Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro ****

In the world of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, children are uplifted to make them smart enough to join society’s elite. This genetic modification has risks and Josie is ill because of it. Elites purchase AFs (artificial friends) for their children. AFs have feelings, but incomplete knowledge of the world. AF Klara believes in a Sun (god) who can cure Josie. Rick is not uplifted and Josie’s friend. The book explores relationships. Josie and Rick come from different strata of society. Josie’s mother knows her daughter is dying. Klara wants to help Josie but doesn’t know how.

Kazuo Ishiguro is a Nobel-prize writer.

The AFs are solar powered which explains Klara’s child-like faith in the Sun. While Klara has a sophisticated concept of human feelings, she has no understanding of the physical world. Is this the author’s criticism of the future of robots?

Josie’s mother is ready to replace Josie with an AF simulacra.

Klara sacrifices some of herself (half her brain fluid) in her effort to save Josie. In this way, she is more interested in saving Josie than anyone else in the book, even Josie’s mother. However, this sacrifice has no effect on Josie’s disease or no cost to Klara’s well-being.

The reading guide asks, “Who, in the end, seems more human to you—the people in the novel, or the AFs?”

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