Krishan, a young Sri Lankan, working in an NGO in Colombo, travels to North Sri Lanka to attend the funeral of Rani, his grandmother’s caretaker and a Tamilian who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after having lost a lot to the Sri Lankan civil war. The book is mostly about Krishnan’s introspection about the suffering caused by the war, his grandmother’s old age, about his ex and their relationship, and in general about love and loss, about longing and yearning.

My thoughts on Klara and the Sun, long listed for the Booker Prize 2021 and touted as a hot favorite to win the award.

Set in a futuristic world of genetic enhancements, replacement of white collar workers with technology, and sentient humanoids, Klara and the Sun is the story of Klara – an AF (artificial friend) – a companion robot for teens. She is bought as a companion to Josie – a teenager who is sick after “lifting” – a process of genetically enhancing children, and need help and attention. A solar powered robot, Klara believes that the sun has the power to cure Josie and goes to great lengths to get sun’s nourishment for her. Once well, Josie no longer needs Klara and abandons her with relative ease.