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Klara and the Sun

by mr. hipster April 13, 2024
April 13, 2024
Klara and the Sun
85
Klara and the Sun
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Publication Year: 2021
Length: 307 pages

If you’ve previously read one of Ishiguro’s book, you start to recognize a pattern with his writing. Reasonably simplistic language with rather mundane scenarios that, over time, begin to expose themselves as something different. Something a bit more sad. And a lot more sinister. I’m thinking of Never Let Me Go in particular. A seemingly innocent story about a group of students at a boarding school that turns out to be a dystopian tale of something very different. His shifts are subtle and done with little fanfare and an almost aggressive disinterest in the “twist.” Klara and the Sun could take place in a similar world as Never Let Me Go. Nog the same world, but one on a similar trajectory. A story set in an unconfirmed future era (or parallel world) in an unnamed part of the US (a location change from his usual UK) that gives away the fact it’s either a future time or alternative universe from jump — unlike Never Let Me Go — because we have AI androids. Otherwise, without these robots, this could be 2020. Or 2002.

Ishiguro starts his tale in a retail store on a generic city street. A store that happens to sell Artificial Friends (AFs). These are sentient AI bots that we understand look like children. Meant to be paired with a child. Oddly we’re never really given a description of the AFs, including our POV narrator, an AF named Klara. Klara is apparently a very bright and observant AF and we spend a good chunk of the start of the book with her inside the store, her entire world scope limited to the interior of the store and the street in front of it. Which she can only see when the Manager places her in the front window. I feel like Ishiguro took this as a writing challenge more than anything. And, frankly, this whole front section drags a bit as he describes all the little bits and pieces of the store displays, the placement of the other AFs and Klara’s ongoing relationship with the sun. Seeing as the AFs are solar-powered. Which seems like a design flaw considering there are large swaths of the calendar when sun is in little abundance. And generally humans and their robot counterparts live inside houses. But I’m no scientist.

Eventually a girl named Josie — after some false starts — picks Klara as her AF amongst the many other AFs in the store. And she is installed in her home with her, her mom and their housekeeper. It is evident from the start that Josie is unwell. Which may be the reason for her needing an AF. Since Klara is so observant and can keep her company when she’s ill, as well as sense when she’s having a bad day or needs meds, etc. That said, Ishiguro never really makes clear how the whole AF program works. We understand some other children have them, but it’s unclear who gets one. Is it only the wealthy? Only children whose parents worry about their loneliness. It’s these details — or lack there of — that makes his books feel like they’re only messing around with the sci-fi of it all and not going full bore. Because it’s not about the details. It’s not about the science in the fiction. It’s about the creepiness along the edges. The gut punches. And, to some extent, the ambiguity. Which he clearly sees as a feature and not a bug. Because this book is chock full of ambiguity right down to the last sentence. And it’s purposeful, no doubt.

Any time you put the narrative of a story in one person’s — or in this case one robot’s — hands you have the possibility of that narrator being unreliable. Which in this case Ishiguro falsely bolsters Klara’s reliability over and over again. Telling us how keen Klara’s powers of observation and recall are. But then hinting between the lines using tense and some other factors that perhaps her recollections aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I don’t think introducing this unreliability was meant as Reddit bait, but that’s essentially what he’s done. It’s not to the level of The Sixth Sense or anything, but there are certainly elements in the jumbled possibilities that could lead to these conclusions. We don’t think of robots as fallible — and especially don’t think of Klara that way — but, as it turns out, their human frailties are exactly the type of thing Ishiguro explores in this story about how we treat AI and its “humanness.”

First, there is some Gattica here. If you’ve seen that movie — and any of the other types of genetic fuckery films — some of this will feel familiar. Again, Ishiguro is very subtle with his science, and very vague. But suffice it to say that there are some children who are made to be on a certain track to success. And others that are not. We’re not told exactly how this occurs or who can afford or be given access to this advantage, but you just know it’s a thing. I don’t want to give too much away, but the narrative keeps mentioning things like kids being “lifted” and about Josie posing for a portrait. And all these kind of things that Ishiguro just throws out there regularly while we read them and are essentially in the dark, just as Klara is, until the meaning of things is exposed to her. And us. We can guess what’s up, but we are often never ahead of the narrator. Not behind her. It’s very on point for his storytelling.

