Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Louisa
Hey there, fellow bookclubbers! If you’re reading the thought-provoking and deeply philosophical novel, Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro with your book club this month, then you’re going to need to come prepared with some discussion questions.
This novel tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend, who longs to understand the world around her and the nature of human existence.
This book is packed with themes that will challenge your book club members’ perceptions of reality, consciousness, and the ethical implications of advanced technology.
From discussing the complexities of human relationships and the role of emotion in decision-making to examining the impact of social inequality on society, there’s no shortage of topics to explore.
To help kickstart your discussion, I’ve put together a list of Klara and The Sun book club questions that will guide your book club through an exciting and thought-provoking conversation.
So when you’re ready, go take a look!
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Synopsis of Klara and The Sun
An emotionally perceptive android is about to make you change the way you view science fiction. Klara is an “Artificial Friend” or AF for short.
She is purchased to be a companion for a bright girl called Josie, who was diagnosed with potentially fatal health problems.
Klara loves her human friend, but distrusts Josie’s family. It turns out, Klara was right to be untrusting, as behind every family there are there secrets.
This is a Pulitzer Prize and Booker Prize winning novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and it changes the way we think about the future and the use of technology.
It’s a thought-provoking story that, even though it falls into the category of science fiction, doesn’t read like any other Sci-Fi novel.
This isn’t about gadgets, but people, and real emotion. It’s about the lengths people go to in hope and fear.
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Spoiler Alert!
Please note that the questions below contain spoilers of the book.
Generic Book Club Questions for Klara and The Sun
It’s always a good idea to start a meeting with some generic book club questions.
This gives a chance for more questions to come up naturally can elevate the discussion to a deeper level, and give everyone a chance to really dive into the themes and characters of the book.
Here are some generic questions you may ask.
- What did you think about the book?
- What were your expectations before reading Klara and The Sun?
- How did Klara and The Sun make you feel?
- Which was the most interesting scene in the book, in your opinion?
- Were there any characters that you felt you can relate to in any way?
- What are the key principles you have learned from the book? What have you taken away from the story?
- Did you feel this was a slow-burning novel or a real page-turner?
- Would you recommend this book to others?
- What do you think the front cover represents?
- Let’s talk about the ending. Were you shocked?
Klara and The Sun Discussion Questions
By asking thought-provoking discussion questions, book club members can gain a better understanding of the book and its significance, as well as learn from each other’s perspectives and insights.
So be sure to bring up these discussion questions for Klara and The Sun in your next book club meeting!
- How would you define the relationship between Klara and Josie. Is it love? And is love possible between man and machine?
- What do you think the “boxes” that Klara is always seeing refer to? What do you think her view of the world looks like?
- Were there any characters that you admired or felt a connection to?
- What do you think the Cooting’s machine is? What is its purpose?
- Did you find there were any loose ends or discrepancies in the novel?
- The novel is set sometime in the future when AIs and robots are common. Do you feel like there were any relatable elements in this book? Do you think this is a future that we may see one day? Was it hard to imagine this world?
- Did it feel in any way different having the novel narrated in first-person by an AI? How would the story be different if it was narrated by another character like Josie?
- What do you think the effect is, if any, of having an artificial friend? If this technology was real, do you think that it can have a harmful or helpful effect on a child?
- What do you think really happened to Sal, Josie’s sister? What influence did this backstory have on the novel, do you think?
- Ms Helen doesn’t know how to greet Klara when she’s first introduced to her. What do you think is the correct way to meet a machine as advanced as Klara?
Educated Book Club Questions for Klara and The Sun
Educated book club questions can help readers to connect the book to broader historical or cultural contexts, or to other works of literature.
This can provide a more holistic understanding of the book and its place in the canon of literature.
If you want to have a more educated discussion, then these questions should spark a more topical debate.
- When Klara first enters the barn, she sees items from the store she was in, and soon she sees the blender that belonged to the housekeeper, too. Do you think Klara saw real items or was it part of her deteriorating memory?
- Klara was introduced to be a friend to a child, and so her code was written with a child in mind. Do you think that is why she started to defy human intelligence? Because like a child’s mind, she is always evolving.
- Let’s talk about Josie. What do you think was the true state of her illness?
- Josie was cured by getting more sunlight. Do you think her dad did anything or was humoring Klara?
- Let’s talk about how you feel towards Klara. She’s a robot, but did you start to believe she was human? Do you think it’s possible to love a robot like a family member?
