Having to get through such vagueness, as if deliberately unexplained to add an elusive sense of mystery, just resulted in a forcefully contrived narrative, which feels too artificial.
~ 3 stars
While “quiet” characters, those that observe the plot from the background rather than driving it, are difficult to establish but can still work, Ishiguro’s success with Klara’s voice was kind of in a sort of gray area. While the robotic narrative was a unique touch that could certainly be utilized to create a story of a more observant nature, Klara and the Sun failed to utilize this exact aspect. Throughout the novel, there were many references to problems and situations that could be meaningfully focused on, such as those to pollution, caste differences, and advanced technologies in general, but none was set into focus. Instead, all we got was a banal observation of one single question. If there were other things going on in the background, it definitely wasn’t emphasized enough to let it become a larger topic within the novel.
Additionally, the characters were not very memorable. The characters’ surface-level dialogues along with Klara’s detached narrative make them blend in even with background characters. While the story mostly revolved around Josie, Rick, and the mother, none of these characters hit any of my heartstrings or make a lasting impression. Reading this, I’ve felt that Ishiguro sometimes told rather than show; it was noted in the novel itself that the mother and Josie had a complex relationship while it really was just some sort of one-sided relationship where the mother believed doing one thing would make it alright somehow. Another thing that bothers me is while Klara is supposed to be “remarkably observant”, she doesn’t note anything about vague items and concepts such as the oblong and lifting. Having to get through such vagueness, as if deliberately unexplained to add an elusive sense of mystery, just resulted in a forcefully contrived narrative, which feels too artificial.
~ 3 stars