Buddy Read for Klara and the Sun

[Sue]

Opening this thread for a buddy read of Klara and the Sun.

This is the August Trim selection for a pretty sizable group, but everyone is welcome to join in!

I'm still a couple weeks away from getting this book from the library, so I'll be joining in mid-month. But no need to wait for me.

[Theresa]

I will be reading it at end of this month, earliest.

[Meli]

My book club will read this in September. Looking forward to it and I hope you all enjoy!

[Olivermagnus]

I plan to join but I have company until the 20th so I will start later in the month.

[Diana]

I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see what happens next.

[Joanne]

Diana H. wrote: "I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see w..."

I hope that all is well with you husband Diana! Good thoughts and hugs to you

[Booknblues]

Diana H. wrote: "I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see w..."

I hope your husband is ok and will be thinking of you both.

[Sue]

Diana H. wrote: "I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see w..."

Diana - I hope all is well with your husband!

[Olivermagnus]

Diana H. wrote: "I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see w..."

Hope your husband is out of the hospital now.

[Diana]

Thank you, Joanne, Booknblues, Sue and Oliver! I really appreciate your support.
My husband got into a car accident. He's still in the hospital, but he's much better now. We think he'll be at home in a few days.

[Theresa]

Diana - so sorry to hear that! Glad he is doing well and will be home soon.

[Shelly]

@Diana, hope your husband is home and recovering. Sitting next to someone in the hospital is not how we want to generate reading time.

I started Klara and the Sun yesterday and it is moving along. I agree, not everything is clear, but will be revealed slowly. It feels very similar to Never Let Me Go, in that respect. I already love Klara!

[Sue]

I'm #2 on the list for Klara and the Sun at the library. So hope to be starting in the near future too.

[Shelly]

I finished and I have so many questions!

[Book Concierge]

My F2F book club had a very spirited discussion of this book last night!

[Theresa]

I started last night and now up to Part 3 - just after the Morgan Falls trip. I am enjoying it, liking the reading rhythm but I have so many questions!

Like Klara seeing things in boxes, many at first then fewer as image settles or comes together in her brain I assume- like pixilation.

Of course all the questions about what's going on in the human world both at large and within family past and present.

Did anyone else notice the dedication to his mother at the beginning? I wonder if she inspired this. Once I finish, will look for some interviews with Ishiguro about it.

[Theresa]

Diana H. wrote: "I've read half of it while sitting near my husband at the hospital. And I'm really enjoying it so far. As usual with Ishiguro, a lot of things are not clear but it only keeps me interested to see w..."

Totally agree with just how he quietly keeps you interested. It is quite beautiful actually.

How is your husband doing?

[Diana]

Theresa wrote: "How is your husband doing?"

Thanks for your concern, Theresa. He's much better now, he's already at home and recovers quickly. It was quite a fright but evrything appeared to be not so bad.

[Theresa]

Though long past the section set at Josie's Interaction Meeting, one particular bit keeps circulating in my mind: (view spoiler)[the boys demand to throw Klara to see if she can land like his. Did anyone else have images of dwarf-tossing come to mind? There was so much that was disturbing and distasteful in that whole event - adult and teen - but that tossing bit lingers most strongly in my mind as I continue reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather Reads Books]

Late to the buddy read party, but I've just started it today! More to come soon.

[Theresa]

Well, deep into Part 4 now. I was not expecting that! Well, not until a teeny bit before Klara and thus we the reader see!

Was anyone else surprised or was I just unusually clueless?

Raises so many intriguing questions.

[Sallys]

I'm about halfway through and I'm intrigued. He certainly knows how to keep the reader hooked. Diana, sorry to hear about your husbands accident but glad that he's doing better.

[Theresa]

I just finished. Total 5 star read for me. What a fantastic discussion book! I'm going to push my Feminerdy Book Club to read this.

[Sallys]

Finished Part 4. I will definitely finish tonight. I can't put it down!

[Theresa]

Sallys wrote: "Finished Part 4. I will definitely finish tonight. I can't put it down!"

Exactly! And a really quick read!

[Sallys]

I finished and all I can say is Wow. I have so many questions but what I great, thought provoking novel. Definitely 5 stars.

[Book Concierge]

My F2F book club discussed this book this month. Fantastic discussion. A few did not like it. But I was definitely in the "loved it" category.

I wonder if it will be made into a movie? I can just see the crane shot for that final scene!

[Heather Reads Books]

I'm in the middle of Part Four. Holy crap!

(view spoiler)[Holy "when my daughter dies because of something I did to her I'm totally gonna replace her with a robot," Batman!

