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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I liked the book, and I thought it circled back to the themes that made Never Let Me Go so poignant (but I still thought Never Let Me Go was better) Are there ethical implications when we use AI as a means to an end? Who are the true winners and losers in a hypercompetitive capitalist economy. I wish he explored the genetic engineering process more fully because I think it was an interesting plot point that just came in at the end. 
I would watch a movie adaptation of it as I think it could be done very well with the right production and actors.[/quote]

This really, really makes me want to read it, but I tried to read "The Unconsoled" by Ishiguro many years ago after reading "When We Were Orphans" and I am wary. The Unconsoled is a scar. But Never Let Me Go is a complete masterpiece.[/quote]

So I just finished it as an audiobook. Spoilers below!

Like others, I think this particular book would have benefited from a little more outright explanation of what was going on. I also felt it suffered from a tendency to dwell a little too long on some things/meander.

I didn't really feel like I needed any more explanation of the genetic engineering/"lifting," but why did the kids all have private tutors? At first I though the AF was a status symbol (and I guess it kind of was) but it was also because the kids were always at home and would be lonely/needed to practice socializing, but why was that the case? That left a big hole for me.

The other thing that I just did not get was when Klara would describe her vision being divided into boxes. It didn't seem to happen all the time and also didn't seem to serve a purpose. Perhaps I've got too much pandemically on my mind, but I kept waiting for a virus or illness to be discussed that would require isolating the kids and thought maybe the boxes were an immune shield - akin to a mask?

The characters were really well done, with the exception, oddly, of Josie, who was kind of two dimensional. I felt like that by the end that was appropriate as she did exactly what she had been groomed to do and abandoned Klara to boot. I would have liked more of the Father's story and less of Rick's mother, Helen. The tangent where Helen brings Rick to meet her ex-lover to help get him into college, was just bizarre. Really loved the undercurrent of haves/have nots and the notion of the have nots organizing into self-preserving communities.

And who can ever forget Melania Housekeeper. Amazing.[/quote]

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