“There was something very special, but it wasn’t inside Josie. It was inside those who loved her.”
Back in August last year, we read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, and it rocked our world. It was our first taste of Ishiguro’s work, and we were blown away by his ability to conjure up deeply complex characters brimming with subtle, nuanced emotions through a relatively simple narrative that is used to meditate on memory, fate and the passage of time. With all of that in mind, picking up another one of Ishiguro’s best novels was an inevitability, and we finally got around to getting our hands on 2021’s Klara and the Sun. Ishiguro’s eighth and latest novel to date, this tale of an artificial friend navigating the world around her promised much of the same dystopian feels as Never Let Me Go, but did it manage to pack the same sort of punch? Join us today at What We Reading for our Klara and the Sun book review to find out what we made of this heartfelt take on technological advancements, faith and hope, and what it means to love.
Date Published: 2021
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Pages: 303
Goodreads Rating: 3.74/5
Premise
In a near-future society, advanced technology and artificial intelligence have become integrated into everyday life. One of the most central parts of this advancement is in the development of Aritifical Friends (AFs) – humanoid robots designed to be companions capable of mimicking human emotions and attachments.
From her place in a shop window, Klara is one such AF. She has outstanding observational skills and watches closely the behaviours of those who come inside to browse and those who pass by her on the street outside. One day, she meets a young girl named Josie and is picked by her to become her companion. But, once she arrives at Josie’s home and her understanding of the complexities of human emotions is put to the test, Klara soon discovers that questions around love and relationships are not so easily navigated.
What Worked
What truly makes Klara and the Sun stand out is its unforgettable narrator, Klara. Ishiguro has masterfully crafted a voice that’s a unique blend of childlike innocent optimism and robotic precision. This fusion creates one of the most distinctive characters in recent fiction. Klara’s growing deep affection for Josie and her unwavering dedication to her make her an endearing figure to follow and root for. Through her perspective, we gain a fresh and fascinating lens on human relationships and the complex intersections of technology and emotion.
Ishiguro’s world-building is another strength of the novel. The dystopian setting – focused on artificial intelligence and genetic modification – raises significant moral and ethical questions that linger long after the final page. True to his style, Ishiguro keeps much of this world’s darker complexities shrouded in mystery, allowing readers to speculate and dig deeper into the narrative’s broader implications.
While the characters in Klara and the Sun are relatively straightforward in their moral compass, they are all believable and likeable, which makes their conflicts and differences resonate. Josie’s mother, Chrissie, and Josie’s boyfriend, Rick, are prime examples of well-drawn figures who navigate their own struggles without veering into caricature or unearned selfishness.
The novel’s bittersweet ending is a poignant conclusion that wraps up Klara’s emotional journey with grace. Her sacrifices, along with the fates of Josie and Rick, leave a lingering sense of melancholy, but also a quiet comfort in knowing that Klara’s presence has made an impact, even if it isn’t fully understood by either herself or those around her.
What Didn’t
While Klara and the Sun is undoubtedly a strong novel, it’s fair to say that it didn’t deliver the same gut-wrenching impact as something like Never Let Me Go. The themes in this book are far more spelt out, which makes it feel more like a quiet, comforting meditation rather than a deeply layered commentary filled with subtle twists and emotional insight.
A significant portion of the novel takes place in Josie’s home, where the pacing slows as Klara spends much of her time observing and reflecting on the Sun. While there’s nothing wrong with a more subdued, introspective narrative, it sometimes lacks the emotional stakes or poignant revelations that might have heightened the story’s resonance.
Verdict
Klara and the Sun is a beautifully crafted, thought-provoking novel that showcases Kazuo Ishiguro’s talent for exploring complex emotional landscapes through an unforgettable and unique narrator. Klara’s voice is both tender and precise, making her an endearing character whose observations of human relationships and technology provide a fresh lens into our world. Ishiguro’s world-building is subtle yet deeply compelling, raising significant ethical and moral questions that linger with readers long after the book ends.
That said, while the novel is undeniably poignant, it doesn’t quite carry the same emotional weight as other dystopian or sci-fi reads. Its more explicit themes and slower pacing sometimes make the story feel less dynamic and more meditative. The emotional stakes, while meaningful, don’t quite hit with the same gut-wrenching force as Ishiguro’s other works.
Overall, Klara and the Sun offers a quiet, reflective reading experience that may not be as sharply intense as some of Ishiguro’s other books, but it still delivers a thoughtful exploration of love, sacrifice and the role of technology in our lives. It’s a bittersweet and comforting read, one that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.
Our Rating: 5/5
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