- The novel talks about how children are “lifted” by AFs. Those who haven’t been “lifted” are kept from schools they grow up dispensable. Why do you think this is? What does it mean to be lifted?
- Let’s think about the place where Klara is sent at the end. What moral questions does this raise?
- Who seemed the most human to you – the man or the machine?
- Let’s talk about Klara’s connection to the sun. What do you think is the meaning behind this?
- Kazuo Ishiguro writes, “It’s not faith you need. Only rationality.” – what do you think the author meant by this?
Read more: Miracle Creek Book Club Questions
5 Suggestions for What to Read Next
Now you have a list of Klara and The Sun book club questions for your book club meeting, it’s time to plan the next one.
Here are some suggestions for books to read next.
1. American Dirt – Jeanine Cummins
American Dirt is a gripping New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club selection, exploring the true-to-life story of heroine Lydia and her family who must flee their home in Acapulco as its cartels terrorize the town.
When Lydia’s journalist husband publishes a tell-all profile on the local drug lord, they know their lives are at risk.
Together with her son Luca, they make the difficult journey to America amongst others all running from something, but Lydia wonders what will happen when she finds out where they’re running to.
This captivating tale of survival and courage offers readers an emotional journey that will linger long after its gripping conclusion.
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2. The Lost Apothecary – Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary is a suspenseful story of secrets, vengeance, and sisterhood set in eighteenth-century London; an apothecary shop serves its esoteric customers, with talk of a mystery woman who provides protection from abusive husbands and partners.
Her existence soon hangs in the balance when her newest patron – a precocious twelve-year-old – makes a fatal error, the effects of which have repercussions for centuries to come.
On her tenth wedding anniversary alone in present-day London, Caroline Parcewell is researching the unsolved murders associated with the apothecary when she unlocks a vital clue that puts everyone’s life in danger.
Little does she realize at the time that this twist of fate will alter hers irrevocably, and not all may survive.
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3. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
If you’re looking for something darker and more suspenseful to read with your book club, then perhaps you’ll enjoy a book like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
Alicia Berenson appeared to have an idyllic life as a celebrated painter and the wife of a prominent photographer in London.
They resided in a splendid home situated in one of the city’s most coveted neighborhoods. Appearances suggested that everything was picture-perfect.
One fateful night, Alicia’s husband returns home from work only to be shot five times by her before she falls silent, uttering not another word. Her inexplicable act shocked London, and the case quickly became a riveting mystery.
Along comes Theo Faber, a psychotherapist whose obsessive fixation on the case sparks a relentless search for answers.
As he delves into Alicia’s story, he uncovers dark secrets that threaten to unravel his own sanity.
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4. The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah
Located in Alaska in 1974, this story follows Ernt Allbright, a man who returned from the Vietnam War a changed person.
After losing his job, he takes his wife and daughter north to live off the grid on America’s last true frontier.
While Cora and Leni had no other choice but to follow him, they found an independent community of strong individuals ready to provide support despite their lack of resources.
As winter approaches and darkness falls for eighteen hours each day, Ernt’s fragile mental state begins to deteriorate as much as the perils outside their cabin.
The Allbrights soon realize the truth about the wilderness which is that they are truly alone.
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5. The Alice Network – Kate Quinn
After World War Two, Charlie St. Clair is pregnant and alone and is at risk of being disowned by her family.
She is desperate to uncover the truth behind her missing cousin Rose.
When her strict parents send her off to Europe, she finds an opportunity to fulfill her mission. In 1915, Eve Gardiner was recruited as a spy for the Alice Network in France and trained under Lili who was known as the Queen of Spies.
Betrayed by someone close to her, she turns to alcohol for comfort in a crumbling London house until an American woman appears asking for a name from the past.
Together, the two women unite in their pursuit of justice and redemption.
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Final Word on Klara and The Sun Book Club Questions
That’s it for today, book lovers! I hope these Klara and The Sun book club questions have given you some great ideas for your next discussion.
This novel is a thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence, humanity, and the nature of consciousness.
As you dive into these questions with your book club, be prepared for some fascinating conversations about what it means to be human and the ethical implications of advanced technology.
From discussing the relationship between Klara and Josie, to examining the role of technology in our lives, this book is sure to spark some lively debates.
I always love hearing from other book club members, so if you have any comments or questions about these discussion questions, feel free to leave them below.
