The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion
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All the Light We Cannot See
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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer - September 2020 (previously read August 2015)
I read this book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. My favorite aspect was seeing how Marie-Laure learns to cope after losing her sight. I found reading from her perspective to be really fascinating and enlightening as I'd never read a book from a blind person's point of view before (no puns intended).
I read this also couple of months ago and loved the book. I think it very well deserved the Pulitzer. The book was filled with fascinating details..I actually wanted to learn more about building ones own radio :) The story really squeezes your heart and you feel bad for both of the main characters and how they are victims of their own time..especially Werner. His life would have been so different without the nazis.
Not a fan. The book was well written and I did like how they showed Marie-Laure and her father coping with her loss of eyesight. But having a Holocaust survivor in my family - I had no sympathy for Werner or his part of the story. I am actually sickened that this book won any awards. I have no sympathy for Nazis no matter what their course in life.
I have to disagree with Debra, though I do completely understand why she would not like Werner's side of the story. We tend to remember the winners side of any story and not the losing side. We also tend to forget the bad things that the winning side did. For example there were camps in Canada and the US, though not highly populated and with better conditions and the US didn't enter the war till they really had no choice, and they knew what was going on.
Yes what happened during WW2 was absolutely terrible, and inexcusable, but why would people follow such a regime? There were reasons for people following Hitler, even though they knew what was happening was wrong. In the beginning Hitler did manage to improve his country, before he enacted laws against the Jewish people. They were in a depression, (even worse then the one in the USA) people were starving and life was really hard. He managed to improve the economy and the way of life was a lot better. People would follow him just from fear that their country would go back into a depression. Also most of the country really did not know how the Jewish people were being treated. Yes they knew they were in "work" camps, but it was assumed that they were being fed and housed. Propaganda also played a huge roll, as it does in any war. How do you convince men to lay down their lives? You make them fear for their way of life, and for their families health and safety.
I think that's why I enjoyed the Nazis side of the story. It showed that yes there were some truly evil, horrible people, but there were others that were just trying to support their families, or possibly improve their lives. As is the case with all wars.
I also loved Marie-Laure and her family. Her hardships and how her family handled everything. She made me laugh, and cry and I loved learning about how she saw the world.
Overall one of my favorite books that I have read this year (I read it a few months ago)
I just picked this book up from the library I put it on hold last month and it came in this morning. Here goes nothing...
Sounds like this book is controversial...I'll check in when I'm finished reading.
I read this book a few months ago - here is the link to my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I personally had more issues with the way it was written than the story itself.
I just started this one. I have to admit, I was kind of skeptical before starting it, but I'm 120 pages in and really liking it so far. I hope it continues to show promise!
Sharon - I had a similar experience with the writing. There were things I liked about it and things I didn't. Basically, I thought this was a good book, but I don't think it lived up to the hype for me. My Review
I listened to this as an audiobook. I absolutely adored this book. By the end of it, I felt like it was something I could keep listening to forever. I wanted to know more about the people and their lives. Such heart in the characters made me love them so much. I couldn't imagine living in such circumstances. After reading this as well as The Book Thief a few months back, I have been wanting to devour everything I could find on WWII...the time, the places, and the lives of so many people affected. Beautiful story. So glad I got the chance to experience it.
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Kristie, Moderator (Retired)
(last edited Aug 15, 2020 08:32AM)
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rated it 3 stars
Re-read for group beginning September 2020. Please be aware that there may be spoilers from the previous discussion before this post. Please usual spoiler tags as needed in the future discussion posts.
Summary
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When Marie-Laure is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.
I really liked this book. I am not sure I have time to do a reread but will try and join in the discussion
Oh great! I would love to join the discussion. What day do we start? :)
Just starting on this book now - have wanted to read it for ages!
I loved reading this book. Have read it just recently so not reading it again. But would enjoy being part of any discussion on this
Melissa wrote: "Oh great! I would love to join the discussion. What day do we start? :)"You can start whenever you like. Typically people try to read it some time during the stated month, so September for this one. People do start early or late sometimes, usually depending on when they can get the book or have the time. Carol just stating above that she is starting it now, so you wouldn't e alone if you wanted to start early.
I read this one a few years ago and it wasn't my favorite. I gave it three stars, so it was still ok. I won't be re-reading it though, at least not right now.
I’m 12% of the way in to the book and so far, wow, this is one that takes your attention, creates vivid images in my mind, and that is going to be hard to put down and not read in one setting (it is lengthy and I am not able to sit and read all day!). Glad to finally get into this one.
I'm new to this group. :) Does the group "meet" to discuss at the end of the month? Or how does it work? Thanks!
Nadeane wrote: "I'm new to this group. :) Does the group "meet" to discuss at the end of the month? Or how does it work? Thanks!"Welcome, Nadeane! We just read whenever we want during the month and leave thoughts or comments. If you are discussing anything specific from the book that may be a spoiler be sure to use spoiler tags. Some people just add their general thoughts at the end of the book and some people discuss a lot more.
I have just started this, literally just a few pages in. Too early to give an opinion as yet but looking forward to reading this. Not sure I world have picked this is browsing in a bookshop, bit that's part of why I joined this group, to encourage me to step sideways and try new things.
Thanks, Kristie! Good to know. Looking forward to joining the next round with a book I haven't read. BTW, I just started The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery and am loving it!
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I don’t think I can adequately put into writing how I feel about this book. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The story, the images, the weaving together of the characters, the emotions....the writing and story are outstanding.
