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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Klara and the Sun
By: Kazuo Ishiguro
My Rating: THREE out of FIVE Stars
Best For: 16 and up

Klara and the Sun: A Brilliant AI with a Disconnected Worldview

After thoroughly enjoying both The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, I thought I’d give another by Kazuo Ishiguro a try. Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit quite right. While there are elements to love, the book left me feeling a bit disconnected and disappointed by the end.

What’s it about?

The story is told through the eyes of Klara, a unique Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities. From her spot in a store window, she watches the world outside, patiently waiting for a family to choose her. Klara is an optimist, and she holds an almost religious belief that the Sun has a life-giving, magical power. Her wish is granted when she is purchased for a young girl named Josie, who is suffering from a mysterious illness. As Klara is brought into Josie’s family, she is forced to confront the complexities of human emotion, love, and loneliness, all while trying to make sense of a world that is far more confusing than she ever imagined.

What did I think?

This book is a fascinating read on some levels. I truly enjoyed the imagined future of AI application and the tertiary warnings about the dangers of future gene modification tech. That part was actually really cool, and it was the main reason I found any enjoyment in the story at all. There’s no denying that Ishiguro can write; the world-building is well-oiled and the book is a quick, engaging read.

However, I found Klara herself to be a bit of a disconnect. She’s supposed to be a brilliant and perceptive AI, but her unwavering belief that the Sun has magical powers felt unscientific and, well, robotic. It was hard to reconcile her keen observational skills with such a simplistic worldview. The story had a lot of potential in its first half, but it never really went anywhere. I wasn’t excited with the the big climax the story was building up to either, but even that flamed out in the end. I was pretty disappointed in how the story ended, which was supposed to be about love, built up the idea of love, and then forgot to finish with love, leaving the story feeling convenient and unfinished.

Sensitive Content:

A few colorful, four-letter words are used, albeit rarely.

Should you read it?