How disturbing!!! But par for the course for Ishiguro. I remember being similarly horrified when I figured out what was going on in Never Let Me Go. This gives me very similar vibes. (hide spoiler)]

I was suspecting something was up since (view spoiler)[the Mother took Klara to Morgan Falls and had her act like Josie (hide spoiler)] but... jeez!! How the hell do they think that's going to work in the long term???

(view spoiler)[Does robot Josie grow up with other kids, or does she stay the same age forever???? HORRIFYING. (hide spoiler)]

I did not realize I'd be starting my seasonal spooky reads early with this book, but wow!

[Heather Reads Books]

Theresa wrote: "Did anyone else notice the dedication to his mother at the beginning? I wonder if she inspired this. Once I finish, will look for some interviews with Ishiguro about it."

I noticed that too and was wondering the same thing today, Theresa! There are some serious grief themes running through the book, and even found myself thinking (view spoiler)[if I had the chance to get my dad back, would I agree to having a robot version of him around?

...The answer's a sound NO, LOL. But I understand the desperation that comes with grief, wanting to do literally anything to get that person to return to you. :( Unfortunately it's way more healthy to accept that can't happen, something Josie's mom clearly can't wrap her head around... (hide spoiler)]

[Theresa]

Heather - yes, yes, yes! I literally sat bolt upright when hit by Ch. 4! I mean the book launched into a new orbit there! Damn Ishiguro is a genuis.

I have discovered that I really like books about grieving that handle it in a non-traditional or unexpected way, or examine some extreme grieving.

But it also plays into warnings about dangers of genetic engineering, cloning, and AI, taking HAL from 2001 Space Odyssey into 2020s.

[Theresa]

This interview is fascinating. https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Heather Reads Books]

I finally finished! my review is here if anyone is interested.

One thing I didn't mention in the review but is tormenting me: all that grief, horror and suffering over the kids getting "lifted" – and yet (view spoiler)[Josie never once seems "genetically superior" to Rick in any way! Which made me wonder if it was just a racket from the beginning! (hide spoiler)]

[Sue]

I just **finally** got my copy. So excited to finally get it started soon.

[Robin P]

Heather Reads Books wrote: "I finally finished! my review is here if anyone is interested.

One thing I didn't mention in the review but is tormenting me: all that grief, horror and suffering over the kids getting "lifted" – ..."

Very interesting. Although it's dystopian and the human characters have many flaws, I found Klara's unlimited love, faith and trust inspiring. Maybe that wasn't intended, but that's what stuck with me. And yes, I did wonder about that whole question of your spoiler.

[Theresa]

Heather Reads Books wrote: "I finally finished! my review is here if anyone is interested.

One thing I didn't mention in the review but is tormenting me: all that grief, horror and suffering over the kids getting "lifted" – ..."

Vis your (view spoiler)[ two things: first we don't know how Josie was 'pre-lifting' or what Rick would have been if 'lifted', and second, it is a futuristic version of the rich, connected, and powerful today who hire expensive tutors, donate to charities and schools, use connections and bribe testers and admissions officers (there was a scandal about that a few years ago remember?) To secure their children the best opportunities whether the kids want, need, or deserve it. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather Reads Books]

Robin P wrote: "Very interesting. Although it's dystopian and the human characters have many flaws, I found Klara's unlimited love, faith and trust inspiring. Maybe that wasn't intended, but that's what stuck with me."

I do think that was intended, and was what kept the book from just being a complete slog of misery for me. I really appreciated Klara's upbeat, if childlike, nature. And I've been thinking about this more since I wrote the review, but I think it's interesting that (view spoiler)[Klara essentially invented a religion for herself between her and the sun. That didn't seem like it was programmed to her in any way, but the way she worships the sun and bargains with him to make Josie well reminded me soooo much of a religious person trying to bargain with God. Maybe that does speak to Klara's evolution and higher consciousness past her programming. It's just a shame that none of the human characters really care to investigate her relationship with the sun.

Also, there's the whole ambiguity about whether the sun really did make Josie well. I think there's meant to be a vagueness there, sort of akin to a spiritual element over a miraculous recovery in real life. That did lend this book a sort of optimism I was not expecting. I was fully braced for Josie to die, and for the book to end on some nightmarish note of robot Josie-Klara filling her shoes...

In that way, this book ends on a happier note than Never Let Me Go. Although I'm still kinda concerned that Rick joined a terrorist group.... and the dad was in a fascistic paramilitary?! (hide spoiler)]

[Sue]

I finally got my audio copy from the library!

