All the Light We Cannot See in Read by Theme

Jul 18, 2015 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, kindle-books, net-galley, favourites, 5-stars, 2016

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for my copy of this novel.
First off, I have to let you know that this book is incredible, it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read, and I just know it's going to stay as one of my favourites for a very long time!
This novel is about a blind French girl and a German orphan during World War II, and the way their lives change during the course of the war. The plot is full of details about geography and language, but also military details, Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for my copy of this novel.
First off, I have to let you know that this book is incredible, it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read, and I just know it's going to stay as one of my favourites for a very long time!
This novel is about a blind French girl and a German orphan during World War II, and the way their lives change during the course of the war. The plot is full of details about geography and language, but also military details, which is a credit to the amount of research the author must have done before and during writing.
This novel is told through split narratives, from Werner, the German orphan, from Marie-Laure the French girl, and from an ill Nazi Officer. This split narrative worked well, we got to know these characters very well, and I felt very involved in their stories. The plot is also not told chronologically either, which adds to the way we come to understand the story and the characters featured, and also adds some tension to the story as we don't know how the situations characters find themselves in are going to end until we read the next section in the timeline. This allows the plot to be suspenseful in places, and although I feel that the novel does read quite slowly, it never lost my attention or interest, and the slow pacing allowed me to savour every single second of the novel!
The author is a beautiful writer, the prose is elegant and haunting, and the author's descriptions, especially of Marie-Laure's experiences and what she senses of the world are some of the most sensory and well-described I have ever read.
This novel has a great mix of characters too, my favourite would probably be Marie-Laure, her narrative voice is wonderful, and she had strength and bravery to rival most heroines. I also appreciated her attitude to life and her blindness, she struggled at times, but she fought on, and she never gave up, and I really appreciated that. Her relationships with other characters in the novel were important to her character, and they also added to her story, and the plot of the novel overall. Her father and Etienne were two very important characters to her, and they were influential in how she coped during the war. Their love and care for Marie-Laure was heart warming especially in the desolate situation and cruel acts being committed around them during WWII. The other main character in the novel is Werner, a German orphan who is interested in radios, and becomes very prolific in building and fixing them. Werner showed a different side of what happened to people caught up in WWII, and I liked the contrast between him and Marie-Laure, not just in terms of nationality, but in terms of what happened to them. Also the way the author managed to intertwine the storylines and the characters was a marvellous feat of writing which made the whole book into a rich tapestry depicting the Second World War for these particular characters.
Overall I gave this novel 5/5 stars, and I will definitely be recommending it to absolutely everyone as I think its a novel that deserves all the praise and critical acclaim it gets! ...more

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Jun 11, 2015 Christine rated it it was amazing

One of the most sublime books I've ever read. Masterful use of metaphor, symbol, and voice. I fell in love with all of the characters each in a different way. A rare take on what could have been a rather trite historical piece. This one will live with me forever. ...more

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Mar 31, 2015 Kalli rated it it was amazing

This is one of, if not the most, beautifully written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Each line is masterfully crafted; heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring. Doerr writes in a way that leads one to think, "how can one man be so knowledgeable in such an array of topics?" I found myself experiencing many emotions throughout this book, yet I can't quite describe the feeling I experienced once I inevitably reached the end (and I mean this in the best way possible).
"All the Light We Canno ...more

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Mar 12, 2015 Amy rated it it was amazing

I don't think this story, poignant as it is, could have been told any better or with more skill than the author accomplished. I was spellbound as each story piece dangled me over a cliff as I time traveled back and forth in the threads of a mysterious and magical diamond, a gorgeous loving father's heart, a genius orphan taken advantage of, a courageous blind child's relentless spirit, and a country lead to ruin. An that's not even the whole picture. Read it! You won't be disappointed! ...more

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