All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

Walk the paths of logic. Every outcome has its cause, and every predicament has its solution. Every lock its key.

This, she realizes, is the basis of his fear, all fear. That a light you are powerless to stop will turn on you and usher a bullet to its mark.

“Do you ever wish,” whispers Werner, “that you didn’t have to go back?” “Father needs me to be at Schulpforta. Mother too. It doesn’t matter what I want.” “Of course it matters. I want to be an engineer. And you want to study birds. Be like that American painter in the swamps. Why else do any of this if not to become who we want to be?”

“Your problem, Werner,” says Frederick, “is that you still believe you own your life.”