© 2025 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

'Klara and the Sun' explores friendship, love, and what it means to be a person

Ways To Subscribe
Talk of Iowa, hosted by Charity Nebbe

On this episode of the Talk of Iowa book club, host Charity Nebbe and expert readers discuss the 2021 novel Klara and the Sun by Sir Kazuo Ishiguro. The story is told from the perspective of Klara, an "artificial friend." The story explores themes of friendship, artificial intelligence, grief, class and more.

Guests:

  • Abram Anders, interim associate director, Student Innovation Center with Iowa State University
  • Diane Jeske, philosophy professor, University of Iowa
  • Rebecca Cloud, adult services librarian, Des Moines Public Library
Tags
Talk of Iowa Books & ReadingTalk of Iowa Book Club
Charity Nebbe is IPR's 'Talk of Iowa' host. She also hosts IPR's podcasts 'Garden Variety' and 'Unsettled'. Since 2010, Nebbe has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Nebbe has a bachelors degree from Iowa State University.
Caitlin Troutman is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from William Jewell College. Since 2022, Troutman has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.