With its feature film adaptation soon to arrive in theaters, now is a perfect time to check out Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun. Set in a dystopian future, this science-fiction novel is narrated by Klara, an android, and follows her bond with human girl Josie. As the two girls grow closer, Klara develops an understanding of friendship, love, and even spirituality, and her inner world begins to transgress the boundaries between human and machine.
The book’s universe includes some light sci-fi elements, but they never bog down the story—it focuses more on its characters, their inner worlds, and their relationships, making it an accessible choice even for readers who aren’t normally big sci-fi fans (like myself).
Klara and the Sun is a beautiful, bittersweet meditation on what it means to be human, made all the more original by its outsider perspective. I expected that the novel’s bittersweet qualities might leave me feeling down, but I was surprised to find that, by the end, I felt more hopeful than anything else. Despite its moments of sadness, Ishiguro’s story left me with a renewed sense of gratitude: for being human and for life itself. If you’re seeking a unique, thoughtful exploration of the human condition, Klara and the Sun is well worth a read.