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Book Review of Klara and the Sun

Klara and the Sun
maura853 avatar reviewed on + 542 more book reviews


A touching modern fairy-tale, with so many possible interpretations, swirling in its depths.

I liked it because I enjoy Ishiguro's knack for channelling an alien perspective -- seeing the world through the funhouse mirror, through the eyes of someone who sees things very differently, who understands and yet doesn't understand. The almost-human, who make us see that, in our own way, we are all almost-human, that we all have blind-spots, misunderstandings, idée fixes, and little private superstitions and mythologies that rule our lives.

I like it because, in my opinion, fiction (and science fiction) is all about the metaphor. And Ishiguro gets that, and makes the most of it. There are so many, many layers that can be unpacked in Klara's story: the meaning of "friendship." The meaning of love, and family. The importance of faith, and hope ... Take your pick: Ishiguro gives you the rich material, and allows you, the Reader, to run with it ...