Klara as real daughter

Do you think, if the parents' plan had actually happened, they would have accepted Klara as a true daughter?

This was one of the strangest plot lines in the novel to me, and the fact that they had tried replacement with their other daughter made it stranger. Oddly enough, I think the parents would have accepted her as a true daughter. I base this first on the relationship the mother and Josie had, which was superficial. Also, Klara as Josie would have provided a more satisfactory parent experience than Josie since Klara wouldn’t get sick. Many of the humans, Josie’s mother included, seemed to me to be more interested in experience than actual human existence. My opinion only.

I think it’s hard to judge how superficial or not their relationship was, because everything is filtered through Klara, who doesn’t have a full understanding. I think the mother might have accepted Klara as Josie, but I think she would have ultimately been disappointed because it’s not clear whether Klara would actually have been able to make an emotional connection with her. I think some of the perceived superficiality of Josie and the mother’s relationship may have its roots in the experience with Sal. The mother probably was protecting herself against the same thing happening.

Something Rick said kind of really hit home for me - that Josie's room smelled like her. I think science has shown that scent plays an important role in a mother's bonding with her child, and I think that Klara, not having a scent, would never be accepted as her true child. That, and Klara would never grow older, which I think would also present challenges to acceptance.

I think Josie's mom was filled with guilt over choosing the genetic manipulations for both her daughters. Despite the negative outcome with Sal, she still did it with Josie. I don't think having Klara embody the Josie AF (Portrait) would have been enough for the mom. The mom seemed like someone who would never be ultimately happy or at peace. She was always finding fault in things/people.

Kimk made an excellent point. Smell triggers powerful emotions and memories. So while Josie’s mother might have accepted Klara for awhile, ultimately it would have been heartbreaking to her. I still think Mother was truly superficial and self centered, but she seemed the typical product of her culture

I don't think that Josie's parents ultimately would have accepted Klara as their real daughter. Mother didn't accept Sal's replacement. I think Mother was looking for a perfect solution to her unhappiness and she would never be satisfied with Klara or any replacement.

No, I felt this story line was a little off, as well. I don’t think any parent would accept an artificial being as a real daughter. And what would happen if she stopped working?