Klara and the Sun

A Novel

By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Narrated by: Sura Siu

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • 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). • A 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?

Beautiful, charming, and endearing little mystery

Beautiful successor to both Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day. Ishiguro is a master of navigating our usefulness and loneliness, and this nimble reader brings unique perspective to the characters - particularly Klara, Josie, & Rick.

I keep thinking about this one...

I really enjoyed this story, my mind keeps returning to think some more about what is unsaid. Excellent narration. Will definitely purchase a paper copy to read in the future

Ishiguro at his best!

Is Kazuo Ishiguro the greatest living writer of fiction? I say: “yes.” Klara and the Sun shows off Ishiguro’s unique ability to create new worlds and environments that are somehow familiar. His prose is beautiful—whatever genre or theme Ishiguro employs.

What is perhaps most striking for me is that in each of his works their is moral center. In the hands of a less skilled author this could be ham-fisted and pedantic. Not so with Ishiguro. If you are willing, you will get a chance to think about the great moral issues: what is true, what is good/evil, right/wrong. I re

Trite, slow and downright underwhelming

I’ll admit to never fully understanding the cult of Ishiguro but still purchased this after reading some positive reviews. Needless to say, I still don’t understand the acclaim. The writing is very cut and dry, which is understandable given that it’s a first-person narrative from the perspective of an AI. I supposed, incorrectly in this case, that the writing would become more poetic and nuanced as the AI retained more human characteristics, but that was not the case. Perhaps that was intentional, however, as it might have been the author’s intent to make it seem as if there simply wasn’t much to retain and that humanity, at its essence, is simple to the mind of an android.

So what it boiled down to was a fairly straightforward story of a near-distant world in which artificial intelligence is capable of independent thought and even the concept of spirituality (in this case, the Sun is god). These are certainly interesting concepts to explore, but there just wasn’t enough plot-wise to keep the reader engaged. We feel bad for Klara, but not to any significant degree to where we’re truly invested in her journey. There are moments of beauty, but not enough to keep the story interesting.

Sara Siu was an excellent narrator, however, and so I’m rating this a little higher than I wanted to. I can’t imagine having been able to finish an actual physical copy of this book, so if this had any silver lining, it was that Siu’s performance was just enough to make me want to see it through. Overall though, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.

Very well-written.

The first book I read by this author. A very thoughtful writer. Not at all flashy. A book that has depth.