There are a ton of themes going on here. Besides our treatment of AI, we explore the blind faith of religion, humans polluting the earth and the breakdown of society. Klara — maybe because she is powered by the sun — essentially worships it. She refers to it as a Him and believes it has curative power and can answer her prayers in a real world way. A smart and logical robot who still thinks that if she asks the sun and promises things to Him that he will return her prayers in the form of healing her friend and owner, Josie. An incredibly naive stance for an AI. There are also nods in the story to the crumbling of society. It’s never really given a name or directly addressed other than the mention of walled, protected communities starting up all over. Presumably to keep something bad out. Other humans? Robots? Who knows; Ishiguro never says.

I’m going to do it again. The Spielberg movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence. There is absolutely no way Ishiguro didn’t watch that movie and ask himself if there weren’t too many similarities. There is some inversion, sure, but there is a sick child, a child who could be construed as a replacement who will never get sick and never die and the conundrum of what to do with said robot in this construct. It can’t be a coincidence. Anyway, you’ll see. Now, theories. I got ‘em. And I doubt the author will ever confirm what’s what. But when you unwind some of the details that seem just kind of tossed-off during the story, it becomes evident that not everything is as it seems. And I’m not talking about the obvious twist in the story line like the one we hit in Never Let Me Go, where the mundane becomes so much darker. It goes to the fact that just because we’re told something, it doesn’t make it so. The sleight of hand, the narrative plotting, the timing of events. It’s all ultimately subjective. And depending on what order you put it in and whose perspective you get it from, facts aren’t always facts. Who’s dead, who’s alive, who’s a manager, who is human, who isn’t. It’s all a jumble that no technology can solve.

2021Dystopian FictionKazuo IshiguroScience Fiction
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Mr. Hipster
  • TV
    • TVTelevision ReviewsGood / Bad Commercial
      Television Reviews
      The Four Seasons: Season 1

      July 18, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Better Sister

      July 13, 2025

      Television Reviews
      Your Friends & Neighbors: Season 1

      July 3, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Last of Us: Season 2

      June 24, 2025

      Television Reviews
      MobLand: Season 1

      June 13, 2025

      Good / Bad Commercial
      The More You Know: How to Pronounce “Comfortable”…

      June 10, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Four Seasons: Season 1

      July 18, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Better Sister

      July 13, 2025

      Television Reviews
      Your Friends & Neighbors: Season 1

      July 3, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Last of Us: Season 2

      June 24, 2025

      Television Reviews
      MobLand: Season 1

      June 13, 2025

      Television Reviews
      The Studio: Season 1

      June 3, 2025

      Good / Bad Commercial
      The More You Know: How to Pronounce “Comfortable”…

      June 10, 2025

      Good / Bad Commercial
      Bad Commercial: Mattress Firm “Jumbled Up”

      August 10, 2023

      Good / Bad Commercial
      Good Commercial: JUBLIA “Dad’s Toenails”

      February 20, 2023

      Good / Bad Commercial
      Bad Commercial: J.G. Wentworth “Living at Home”

      December 19, 2021

      Good / Bad Commercial
      Bad Commercial: Apple iPhone 12 “Fumble”

      April 15, 2021

      Good / Bad Commercial
      Good Commercial: GEICO “Tag Team Helps With Dessert”

      March 15, 2021

  • Music
    • MusicAlbum ReviewsThe Music ListConcert Reviews
      Album Reviews
      Sioux Falls: Rot Forever

      July 14, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Turnstile: Never Enough

      July 8, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Lifeguard: Ripped and Torn

      June 28, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal

      June 17, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Mclusky: the world is still here and so…

      June 16, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Origami Angel: Feeling Not Found

      June 12, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Sioux Falls: Rot Forever

      July 14, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Turnstile: Never Enough

      July 8, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Lifeguard: Ripped and Torn

