I just finished Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. I expected to love it because I love speculative/sci-fi fiction and particularly Artificial Intelligence themes and because I loved Ishiguro's other book Never Let Me Go. This book, however, was disappointing. Klara is a robot, an AF (Artificial Friend) in a futuristic society that relies on AFs to alleviate loneliness and support social interactions. Josie is a seriously ill 14-year old girl who lives with her mother. They bought Klara to be an AF friend to Josie. As the story develops very slowly we also get to understand the reason Josie is terminally ill. Klara, who as an AF needs a certain amount of time in the sun to keep active and strong, is determined to help Josie live. In order to achieve that, Klara asks the help of the sun who she believes has the power to heal Josie. 


This book sadly didn't meet my expectations and the great writing I expected from a writer of the caliber of Kazuo Ishiguro. First, it lacked the emotional component that I had felt in his other book Never Let Me Go. Also, although it did bring up some of the ethical and philosophical issues that could rise in a society that uses Artificial Friendships, and other technological advances to the level we see in this book, these themes are not explored in depth or in any substantial way. I felt that the book failed to explore anything beyond superficial mentions, failed to touch me emotionally, and failed in organization and clarity as its structure was unorganized and chopped up. 


There is a lot of disconnection throughout the book in the plot and in the appearance of the characters, and that transfers to the readers' emotions by making the reader emotionally detached to the characters and the challenges they face, making me not care enough for any of them. I enjoyed some parts of the book, but overall it felt like separate parts stitched together rather than one whole and complete story. Also, the interaction of Klara with the Sun was exactly like a human might have prayed to God for the healing of a loved one, except that in this case felt too unbelievable, and it were the most boring, unemotional, and repetitive pages I've probably ever read in a book.


I love the concept of the book, the themes, the indirect discussions of human connection and loneliness in a world that is becoming increasingly dependent on technology and artificial social interactions. Nevertheless, the execution lacked depth and emotion, and therefore fell short for me. Klara and the Sun could easily have been five stars, but unfortunately failed to reach that potential.