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All the Light we Cannot see

Doerr, Anthony, 1973- Book - 2014 Fiction / Doerr, Anthony, Adult Book / Fiction / Historical / Doerr, Anthony None on shelf 66 requests on 10 copies Community Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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"From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall. In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure. Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work"-- Provided by publisher.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

The Light submitted by hcf on August 26, 2014, 9:25pm A very involved story.

*** submitted by johnbiancke on January 8, 2015, 10:07am Loved this story. Took awhile to get used to the time warps but it was well worth it.

Worth the Read submitted by lcannon8 on June 12, 2015, 8:22pm The story follows both a young French girl and young German boy through the war as they grow up. The style was unique and refreshing and cast a new light on each side of the war. A highly recommended story that will truly keep you engaged throughout.

Excellent submitted by grimest on June 14, 2015, 7:46pm This is a great book with complex characters - my wife and I both enjoyed it.

Amazing submitted by ktscott on June 15, 2015, 10:55am Every once in awhile, I will read a book that has an incredible story attached to some amazing writing. This book was IT. I would find myself rereading passages of this book just for the pure pleasure of the words and how they felt rolling around my head and mouth. And not to mention the story! It was almost hard to re-read passages because the story was so compelling and beautiful too. I can tell you, the only drawback of this book is that you will finish it and it will ruin whatever you read next because this book is just that good.

good book submitted by smgop on July 6, 2015, 7:15pm Kept my attention from beginning to end!

Pretty intense submitted by mmckenzie on July 9, 2015, 1:26pm I wasn't sure what to expect, but surprisingly, enjoyed this a great deal. Inner story of WWII of how the German youth were used for the war and their 'training'. Horribly sad.

Also, the other side - how the French were affected by the war and how they resisted. Some sections could have been edited down, but that's the beauty of reading, you can skim along such areas.

Side story of museum, it's characters, and 'the keys' were intriguing. (Dare not tell you more.)

Must Read submitted by ekjensen on August 23, 2015, 8:36pm Just when one thinks they have had their fill of WWII novels, this captivating story about a French girl and a German boy continue to entwine their lives during their mesmerizing and sad days of youth during the devastating days of this great war. The ping pong storytelling of the chapters about them keeps your attention all the while you are scurrying through this book..

Excellent submitted by emelcher on June 18, 2016, 10:09am Over 500 pages and you will not want to put it down!

Slow start submitted by Kobeske on June 23, 2016, 12:42am I had a hard time starting this book. It was slow.

Great novel for perspective on WW2 in Europe submitted by hathaway1066 on June 26, 2016, 11:27am For me, seeing the symbols and messages of a novel like this usually comes from hearing others' thoughts and insights, but I know it offers much in that regard. I enjoyed it for the ups and downs of the plot and for the sense of time/place that it offered in terms of France as it fell to the Nazis and during their occupation, and of German post WW1 and in the run up to, and even somewhat during WW2. There was also a limited description of the German drive into, and retreat from Russia, and to the west, the allies' drive into France.

Beautiful Written submitted by nickalee on July 3, 2016, 6:38am Very interesting view of life during the war.

Draws you in submitted by lpettie on July 18, 2016, 1:00pm This book draws you in right away and keeps you at the edge of your seat with multiple storylines.

So compelling! submitted by sabana5 on July 19, 2016, 3:16pm I could not put this down once I started. it was so engaging and just a really great read. Not a beach read--too long and too intense--but something to get lost in on a cold winter's night.

Good read submitted by Weevern on August 1, 2016, 9:57pm This was a good read!

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful submitted by emaelshaikh on August 31, 2016, 12:32pm A deeply empathetic, absolutely stunning novel.

All the Light We Cannot See submitted by leighsprauer on March 24, 2017, 8:02pm All The Light We Cannot See follows the story of two teenagers - a blind French girl and a Nazi soldier - through the events leading up to the siege of the French town of Saint-Malo. The events are not chronological, but rather jump back and forth between different years. However, unlike some books that use this devise, the plot is still coherent and straightforward. Doerr is a good, clear writer, and his multi-layered use of the theme of light brings a greater depth to the book than one might expect from a work of historical fiction. As a sort of mystery, it is also the kind of book that's hard to put down. I read it quickly because I was eager to see the plot develop.
It was not perfect, however. As a work of historical fiction, it did a decent job of describing WWII, and even of giving the Nazi soldier a sympathetic bent, and it was obviously well-researched. It had the air, however, of the kind of book that the author intends as a pre-screenplay, rather than as simply a novel. That is to say, it is a good and well-written story, but not a piece of art. The themes, the characters, and the writing are too undeveloped for me to enthusiastically recommend it.

A gorgeous novel submitted by RachelW12 on June 17, 2017, 9:01am "All the Light We Cannot See" does a disturbingly good job of noting all the subtle ways in which we betray and dehumanize each other -- as well as the ways in which we can quietly show up and stand up for our fellow human beings. The characters are haunting, complex, and will undoubtedly stay with the reader for a very long time.

Beautiful, Tragic submitted by Meginator on June 24, 2017, 9:32am This is one of those rare books that blends true literary artistry with vivid characterization and a compelling plot, a wholly readable novel with incalculable beauty on every page. I cried at several points while reading the book and it has left a lasting impression on me. I can't quite say *why* this book is so good; it just simply is. Anthony Doerr receives all of the accolades he deserves for this amazing, beautiful work of literary art.

