I have mixed feelings about the book overall - it was good but also slow-paced and a bit vague, which made it hard to get into at times.

I would have loved diving deeper into the workings of the dystopian world around the characters, but it was more of an afterthought than a focus.

I also found it a bit anticlimactic. There was always a sense of something tragic and earth-shattering about to come to light - and then nothing happened. To the very end of the book I kept thinking “Ah yes, something major is about to happen, it’s all going to come together” - and then it never did.

It took me a while to get through this book because of the pace and lack of action for me personally. However, what kept me with this book was the exploration of human nature - the themes, insights, and concepts that touch to the heart of being human in the world. I believe it was more about the experience and emotional response the story was trying to elicit in the reader.

From beginning to end, however, Klara had my heart - this book is hers and hers alone.

UPDATE - January 4, 2022:

I am updating my review to say that this is a book I have thought about many times since reading. The initial experience was one thing, but now the way it continues to linger is another. This book has become a favorite of mine.