Klara and the Sun is a work of literary fiction clothed in the guise of a sci-fi novella, and if you picked this up in the hopes of a thoughtful and meaningful sci-fi story, you will be sadly disappointed. Ishiguro builds an intriguing world, but only slowly reveals it in drips and drabs as our protagonist, Klara, learns to navigate her way through it. Key to this narrative approach is Klara’s limited understanding and unique perspective on life and the world around her. For example, the sun is essential to the existence of a solar powered A.I., yet instead of understanding this from a technical standpoint, Klara develops what feels like a pre-modern oral-tradition based mystical understanding of the sun. This limited and skewed framework for Klara’s understanding haphazardly extends to other aspects of the world around her, resulting in something more akin to a Small Wonder novelization than an I, Robot story.

Sadly, the literary aspects of the tale were mostly lost on me, as numerous repeated awkward phrasings served to pull me out of the story and switch me over to critical editor mode. The long and short is, go watch the Toy Story movies for a better take on many of the same subjects, and look elsewhere for a good sci-fi read. There's a lot of potential here, but in it's present state the story is a disappointment.

Haunting. This was my first book by Ishiguro, but won't be my last.

As stated in previous reviews, Klara is an older AG model charged by solar and purchased by Josie’s mother for a covert undertaking. The reader gets to observe, through the “eyes” of Klara, behaviors of those with grief, illness, different social standing. My attention was held throughout as the author explored elements of light vs dark, hope, and what makes up the human heart.

A few years ahead of us in time, and few years behind in Japan. Klara, AF is adopted by Josie, elite, ill teenager, to whom she is devoted as much as to her power source, the sun. I love Klara’s gridded landscape, portraits of the troubled families, self-sacrifices, misunderstandings and heroic faith.

Ominous statement about science, art and human transformation. Perfect for our time.

Our narrator is Klara, an Artificial Friend, powered by solar and blessed with exceptional observational qualities and intelligence. She is purchased by the Mother to be a companion to her sickly daughter, Josie. Because Klara is a "machine" who previously existed only in a store and learns only through her observations, many details and explanations of terms are rather slow in coming. This device keeps the reader curious (for example what do they mean that a child has been "lifted") but also drags down the pace of the story. Observing human behavior through the eyes of Klara is one of the more interesting aspects of this book. My heart was captured by Rick, the one truly human character.

When may I put a hold on Klara and the Sun?

wait for audio here or SF