| The library’s annual community read program, Arlington Reads Together (ART), returns in March 2026. This year’s selected title is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Nobel Laureate in Literature. This 2021 literary science fiction novel is the story of Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend who observes human behavior and hopes to be chosen by a child. She is eventually purchased by a girl who is chronically ill after a genetic “lifting” procedure. Klara, who sees the sun as a source of life and power, becomes devoted to her and believes she can bargain with the sun to save her life. The book explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to be human? Klara and the Sun was longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize, the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and selected for The Washington Post’s “10 Best Books of 2021” list, among many other accolades. Library Director Anna Litten says, “With the rise of generative AI, the time is right for us to read a book that asks us to delve into questions of machines, humans, and where the boundaries lie. We hope that this book will be a great launchpad for important discussions in Arlington.” Library visitors can pick up copies of Klara and the Sun at Robbins or Fox Branch libraries, or request a copy online via the MLN catalog. The title is also available as a digital download via Libby. For a full list of Programming, visit the ART 2026 webpage https://www.robbinslibrary.org/arlington-reads-together-in-2026/ The program is made possible by the support of the Arlington Libraries Foundation and The Friends of the Robbins Library. |