Amazing Read submitted by pbolz10 on July 2, 2017, 12:42pm As a lover of WWII historical fiction, I was not disappointed in the least. The plot kept me up reading quite a few times, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried during the last chapters. A lot. I highly recommend this to everyone and anyone looking for a great read that will stay with them and make them think.

Heartbreaking submitted by swiderskis on July 3, 2017, 2:55pm All the Light We Cannot See is not for the faint of heart. It depicts the heartbreaking reality of the war, although it does not focus on the Holocaust. I found myself shocked by the sympathy I felt for Werner and his fellow German soldiers and the humanity depicted in them. Equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful, this book really forces readers to recognize the human element of war.

Superb writing, compelling story, thought provoking questions submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on July 15, 2017, 9:13am This ranks up there as one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, I think.

The writing is superb. Every line is crafted to perfection. The writing was beautifully balanced in so many ways: between characters, between nations, between timelines. They all slowly draw together in a rising tension that had me picking up the novel time and again (or being unable to put it down at the end). I thought that the secondary characters were as thoughtfully crafted as the two main characters, and that delighted me. Whether we had a small window into their lives or a fairly large one, I had a strong sense that the author knew much more about them than he was telling us, and that their "complete" stories live on somewhere beyond what these pages contained.

The themes and ideas within this book are plentiful, and I can't wait to talk with my book club about them. Who is family? What does war do to people and how do people move on? When and how do we choose to do good, especially in the face of powerful forces that can hurt us if we choose it? Who do we *see* and how do we know them? How do the experiences of our childhoods affect our choices later?

All this plus a purely compelling story of two individuals whose lives intersect for a day near the end of World War II. It won the Pulitzer Prize for good reason. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Probably my favorite submitted by jbranski on June 16, 2018, 1:11am I *love* this book. I’ve read it three times in the last few years. It’s a little slow, but the detailed imagery and intricate storyline is stunning and beautiful.

Happiness Bound submitted by EJZ on June 16, 2018, 9:03pm This book. Full of joy and hope in parts, the desolation of war and loss in others. It's a fantastic read - the short chapters keep the action moving, yet it's also a dense and thoughtful read. I often found myself taking a few moments to think about a chapter on finishing it, rather than plowing right into the next.

Absolutely Wonderful submitted by ajstemp on June 27, 2018, 12:29pm One of the best books I've read in the last few years. It's deeply thoughtful and compelling, full of honest and interesting characters, and written beautifully from start to finish.

Sad but poignant submitted by blue77rose on June 30, 2018, 7:40pm This was creatively structured and fast paced. Also deeply disturbing and sad. A few chapters in and you'll know if it's a good fit for you or not.

Beautiful submitted by admaclean on July 21, 2018, 10:50pm I love anything set during this time, but this was especially well written.

Weak Start, Strong Finish submitted by irashes on August 1, 2018, 11:19am I had a difficult time starting this book and found it drag on. But after getting into it it was impossible to put down! Very captivating and different. I found it refreshing to read a WWII book that focused on the negative impact of the war on all of Europe, particularly individuals with unique experiences. Highly recommend powering through the beginning if you're having a tough time getting started. It will pay off!

Long, but good submitted by ekharris on August 6, 2018, 12:16pm Just as the review above me, I had a hard time with the beginning of this novel. It felt slow and I kept putting it down and forgetting to pick it back up. I took it with me on a long flight and once I got through the first chunk, I couldn't stop reading. It's a captivating tale following two conflicting perspectives of the war and how they come together. Very good book.

Outstanding submitted by John Staunton on August 27, 2018, 2:12pm Beautifully written, engaging. Long book but short chapters/sections makes it manageable

It gets better submitted by c_zhang on June 26, 2019, 7:09pm The beginning is really slow. Nothing caught my attention. However, as the story went on, it became very captivating and powerful.

Great story! submitted by KatyaS on July 12, 2019, 7:08pm Great story!

Book submitted by Clown81 on August 31, 2019, 2:16am Nice.

A new favorite submitted by gindacu on July 25, 2020, 2:20pm this book is beautiful, hopeful, intriguing and sad. The writing is intricate but not full of excess. It reminds me of “A Gentleman in Moscow.” I hope to enjoy the authors other books as much as this one

Such a complete book submitted by onpaper24 on July 12, 2021, 9:09pm There are many reasons why I like this book, all of the characters, the way it's written, the story itself - very good overall.

Amazing submitted by HockeyDude on August 26, 2021, 2:49pm Great book with compiling characters

one of the most beautiful books I have ever read submitted by laurat on June 21, 2022, 9:55pm Just a lovely, at times devastating book you can sink deeply into.

Not my favorite submitted by qwertyq on July 27, 2022, 7:11pm I feel like this a book that I had heard good things about but I just didn't find it to be that great. It just never really sparked for me.

Perfect submitted by courtneyhooper on August 12, 2022, 11:02pm An extraordinary book

Worth the Read submitted by steeny17 on August 12, 2023, 5:57pm This compassionate and engaging look at WWII France is well worth the read. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of how the war broke the hearts of not only the French but also the German soldiers forces to take part. Walk alongside two complex main characters and a host of realistic side characters from the prewar era to the siege of Saint Malo.

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PUBLISHED
New York : Scribner, 2014.
Year Published: 2014
Description: 531 p.
Language: English
Format: Book

ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
9781501173219
9781476746586
9781476746593

SUBJECTS
Blind -- Fiction.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Youth -- France -- Fiction.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Youth -- Germany -- Fiction.
France -- History -- German occupation, 1940-1945 -- Fiction.
Saint-Malo (France) -- Fiction.
Historical fiction.