alex

The ending parts, maybe the last 50 pages are basically the best thing ever. The rest is various degrees of good, a somewhat clunky novel but certainly a good one. Some elements feel out of place, or underdeveloped, too much time is spent on a certain plot point that feels weirdly unsignificant thematically. But that ending? Holy shit it really got me. The beginning is great but the ending is, again, sort of the best. Rating and deeper thoughts later maybe? great great book

If it weren't for some stuff in the middle this would absolutely be one of my favourite books. At this point, probably top 30 idk

Convoluted structure asides, my main issue is how seriously this thing takes itself. First one was fun, the sequel... not so much. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I think it was a bit too long. Lacking cohesion, additionally. The June stuff just felt unnecessary unless she's being set up for something in the future (which I suspect is the case, but the point still stands). I didn't feel attached to anyone in this story, contrary to the last book. Anyways, pretty good book
Marcella was just a poorly done character tho. I think V.E. Schwab was possessed by some old guy while writing all the parts with her because... seriously lmao. not compelling in the slightest, irritating at best. I wish this had stronger villains in place of Marcella and June, Eli was pretty okay in this book though.

consider my reading slump officially over, i tore through this shit in a little under 24 hours

oddly compelling and a damn fun read. the only place this falters is the romantic subplot, with scout being a bit underdeveloped yet it's not a major drawback. not sure how i'd classify this asides from some loose genre terms and obvious postmodern influences, but whatever this is, its completely my thing haha

also: the third lightbulb fragment was where this totally clicked with me. i wasnt totally invested on an emotional level but the described conversations with clio's father genuinely broke my heart.

above all i really like how Hall describes such mundane things in a genuinely interesting way, which puts a great edge to the amnesia premise. cool writing style for sure, i'd love to read more in a similar vein

I wish I was a bit more attached to the characters, liked the writing style a bit more, maybe just a bit more and I could have found an attachment to this like I have with Ishiguro's other novels. But still, I really liked it. the bits with adult Kathy felt a bit too juvenile at points, but that's alright; they're still young, far too young for what's happened to them. The scene with Miss Emily towards the end is fucking peak.

The perfect companion to Klara and the Sun!

Oh yeah this is like a 4.25-4.5 because some subplots were unnecessary and didn't add much in terms of character development and the middle dragged in places but some bits were easily in the 5.0 category.

Oh and with that my Goodreads yearly reading goal thing is done! Glad it ended with this, twas quite the novel (I'm not as sad anymore might cry myself to sleep but idk)

Great book, you don't get a new Amor Towles novel every day (year. many years actually) so yeah maybe I should have savoured it a bit more but I can re-read Rules and Moscow

klara and the sun is a strangely polarizing book, but one that i thoroughly loved. also one that i think i'll be mulling over for a long time.
the ending. oh my god

the ending only makes sense for me at least, in one way. if josie died, and is replaced with the doll. otherwise, it's a million times more depressing.


i think i'm going to cry
good job mr ishiguro


anyways
i like rick!
all the characters are great.
they have all the traits commonly attributed to humanity: envy, anger, deception to name a few, as well as some more positive ones. rick, helen, josie's parents, josie, and of course klara all act based on their love for (some of) each other. klara and the sun has many themes, some of which probably flew right over my head. but there is no doubt in my mind that love, and the love of the people around you, is the main focus.
it's interesting how klara seems to be the only character interested in pollution and climate change. ishiguro's vision of the future is obviously inspired by many aspects of ours; the prejudice towards the “unlifted” and AFs being a big one. the apathy towards the climate by everyone but klara is just depressing. lots of stuff on the human condition too of course
going by my interpretation of it, the book is alternatively optimistic and pessimistic. for one, the ending is so depressing. the manager looking out at the construction crane is probably symbolic for the world starting another cycle now that the AFs are gone. the world is constantly changing, and sometimes the best things are left abandoned. but love? love remains eternal.

rick basically reinforces this at the end, but it's visible in much of the novel. this makes the ending just a bit less sad but my god is that ending sad

god is this review cheesy, but this is a really poignant novel.
gotta read something else by ishiguro, this was a great introduction to him though.

Extremely easy to read, great if you're in a slump. the beginning was the one part i really disliked, it gave off an edifying air and i was worried the book would be more of a lesson than a satisfying work of literature. But I was wrong
A very predictable book, but considering that it's YA(?) I think the ending was an understandable choice. A bit too easy, I think, more of an ideal than a realistic ending, but I get it, especially if the author has struggles similar to Nora

Later edit: unfortunately, my opinion has changed over time. I don't get the hype. Asides from being an enjoyable read, there isn't much outstanding or thought-provoking about the book at all.

But I could still recognize him, for who but a man with two minds could understand a man with no face?

Staggering. A story that is political satire, spy lit, and character/cultural study all at once, conveyed with sweeping prose of description and dialogue, memory and present, all which bleed together in Nguyen's gorgeous writing. The pure artistry of the language here is at times electrifying, yet the content itself is so bleak in itself, despite the excellent humorous touches. Despite the soaring ambitions, almost everything here worked for me, my only significant complaint being the writing of women, which is the only place the lovely description really falters. I can understand why others claim this overwritten or didactic, but I really liked the style here, and how it so effortlessly blends fact and fiction. I'm thinking a light 4.5 stars.

:'(((

Don't really know how I feel about this one, the ending was good I guess. The use of language made me care for the characters in the individual moments, but nothing about the characters themselves is likely to stick with me. Miller is clearly a talented author, I'll definitely be reading Circe soon if I get a chance

ok i have decided on 3.5 stars goodbye

3.5

Bit of a shame that the plot never quite lives up to the gorgeous writing style it inhibits. While it's a good reflection on the intersection between traditional gender roles and culture, the story and characters themselves often feel one-note. Unlike the film, which is most often through the perspective of Kahu/Paikea, there's an even focus on the other members of her family. While this broader focus could make for a more nuanced portrayal of the subject matter, and does in some ways, the decision to focus on Rawiri's life feels oddly unearned. As well as the strange lack of insight into Kahu's perspective, into what she truly wants. I suppose there's some merit to that, with how her family often overlooks her skills due to her gender, but it leads to her character feeling shallow at the same time. Feels like this could have been a much stronger novel with some structural fixes, but it's not bad in this case.

Funnily enough, I think this shines whenever whales are present. From the sweeping, almost poetic renditions of The Whale Rider's legend to the harrowing scenes with the beached whales (the first of which genuinely upset me, btw - perhaps the only part of the book to actually hit me on an emotional level). Overall, I think this is quite great, yet its a bit of a shame how lacklustre some parts are when contrasted with the novel's strengths.