Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

"Klara and the Sun, the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, tells 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?" (Goodreads.com)

There are a lot of sci-fi robot stories out there but I'm sure they're not as wholesome as this one. Klara truly just wants the best for those around her and to understand her world. She observes many instances throughout the story that allow the reader to examine scenarios including faith, love, social standing, loneliness and more with fresh eyes. Ishiguro leaves the story open to interpretation because there are many lessons that one could take away from this book. Despite this being a science fiction novel critiquing the way that society is, I finished it feeling more hopeful than when I began it because of Klara's optimism.

Kelsey Fitzgerald

Library Assistant

Available at the Langley-Adams Library