Klara and the Sun: The Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year

When I read ‘The Buried Giant’, for a long time, and even today, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The couple, their quest, the giant; everything still remains alive in my mind. A similar feeling dawned on me when I finished reading ‘Klara and the Sun’. There was something supremely beautiful and intelligent about this book that has tugged itself to me. Here is Klara, an artificial friend (AF) to Josie who is suffering from something only her AF could save her from. With her belief rising in the Sun, Klara is determined to be the best friend Josie could ever have. But Klara, with her qualities of observation like that of a raconteur, has feelings toward those around her. Her observations of others throughout the novel runs both with, feelings and a distance from them. She discovers a totem to which she ties herself and places all her hopes on. She finds someone to give herself to. She lives a life which settles into memory collapsing into each other like the various things she discovers of being a person. Ishiguro writes about Klara and her Sun with simplicity, one that’s elegant and yet so complex. The language with which he captures details is magnificent. I couldn’t put the book down despite deadlines weighing on my mind. I wanted to sit, walk, lie down but not stop reading the novel. I don’t think I wish to write anymore on this. Sometimes some books deserve lesser words and more time to be with you, sink into your mind and remain like a memory from one’s own life; such is ‘Klara and the Sun’. I think this easily qualifies for my second best Ishiguro after TBG.

Love, Passion and Imagination all are bound to you

I think Ishiguro outdoes himself in this book. The book is timely, now when perfection of artificial intelligence and physical de-aging seem only a few steps away and Gia Hypothesis and Placebo effect no longer sound as outlandish as they used to. Of course, the author is clever enough to leave lots of things unexplained. Does the Sun really hear Klara - probable as far as the Gia hypothesis is concerned? Or is it Placebo effect - Klara’s faith working on Josie and others in a subtle way? Or mere coincidence that Josie survives? We do not know, and perhaps we do not need to. Perhaps, there are still lots of things between earth and heaven that philosophers and scientists do not know about. By choosing not to give any explanation, Ishiguro in effect seems to suggest lots. Also brilliant is his use of the technique of defamiliarization – an aspect of the novel now much commented upon. All in all, the book shows why the author well deserved the Noble Prize. I would have rated it 6 out of 5 if I could. It is divine!

Klara and the sunLatest book by Kazuo Ishiguro is out!!This book is split into 6 parts and the whole book is narrated from Klara’s point of view.First part introduces Klara. She is an AF(Artificial Friend) who is unique because of her exceptional observation skills. We get a peek into Klara’s world - her thoughts and feelings and how she interprets all that she observes.Klara depends on the Sun for her daily nourishment and believes in its extraordinary powers!In the subsequent parts we are introduced into Klara’s world with her human friend. The bond that she forms with her human friend, Klara’s struggle to understand the human nature and trying her best(and to what extent) to fulfil her duties towards her friend.The whole novel explores - what constitutes a human,the varied aspects of human nature, the loneliness that we feel and to what extent one can go to overcome this! What does it mean to love someone and to lose that person! Can AF’s replace a human being? What makes a human so unique?The novel as such is very slow to begin with but picks up once you reach part 3-4. I really liked everything about Klara. The narrative from Klara’s point of view is very well written. But I did not like the conversations between the other characters of the book. I felt it was quite plain! Plot wise there is nothing much. The book mostly focuses on the thoughts/feelings of the characters involved.I expected much more from this book(Ishiguro!!) and the ending could have been better(but after all it is the flawed human nature).Overall I would give 3.5/5.

Loved the way the author talks about the myriad emotions of human life, the complexities of our heart, our changing decisions all through the eyes of an AF,an artificial friend. The author also brings out beautifully how we put ourselves on front of a higher power when confronted with difficulties and surrender to it, with the hope of being blessed with ‘special nourishment’ Klark and the Sun talks about how humans hate loneliness and seek company. But loneliness was different from ‘being alone’ and with the memories that you choose to keep reliving. I believe that the human journey is very close to the journey of Klara, being there to keep company and spread joy and happiness for the most part of our youth and then when old to master the art of ‘being alone’ and not feel lonely, all while waiting for our ‘slow fading’

I read this much faster than most books. It is oddly compelling and I did enjoy it. The writing style is a bit weird. I was well into the book before the author indicates what AF means, or revealed The Mother's name only in passing, as a few examples of things that were only explained tangentially. That bothered me a bit.A serious flaw for me was that I couldn't understand why Klara did not have access to Google. She is not particularly well educated about the world and had no way of finding out things she was interested in unless they were observable in her own experience. That took away a lot of "believe-ability" from the story for me, as we can do that even now and the story is in the future.The ending is bizarre but actually very good when you think about it ten minutes after finishing the book.In any case, I enjoyed the book. I still think about Klara many days after finishing it, so I guess that means something. hahaha.

Anyone who enjoys science fiction, will love it!

Mooie hardback-uitgave van Ishiguro nieuwe roman.

I so wanted to enjoy this novel but in the end I found the characters unengaging and very little plot to speak of.

Avec cet auteur visionnaire. Un conte pour le XXè siècle un peu à la manière de Never let me go.