Will "Klara and the Sun" Make a Good Film Adaptation?

[@bartsbookspace]

I had a blast talking to both of You and shooting this video! 🙌 Hope we’ll get to do it again soon. 😀

[@WordsinTime]

It was a fun discussion! I’m looking forward to seeing how the movie compares!

[@summergolding1539]

I think it’ll work, Taika Waititi has directed a lot of great movies, like hunt for the wilder people, next goal wins and jojo rabbit, which won “best adapted screenplay”, so it will be good

[@WordsinTime]

@@summergolding1539 Agreed!

[@Kim_Miller]

Hey! Carsick Colin didn't get renamed this time. I've heard of Klara and the Sun but not read it .... because Jonathon and Bart are always adding other books to my TBR. On the note about robots having compassion etc, I've just read both Monk and Robot books, and in both books the robot has a deeper understanding of human life (especially human frailty and failure) than the monk. There's clearly room for a third book and if that happens I imagine their ultimate departure from each other will also be a deeper element for the robot than the human.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha I will have to give Colin a new name next time. And I haven’t read Becky Chambers yet, but I’ve heard good things!

[@Johanna_reads]

Catching up on this since I just recently finished the book! I adored the whole book! It suited my reading taste perfectly! As you all mentioned, I’m curious about the movie, but I have some reservations about whether the movie can capture the questionable narrator reliability, subtlety, wonder, and emotion that the book did. Great thoughts all around!

[@WordsinTime]

@@Johanna_reads Yes, it will be interesting to see how they represent Klara’s perspective visually!

[@DaBIONICLEFan]

This is timely haha. I've only just finished Klara and the Sun myself for a book club I'm in. Never thought of it as having feature-length film material but maybe as something in the style of a Black Mirror episode. Personally I found the writing a bit dry (and the story tbh) but I don't know if that's just down to it being from the POV of an AI, as I haven't read any other Ishiguro to comment on his writing style.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha nice timing indeed. I liked the writing style but can’t compare as this is the only Ishiguro book I’ve read. I will have to try Never Let Me Go.

[@TheDMFW62]

@@WordsinTime Definitely try "Never Let Me Go" if you liked this one (which I really do too). Never Let Me Go might be even better. I'm not sure which of them I prefer to be honest....

[@voodoo300]

I hope so, I finished the book a few months ago and still find myself thinking about it. I hope it can give me some of the same emotions I had while reading at the very least.

[@WordsinTime]

Me too. I'm reservedly optimistic haha

[@bookspin]

I really enjoyed the buddy read! Thanks for hosting this discussion!

[@WordsinTime]

Yeah, it was a great time! Hopefully we get invited to the film premiere haha

[@Kim_Miller]

It was good to meet you here, Robin. Another SciFi channel for me and another subscriber for you. 👍

[@bookspin]

@@Kim_Miller Thanks Kim!

[@berniekatzroy]

Personally I think the story is pretty straightforward just like Never let me go and its film adaptation was pretty good imo. I think one of the most interesting aspects to see when the film debuts is how Klara starts seeing distortions like how it is in the book. I kinda wanna see if the film will expand on the world like why don't kids go to school like normal but its virtual/remote ? The ending I don't want changed bc just like never let me go, it isn't supposed to be a happy one, not like we're used to at least. However, just like the book itself, it is beautifully somber from beginning to ending.

[@WordsinTime]

@@berniekatzroy I agree, it will be interesting to see how those visuals are depicted and whether it answers some more questions about the world.

[@berniekatzroy]

@@WordsinTime well, in the same sense of never let me go, the story is told from a first person pov and we know little to nothing of the rest of the world minus certain things and even then the mc doesn't travel to some far off place. It's the main issue at hand the MC is focused on, whether it be Kathy in nlmg trying to extend her time before making donations or Klara trying to save Josie. Both characters aren't trying to escape anything, just make things better for themselves or loved ones. In a sense it's like people irl, most of us aren't actively fighting some all encompassing evil but just trying to get through the day to day.

[@johnretallick6381]

Just finished it this week. Great read. I love a literary SF story. It’s got potential to be a real strong adaptation. Hard to beat Arrival as my fav SF adaptation tho.

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I recently rewatched Arrival and it’s fantastic.

[@DavidM-st5bt]

Thanks for this buddy read video, it was interesting to listen to what each of you had to say about Klara and the sun. Do you plan to read "Never let me go"? Like Klara and the Sun, the story takes place in a dystopian near future, the pacing is on the slow side and it has even fewer SF elements than Klara, but I think you would enjoy it as well.

[@WordsinTime]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I liked Ishiguro’s writing so I will have to try Never Let Me Go in the future!

[@ramonek9109]

I have just discovered Kazou Ishiguro and only read Never Let Me Go and the beginning of the Buried Giant. But from the little I have read so far, I have to say that this falls outside Waititis scope as a director. I cannot see Kazou’s work being Marvelized with characters making cool quips. I will reserve my judgement as long as I haven't actually read the book and watched the film. Maybe I underestimate Waititis and he proves himself equal to the task.

[@WordsinTime]

@@ramonek9109 Waititi’s earlier films are more grounded. I think he can pull it off.

[@SAMTHINKS2]

There was a loneliness at the end of AI. I really want something different this time.

[@WordsinTime]

It will be interesting to see how they handle the ending.

[@mondostrat]

Only a soulless automaton wouldn't like 'Klara and the Sun'. The challenge of the movie will be to capture the tone of Klara's unique perspective of the world.

[@WordsinTime]

Haha agreed!

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

heard it was kind of dull so passed it up but interested in who they choose to act in it⚛😀

[@WordsinTime]

It is a little slow moving but I connected with it and became invested in Klara. Will be interesting to see how it translates to film!

[@maxturgeon89]

Klara and the Sun is a great book, but it's not really a sci-fi novel in my opinion. It's a literary novel first and foremost, so of course sci-fi readers will always think that the sci-fi is hand-wavy and soft!

[@WordsinTime]

Agreed!

[@lisacole6037]

Like Never Let Me Go.......Great book and good film, but just barely science fiction, even less than Klara and the Sun.