Paperback, 320 pages
English language
Published Feb. 28, 2022 by Vintage International.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK - NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Once in a great while, a book comes along that changes our view of the world. This magnificent novel from the Nobel laureate and author of Never Let Me Go is "an intriguing take on how artificial intelligence might play a role in our futures ... a poignant meditation on love and loneliness" (The Associated Press). BOOKER PRIZE Nominee - GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick "What stays with you in 'Klara and the Sun' is the haunting narrative voice--a genuinely innocent, egoless perspective on the strange behavior of humans obsessed and wounded by power, status and fear." --Booker Prize committee Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street …
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK - NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Once in a great while, a book comes along that changes our view of the world. This magnificent novel from the Nobel laureate and author of Never Let Me Go is "an intriguing take on how artificial intelligence might play a role in our futures ... a poignant meditation on love and loneliness" (The Associated Press). BOOKER PRIZE Nominee - GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick "What stays with you in 'Klara and the Sun' is the haunting narrative voice--a genuinely innocent, egoless perspective on the strange behavior of humans obsessed and wounded by power, status and fear." --Booker Prize committee Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
I originally rated this three stars, but this book did something that few books do: it stuck in my head, and I kept thinking about it long after I'd finished it. The premise may seem like cheap sci-fi up front, but it makes you think about life, planned obsolescence, and more.
Stopped at 62%. Defeated.
I started this book very intrigued by the premise, I enjoyed the book greatly, then less, then less, then less. At 50% through I felt like I was reading the section of an Argos catalogue I was least interested in, I give up.
Slow, but steady and enjoyable. I wasn't in the mood for this pacing, but when I switched to audiobook I found this story really enjoyable as something to listen to passively on a walk.
Content warning death, toxic relationships, fascism, white supremacy, general creepiness
I'm trying to figure out how to explain the premise.
The narrator is an "Artificial Friend" a robot made to accompany a child until they move out of their house.
Klara and other AFs are solar-powered, and have superstitions about the Sun being this healing force. they're also pretty anti-pollution.
The story is slow-moving, and I will tell you do NOT skim or get distracted. Kazuo Ishiguro can have some massive paragraphs, skillfully made that make your eyes glaze over if it's a bad time, but it's essential information (though not an info dump). Every time my eyes started skimming, I had to go back and reread because I missed something both subtle and vital.
they keep talking about "lifted children" in the book. It's about genetics (uh oh!). It's not clear to me whether it's like that movie Gattaca where you just make the child artificially with the best DNA possible, or if it's like, Gene Editing.
Anyway, like Gattaca, there is genetic discrimination and that's a big thing in the book.
Just in case it wasn't clear: Kazuo Ishiguro is pretty clear that this is a bad thing.
There's a lot of talk about whether or not AFs can replace humans completely.
It's a nice book, very quiet for the most part. I recommend it.
Purchasable
Purchasable
Purchasable
Purchasable
Purchasable
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