      June 28, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal

      June 17, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Mclusky: the world is still here and so…

      June 16, 2025

      Album Reviews
      Origami Angel: Feeling Not Found

      June 12, 2025

      The Music List
      The Grunge Diaspora

      August 15, 2024

      The Music List
      I Still Own a Lot of CDs

      June 13, 2024

      The Music List
      Top Listens 2023

      January 1, 2024

      The Music List
      In Defense of: OMC’s “How Bizarre”

      July 18, 2021

      The Music List
      Top 25 Influential Rock Albums

      May 1, 2020

      The Music List
      In Defense Of: Ruben Studdard’s “Sorry 2004”

      December 29, 2019

      Concert Reviews
      The Get Up Kids @ Starland Ballroom

      February 27, 2025

      Concert Reviews
      The Dirty Nil @ White Eagle Hall

      January 26, 2025

      Concert Reviews
      The Beths @ White Eagle Hall

      September 26, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Pearl Jam @ MSG

      September 9, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Cloud Nothings @ (Le) Poisson Rouge

      May 15, 2024

      Concert Reviews
      Band of Horses @ The Wellmont Theater

      February 13, 2024

  • Movies
    • Movie Reviews
      Mickey 17

      July 22, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Mountainhead

      July 4, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Fountain of Youth

      June 24, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      A Different Man

      June 10, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Problemista

      May 22, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      Flipside

      May 4, 2025

      Movie Reviews
      The Gorge

      March 2, 2025

  • Books
    • Book Reviews
      Trust

      June 19, 2025

      Book Reviews
      Razorblade Tears

      May 24, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Plot

      March 14, 2025

      Book Reviews
      Maximum Bob

      February 17, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Sympathizer

      January 6, 2025

      Book Reviews
      The Zone of Interest

      July 12, 2024

      Book Reviews
      Klara and the Sun

      April 13, 2024

  • Podcasts
    • Podcast Reviews
      The Wedding Scammer

      March 1, 2025

      Podcast Reviews
      Search Engine

      November 27, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Hysterical

      August 30, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      60 Songs That Explain the ’90s

      March 31, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Otherworld

      February 29, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Behind the Bastards

      February 13, 2024

      Podcast Reviews
      Time Crisis

      January 26, 2024

  • Booze & Grub
    • Booze & Grub ReviewsBooze & Grub: NYCBooze & Grub: NJThe NYC Booze & Grub GraveyardThe NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Falafel Hut

      July 12, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      McDonald’s (West Village)

      July 10, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Seoul Bistro

      July 4, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Ralph’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

      June 27, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      CAVA – 350 Hudson

      June 19, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews
      Rooster’s Nashville Hot Chicken

      June 18, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      McDonald’s (West Village)

      July 10, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      CAVA – 350 Hudson

      June 19, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Westville Hudson

      April 25, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Five Guys – Midtown West

      January 25, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Jaz Indian Cuisine

      December 23, 2024

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NYC
      Just Salad – Hudson Square

      November 13, 2024

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Falafel Hut

      July 12, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Seoul Bistro

      July 4, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Ralph’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant

      June 27, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Rooster’s Nashville Hot Chicken

      June 18, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Oso Felipe

      June 6, 2025

      Booze & Grub Reviews: NJ
      Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge Harrison

      May 23, 2025

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard: Gone Before Their…

      August 9, 2022

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      The Press Box Restaurant & Pub

      August 3, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Natureworks – Midtown

      May 6, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      The National Bar & Dining Rooms

      April 10, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Hillstone – Midtown

      March 5, 2021

      The NYC Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant – 5th Ave.

      February 12, 2021

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard: Gone Before Their…

      July 21, 2024

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Scala del Nonna

      February 15, 2023

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Diesel & Duke – Montclair

      January 30, 2023

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza

      September 14, 2021

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Junior’s Cheesesteaks & Shakes

      December 21, 2020

      The NJ Booze & Grub Graveyard
      Vanillamore

      June 13, 2020

  • Randomness
    • Travel Reviews
    • Video Game Reviews
    • Product Reviews
    • Odd Finds
    • Diary