For me this was classic Ishiguro - reminded me of many of the same themes from Never Let Me Go.

Link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Meli]

I finished this in 2 days and I thought it was brilliant. AI technology is pretty freaky. Ishiguro addresses the main themes I think we will face when AI is more of an everyday reality, like what does it mean to be human, and what is ethical in the treatment and use of AIs. Because clearly he is indicating that Klara is feeling... at least explicitly according to her. There is this sense of distance and in many instances even disgust toward AIs. It feels too real. I think AI technology will advance just like the industrial revolution and the internet. We aren't going to take the time to prepare or consider the potential risks until it is too late.

It's also interesting that, in this world, that technology is paralleled by the (view spoiler)[ genetic alterations... you can choose to have your child lifted and risk sickness and death or not have them lifted and reduce their opportunities. (hide spoiler)]

About the boxes Klara is seeing, at first I was confused but my understanding was it was her vision glitching... was this the conclusion others came to as well?

@Theresa, you said "a resounding 5 stars," but the rating next to your name in the message box says 2 stars 🤔 What happened?

[Theresa]

@Meli - thanks for alerting me on 2 stars! Must have been a tablet fumble at some point recently when I had my book list open! You can change yout rating when in My Books by an accidental touch, unless you don't have it as an automatic column.

[Theresa]

Re: 'boxes' - i don't remember exactly when it started to happen, but definitely became a significant problem immediately after (view spoiler)[she gave up fluid from her brain to stop the polluting machine (hide spoiler)] outside the theater. On thinking about it, I see it as both reminding us Klara is machine and not human and the beginning of her loss of top performance ability accelerated by what she gave up.

In a broader sense ... Josie getting well can only come with Klara's deterioration?

[Meli]

Klara was already seeing things in boxes in the shop.
Although, as you mentioned, her vision deteriorated even more after that incident.

While reading it, I felt like Klara's obsession with (view spoiler)[ the sun healing Josie was more a parallel to religion. I think you can draw a parallel between Klara's deterioration and Josie getting better, but I felt more like it was teasing the question of what happens to these "machines" when we no longer have a use for them OR something better comes along, and of course the answer is the most obvious - straight to the junkyard with the rest of our garbage. (hide spoiler)]

[Meli]

Theresa wrote: "@Meli - thanks for alerting me on 2 stars! Must have been a tablet fumble at some point recently when I had my book list open! You can change yout rating when in My Books by an accidental touch, un..."

Glad you fixed that! I was shocked when I saw 2 stars because I thought this seemed like something you would enjoy as much as I did.

I am so pleased I blasted through this over the weekend so I could get into the discussion :)

[Book Concierge]

I haven't popped in much to this discussion, but I am greatly enjoying reading everyone's remarks.

[Heather Reads Books]

Meli wrote: "About the boxes Klara is seeing, at first I was confused but my understanding was it was her vision glitching... was this the conclusion others came to as well?"

Yes, this took me awhile to clock, but I think it's a description of her optics glitching – especially when blades of grass became planks of wood and people became conical shapes, I finally figured it out. That's the same thing that happens when computer graphics pixelate from poor frame rates and such!

I'm not sure if that was meant to imply that Klara was never functioning perfectly from the start, or if that's just part of the imperfect nature of the machines? It sort of disturbed me because she didn't seem to see anything wrong with it, and never tried to tell anyone about it. (Even though the human characters DO treat her with empathy, she never makes the connection to tell them something is wrong.) It made me a little sad, actually...

[Theresa]

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Meli wrote: "About the boxes Klara is seeing, at first I was confused but my understanding was it was her vision glitching... was this the conclusion others came to as well?"

Yes, this took me awh..."

On thinking about it, I think it's one of the ways Ishiguro is reminding us that Klara is a machine, a computer, and no matter how advanced her programming and construction is, her mind is not equal to a human mind which interprets what it is seeing simultaneously into recognizable and comprehensible shapes.

It remind me of when someone who has suffered hearing loss finally gets a hearing aid and hates it because all noise is enhanced and loud, not just what they want to hear. The brain has to relearn how to filter it. I had a client with a genetic defect in her ear that muffled sound similar to what those going deaf experience. As an adult in her 40s, she was able to have surgery to correct this defect and she talked often about how equally loud everything was, and she had to go through some therapy to train the brain to filter the noise so to speak.

But even though the brain re-adapts, large crowded places with lots of voices and noise remain nearly impossible. Klara had the most problem in crowded situations - the meet of the teens and outside the theater - or in the fields which created a similar multitude with grain and grass. Took longer for her software mind to translate it.