QUICK SUMMARY
Klara, the narrator, is an Artificial Friend (AF) – one of many solar-powered androids designed to become companions to children. Children, in this dystopian future, are home-schooled and have few social interactions.
Whilst Klara is waiting to be chosen, she observes the world around her, building up her understanding of human emotions and behaviours. She soon becomes a companion to 14-year-old Josie, whose poor health is a cause of great concern to her family, and to Klara.
The novel revolves around the girl, her family and her surroundings, as seen through Klara’s eyes.
REVIEW
The moment I heard Kazuo Ishiguro was publishing a new book, I literally started counting down the days until I could finally order it.
If you’ve read Remains of the Day or Never Let me Go, you will know that Ishiguro has probably made it his life’s goal to break your heart. His novels dig deep into your subconscious, resurfacing when you’re just lying there happily on a warm summer day to remind you how fragile life is.
So, yes, why wouldn’t I want to read any new novel he publishes?
It’s fair to say that my expectations were high, and I had braced myself for an emotional journey. Whilst beautifully written, Klara and the Sun, unfortunately, failed to fully engage me as much as Ishiguro’s other novels.
Klara is a very likeable narrator, and her penetrating look at human emotions and interactions is truly endearing. Even though she is not a human herself, she is able to feel compassion, detect anger and disappointment in others, and even experience real concern for Josie, the girl she’s looking after.
“Perhaps all humans are lonely. At least potentially.”
– Klara and the Sun
The dystopian future the novel is set in is neither too fictional nor too far in the future, making it as relatable as it is unnerving. The book makes you think about what it means to be human – something that isn’t usually part of my daily routine!
With this novel, as he does with others, Ishiguro asks us to consider what is unique about us and meaningful in our life. How far we’re willing to go for “success” and what we might sacrifice, or choose to preserve, on the way there.
Well, this all sounds great, so why on earth did I say that I wasn’t fully engaged?
I think it’s because I couldn’t help wishing that some plot points had been revealed sooner, to allow the reader more time to connect with the story and the characters. Perhaps this was intentional, making this a book that can be read more than once. However, for me, it was slightly distracting, as I occasionally found myself more focused on finding answers than appreciating Ishiguro’s lovely story-telling.
Having said that, Klara and the Sun is a beautiful novel. Once I had finished it, I was left with an aching heart that took some time to heal. And that is the power of Ishiguro’s writing. His beautiful endings can easily stand as separate entities, which you will keep going back to for the rest of your life – I know I do!
This is by no means a bad or mediocre book – far from it and I would still absolutely recommend it! But if, for some reason, you can only ever read one Ishiguro book, this probably wouldn’t be my first choice. However, if you are not bound by some weird contract with the book universe and it’s OK for you to read more than one novel by the same author, then go ahead and definitely give this a read!
I bought the beautiful exclusive edition of the novel from Waterstones.
RATING
CHOCOLATE SOULMATE
This is a book that pulls at your heartstrings and stays with you after you’ve read it, leaving a bittersweet taste – which is why you probably need something sweet and warming, to balance it all out!
For Klara and the Sun I’ve chosen an orange chocolate wafer praline from Hotel Chocolat (yes, I’m fancy like that!). The orange filling feels like eating a bit of sunshine, blending in perfectly with Klara and her trust in the sun’s powers.
The chocolate itself was delicious, so I give it 4/5!
You can get them from Hotel Chocolat here