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333amreen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The first half was really hard to get through because it felt like the whole purpose of the book was basically just Klara observing here surroundings & so I often thought of DNF-ing the book, but I'm so glad I continued reading. Little did I know how meaningful those observations would prove to be & so the latter half really got me thinking. I think this book conveys a beautiful and thought provoking insight into the human heart, I don't mean simply the organ obviously. I'm speaking in the poetic sense. The human heart. I do infact think there is such a thing, something that makes each of us special and individual.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
abfreda184's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It was really thought provoking and I loved it as a philosophy nerd
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
thebetterstory's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A very odd book, owing mostly to its very odd but lovable narrator. We still don't have all that many stories about an AI from their perspective, and those that we do tend to show the AI as very human (see: the delightful Murderbot). Klara's perspective is downright bizarre in a way that's continually surprising and interesting to read. I've never seen an author so successfully convey what it would look like if you essentially created a fully-fledged, mature human, had her live her entire life in a quiet retail store and then sent her out to experience the world with only that limited perspective to rely on.
The central plot, or what there is of it, remains tense and absorbing as you're drawn into hoping that things will work out for these characters, against all odds and in spite of their blatant flaws.
The central plot, or what there is of it, remains tense and absorbing as you're drawn into hoping that things will work out for these characters, against all odds and in spite of their blatant flaws.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Racism, and Xenophobia
The characters are nuanced, but it's certain that they are all generally unkind to Klara at one point or another in the book. I wouldn't personally say that these relationships are solely toxic, and Klara isn't upset by it, but there's definitely significant dehumanization at times (if you count Klara as a human) and a background understanding and suggestion that AFs, including one we care about, have been and continue to be abused.lex_r's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I didn't think I was going to like this book and then I finished and I have no reason to give it anything less than a five. I was completely confused reading the whole novel, there was so little context into the world but for some reason it worked. I loved Klara and she reminded me of Wall-E, non-human but relates to human emotions beyond comprehension. I finished the book expecting the ending to gather the loose context and it didn't, but for an odd reason that was okay? Klara's story was done and her experiences left me asking so many unanswerable questions; but they have evidently been lost to time and I have to be okay with the resolution. To sum this up, I entered this book confused about Klara and the world context, left completely briefed on Klara and equally confused on world context, but is still satisfying. Also, now reflecting, this is essentially a revamp of the 2010's teenage coming of age dystopian revolution genre but better and more artistically nuanced, layered, and really a must read? Seriously it's just better, you will understand when you are done.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Classism