I had read other novels by Kazuo Ishiguro, loved them for its simple but deep and insightful thoughts. This latest novel deals with the contemporary topic of robots, artificial intelligence and its impact to our near future. It is the time that we can buy or order a robot or AF (Artificial Friend) to meet our needs. In this case, a mother bought an AF named Klara to be a companion/assistant/helper/confidante to her sick daughter Josie. Kazuo presented this story differently than other authors in that he narrated it from the perspective of AF Klara as a person throughout the story. Reading thru the novel, readers will soon forget that Klara is a robot since she has feelings, emotions, thoughts like us, human beings, having an advanced ability to observe, remember, reason logically and above all, learn from her daily experiences. In this case, she learns very fast to accommodate to the needs and daily whims of her sick companion Josie. As the story evolves, Klara learned or started to developed feelings for Josie such as loyalty, empathy, friendship, sadness. Klara transformed from a robot at the service of its master to a dedicated friend who is looking for ways to make Josie's day brighter. In mid-story, Klara was engaging Rick who was an old childhood friend of Josie but somehow drifted apart, to come back to Josie to help her with her sickness. As as AF, Klara surprisingly also suppressed her own feelings of rejection, sometimes scornful reactions from others to loyally support Josie. In the latter part of the novel, Klara explored metaphysical thoughts like faith with her god (The Sun), memory of a dear person after death and even sacrificing herself to replace Josie in an act of selfless love. But even with her super faculties, Klara understood her limits realizing that love is not a concept that can be learned. At the end of story, Klara even thought she accomplished her mission which is to help Josie overcome her illness had to deal with her age and usefulness as an AF. Even an AF is becoming old, outdated and as all physical things, will be sent to a lonely place to die. At the end, one can't help to love Klara as a human being, to feel for her dedication, loneliness and sad destiny. In many ways, Klara has learned to become better than us because she expressed no bitter remorse and ill feelings about her destiny. After finishing the novel, I have a perplexing thought about the role of AF in our future technological society. What role do we want an AF to be, a helper in daily chores, companion in lonely times, a friend to confide in, a protective mother-to-be or a person who we can learn from ?
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Popular Highlights in this book
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From the Publisher
Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954 and moved to Britain at the age of five. His eight previous works of fiction have earned him many honours around the world, including the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Booker Prize. His work has been translated into over fifty languages and The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, both made into acclaimed films, have sold over a million copies each in Faber editions. He was given a knighthood in 2018 for Services to Literature. He also holds the decorations of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star from Japan.
About the author
A book hard to forget
This was my second book by Kazuo Ishiguro. The first one I read was The Remains of the Day which I thought it was an ok book, but not great. I liked Klara and the Sun much more than The Remains of the Day. This novel is told from the point of view of an AI machine, nominated as AF (Artificial Friend), called Klara who is programmed to be a companion to a child. Klara is kind of unique if compared to other AFs. She is very perceptive and very observant of what is going on, she is constantly trying to piece things together and make sense of human behavior. So at the beginning of this novel Klara is on a display in a department store and, according to the store manager she has an "appetite for observing and learning, has the most sophisticated understanding of any AF in this store”. The AFs are powered by sunlight and require this light to function correctly. That explains the importance of the Sun for Klara. One day, Klara ends up being picked up by a teenage girl named Josie who has some health problems going on. Klara becomes very devoted to Josie, and faces a lot of challenges at Josie’s home in their family dynamics. So the reader gets to follow Klara’s experience in this household and the dynamic with Josie ‘s family. The plot unfolds gradually. Ishiguro reveals little by little information to the reader, making this story heartbreaking and moving. The book discusses what makes people human, what makes human lives valuable, in what ways humans interact with one another, how technology interferes in our lives, but also shines light on loneliness, parenting, friendship, and mortality. My heart ached seeing Klara’s struggles to make Josie feel better, cure her illness, even though she had no idea how to do that. Her plan to help Josie may seem childlike but her desire to help is legit and heartwarming. Klara is a machine but the more you read this novel more human she seems to become. She is a deeply compelling protagonist. Beautifully written, Klara and the Sun is one of these books hard to forget.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
- Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
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Carlos Vivanco PastoreReviewed in Spain on November 24, 2024
Realmente bueno. Cómo siempre
- BookWormReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2021
Beautifully understated, moving and thought-provoking
- Danger MouseReviewed in Australia on July 26, 2021
A beautiful and poignant dystopian novel
