Klara and the Sun

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Klara and the Sun is about Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF), who hopes to become a companion for a child. She is “nourished” by the sun and loves observing the outside world from various locations inside her shop.

The story is told from Klara’s perspective as she observes the world, trying to understand it and her place in it. She meets Josie, and they form a strong connection, beginning Klara’s journey of figuring out what it means to love and to be a person.

I enjoyed reading a book from the perspective of an AI robot. It feels highly relevant now that AI is becoming more commonplace in our daily lives. I liked that, as the reader, I only had Klara’s observations to experience this world. They are often childlike and lack context, so I also felt like a child in this strange future setting. I enjoyed learning alongside Klara and trying to figure out what she was seeing or experiencing. It was a sweet, sometimes sad story, with a lot of heart and gentleness.

I would recommend this book if you enjoy science fiction with a central theme of “what it means to be human.” It would also be well-suited to a young adult audience, as it is quite simple but elegantly written.

Find Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Rosanna