I will begin this one tonight ❤️
It's funny because I read both this and The Nightingale within a few months of one another, even though both are WW2 books. People love The Nightingale, and I enjoyed it also, but there was something about this book that felt more emotionally authentic to me. I thought it was a wonderful book
I'm almost 3/4 done with this book and I loved it!!! So much!!!!! Marie's life literally touched my soul and my heart broke for Werner and his inner turmoil, for Frederick and his silent honorable bravery, and for the women fighting so hard to show their hatred towards the Germans. I enjoyed it tremendously and I just can't wait to finish the book
Seen this book all over the place, but never read it. Seems like people who enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow (me) also enjoy this book, so I'm looking forward to it ^^
I think this book was amazing. It showed a side of the war we dont always get to see. There are so many books about the victims in the prison camps. They were horrible. But that was not the only horror of the war.It was interesting to hear the story of Marie. It was sad to hear Warner
s story. I cant wait to discuss the book
Renee wrote: "I think this book was amazing. It showed a side of the war we dont always get to see. There are so many books about the victims in the prison camps. They were horrible. But that was not the only ho..."That's a good point, Renee. A lot of the books I read focus on the victims and people living in the areas that were occupied by the Germans, but there were a lot of Germans who were caught up in this and didn't want to be.
I read this 6 years ago and I only remember some of it. According to my review, I think the timing of the shifts in perspective didn't work for me.
Started this one last night. Super excited to join in on the discussion as I read more!
I'm about 130 pages in and I'm hooked. my husband had to take the book away from me so I can go to sleep lol
I've read around 150 pages, so far so good. Marie and Werner both have my heart.
I just started this today and so far I am loving the writing style. Will be back with comments later in the month.
I ended up abandoning this one last night. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't like it, but if I'm not loving a book, I don't force myself to read it. There was a lot of detail and it seemed choppy the way he switched back and forth between characters. I did like the story and the characters were lovable. I think it would have been better if he had just combined some of the chapters so we spent more time with one character. I struggled sometimes to engage with one character when the perspective would change after just 1 or 2 pages. I definitely don't want to discourage anyone else from reading this as I can understand why it is such a popular story. There are just so many fantastic books out there, I don't want to push myself to read something I'm not fully enjoying... especially 500+ pages. I'm interested to hear other's thoughts as the discussion continues :)
Oops, forgot to share when I finished this! I loved this from cover to cover. The story-telling style was so different from other books I have read, and I'm sure it is really hit or miss, but it worked for me. Maybe it's because I have a really short attention span, so the back and forth between characters kept my attention the entire time! lol When I got towards the end, I started thinking the story was dragging a bit, but it's worth sticking it out, I promise!
I finished this one and completely agree with @Lex The storyline was so heartbreaking and you can have but pity for the main characters.
I loved the writing style, this back and forth timelines and super short chapters got me.
I've heard a lot about this book. Haven't read it yet. Surely on my bucket list
Absolutely loved this book! I woke up the other night and had to think for a second before I realised that, thank god, it was the year 2020 and not 1944!
Hannah wrote: "I ended up abandoning this one last night. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't like it, but if I'm not loving a book, I don't force myself to read it. There was a lot of detail and it seeme..."I felt similarly to you Hannah. I found that the short chapters made it really easy to put down and hence it took me ages to finish. It was okay but didn't live up to the great reviews I had read.
I felt like I had to put the book down for a bit because of school and I couldn't bring myself to start it again. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book a lot, I just can't really concentrate right now so I'll probably take a break from it.
That's so disappointing, Rose. I remember going through that when I was in college. I also went through that when my kids were young and I was really busy. Sometimes, we just need a little break.
The thing that stands out for me is the characters. They were all so venerable. It gives a different perspective to the war. It shows what the war did to people. Their are so many stories about Jewish experience. It is nice to see some other stories
I loved the book so much!!!! Finished it yesterday and the words are still reverberating in my mind, emotions are still coursing through me. This is my review if anyone's interested :)
One thing that had me thinking was that everyone's opinion about wars are that they tear people apart. Yet, Anthony Doerr has beautifully brought two pure souls together amidst the chaos and from their journeys of self-discovery, I felt the pulses of hope during the dark times of the war. In this book, despite the war tearing families apart, it has brought Marie and Werner together in a brief yet memorable moment.
Hannah wrote: "I ended up abandoning this one last night. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't like it, but if I'm not loving a book, I don't force myself to read it. There was a lot of detail and it seeme..."Yeah, I'm halfway through and just can't finish it. I'll try again but I don't like the short choppy chapters.
Already read and loved it!
I finished this last week and really enjoyed it. Not an all-time favorite or anything but I enjoyed the story and the writing worked for me. I really like a different look at the war as well.
I too had to put this one down. Didn't get into it at all. Forced myself to read halfway but still couldn't do it. Ah well, there are plenty of other books to read! :)
Finally finished it, last day of September!I did enjoy it, and I think it captures the atmosphere of that era really well, both on the side of occupied French and Nazi Germany.
But many parts proved to be slow and bleak, and like many others here mentioned, I too had to force myself to push on reading. This was not a book I was coming back to, again and again, with excitement or anticipation. Struggled to complete many of the middle parts, but it picked up again towards the end.
Definitely worth a read to experience that darkest of periods, which our grandparents lived through.
The Perks Of Being A Book Addict
Books mentioned in this topic
The Nightingale (other topics)All the Light We Cannot See (other topics)
Summary
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When Marie-Laure is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.