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diff --git a/public/books/klara-and-the-sun/index.html b/public/books/klara-and-the-sun/index.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b51e719 --- /dev/null +++ b/public/books/klara-and-the-sun/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +<head> + <meta charset="utf-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/images/favicon-32x32.png"> + <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/images/favicon-16x16.png"> + <link rel="manifest" href="/images/site.webmanifest"> + <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css" /> + <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/fonts.css" /> + <script async type="text/javascript" src="js/code.js"> </script> +</head> + +<div class="container"> + <ul id="bar"> + + <li> + <a href="/">go back</a> + </li> + <li>|</li> + + <li> + <a href="mailto:mati.rewa@gmail.com">mati.rewa@gmail.com</a> + </li> + <li>|</li> + <li> + <a href="https://git.denounce.ai/">git.denounce.ai</a> + </li> + <li>|</li> + <li> + <a href="https://ohmyghost.nl">ohmyghost.nl</a> + </li> + <li>|</li> + <li> + <a href="https://atlarge-research.com/mkwiatkowski/">research</a> + </li> + <li>|</li> + <li> + book blog + </li> +</ul> + + +</div> +</div> +<div class="container"> + <h2>Klara and the Sun</h2> + <p><img src="/images/klara-and-the-sun-book-cover.jpg#floatright" alt="klara-and-the-sun-book-cover"></p> +<p><em>Klara and the Sun</em> is a novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro. +Set in a far dystopian future, it tells a story about the relationship between Josie, a home schooled, genetically modified child and Klara, an artificial friend (AF) and companion to Josie. +It’s a remarkable tale that tries to answer some of the most important questions we often ask ourselves: +<em>What makes us human?</em>, <em>What does it mean to be human?</em> +We encounter multiple themes throughout the book, but there are two which I would like to write about.</p> +<p>The book starts with Klara standing in the middle of the store where AF’s are sold. +She is an android-like product designed to provide company to real human children, and the narrator of the book. +Curious, observant, and intelligent, Klara tries to learn as much as she can about the world around her: +<em>Unlike most AFs, unlike Rosa, I’d always longed to see more of the outside – and to see it in all its detail.</em></p> +<p>Josie is a pale and thin girl, fourteen years old and very intelligent. +In the future, most children are home schooled and genetically modified to be smarter. +However, this sometimes comes at the cost of their health - Josie is suffering from an unknown illness, which could be fatal. +In the store she specifically picks Klara to be her personal AF. +<em>Know what? Your friend will make a perfect friend for someone out there. But yesterday, we were driving by and I saw you, and I thought that’s her, the AF I’ve been looking for!</em></p> +<p>Once Klara finally moves in to live with Josie, we learn that not everyone in the household appreciates Klara’s presence. +Melania, the housekeeper, is opposing from the start, and treats Klara with suspicion and hostility: +<em>[…] but then Melania Housekeeper came between us, and before I was fully aware, had taken Josie’s arm, tucking it under her own</em>. +Moreover, Josie’s best friend Rick doesn’t like Klara either. <em>‘Rick, this is Klara.’ Rick went on concentrating on his remote and didn’t look my way.‘You said you’d never get an AF,’ he said.</em> +However, with time Klara becomes a part of the family. +Rick sympathizes with her during the party at Josie’s house, and Melania entrusts her with taking care of Josie during the trip to the city. +Although an artificial being, Klara soon becomes as important as Josie herself. +This made me wonder: <em>How easily do we allow technology to enter our daily lives?</em> +I really liked this part of the book, because it relates a lot to my work field. +Computer systems are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, and I think it is worth to stop and think how much online systems take from our daily lives.</p> +<p>Klara relies on the energy from the Sun to function - being in the light re-charges her batteries. +As a result, she treats the Sun like a deity, and believes it nourishes and takes care of everyone around her. +<em>I could understand that for all his kindness, the Sun was very busy; that there were many people besides Josie who required his attention.</em> +This is a recurring theme throughout the book, with Klara’s unwavering faith displayed through her brave actions to help Josie get better. +However, this gives rise to the questions: <em>What does it mean for an android to believe in a god?</em>, <em>Can an artificial robot believe in a god in the first place?</em> +Towards the end of the book we learn Klara’s true purpose - to replace Josie in an event of her death. +Mr. Capaldi, who is preparing an android body resembling Josie, argues that since there is no soul, Klara not only can replace Josie, but she can fully <em>become</em> her. +I particularly like the contrast between Klara’s faith in the Sun’s nourishment and the agnostic approach of Mr. Capaldi. +It’s a paradox which makes the reader question the nature of faith itself.</p> +<p>Overall, I really liked the book, and I hope Kazuo Ishiguro will continue to write novels as great as <em>Klara and the Sun</em>.</p> + +</div> +<footer style="vertical-align: bottom;"> + <div style="display: inline-block; margin-left:15px;"> + <center> + + © Copyright 2024-2025 Mateusz J. 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