Indian Readers discussion
COZY READS -GENERAL
>
All the lights we cannot see - Reena & ArpitJo
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Arpit
(new)
Sep 24, 2017 11:13AM
Hello, We are going to start the discussion thread for the novel All the Light We Cannot See. Its an award winning historical fiction written by Anthony Doerr set in world war-II era . Anybody who is currently reading or has already read the book is welcome to share his/her views.
reply
|
flag
Mod
Good luck towards a successful BR.
I've just started today and only at 10% but I liked it already . Getting to know Marie and Werner and loving them both. :)
So its a good time to pick the book Aarti. How far have you read? I am at 35 %. Loving both Marie and werner. What a genius werner is! His innocent questions to Frau Elena were very amusing :)
Cruising through the book. Really like the way the books been structured with alternate POV chapters
Hello All! :)
Ok so I’m only about 50% into the book but I think we should start the discussion. Let’s start by discussing the obvious themes . Family bond being the most obvious for me, I really loved how Doerr portrayed the relationships between the different characters. The importance of good relationships has really been emphasized between all characters. Be it Frau Elena with Warner, Jutta and the other orphans or Marie-Laure and Etienne, Warner and Fredrick and most importantly, the bond between Marie-Laure and her father is so beautiful. I think it was beautiful how Doerr describes a fathers fear and pride in Chapter 59.
“There is pride, too, though—pride that he has done it alone. That his daughter is so curious, so resilient. There is the humility of being a father to someone so powerful, as if he were only a narrow conduit for another, greater thing. That’s how it feels right now, he thinks, kneeling beside her, rinsing her hair: as though his for his daughter will outstrip the limits of his body. The walls could fall away, even the whole city, and the brightness of that feeling would not wane.”
Light and darkness being the obvious other ones. I loved how the professor explains darkness and light using the following example:
“The brain is locked in total darkness, of course, children, says the voice. It floats in a clear liquid inside the skull, never in the light. And yet the world it constructs in the mind is full of light. It brims with color and movement. So how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?
Strange but true, I had never thought of my brain in such a way.
I’d like to know what your thoughts are. I wonder if Werner and Marie-Laure’s paths will intersect? Also, what significance does Etienne’s character have in the book? I am yet to understand him and his presence in the book.
Ok so I’m only about 50% into the book but I think we should start the discussion. Let’s start by discussing the obvious themes . Family bond being the most obvious for me, I really loved how Doerr portrayed the relationships between the different characters. The importance of good relationships has really been emphasized between all characters. Be it Frau Elena with Warner, Jutta and the other orphans or Marie-Laure and Etienne, Warner and Fredrick and most importantly, the bond between Marie-Laure and her father is so beautiful. I think it was beautiful how Doerr describes a fathers fear and pride in Chapter 59.
“There is pride, too, though—pride that he has done it alone. That his daughter is so curious, so resilient. There is the humility of being a father to someone so powerful, as if he were only a narrow conduit for another, greater thing. That’s how it feels right now, he thinks, kneeling beside her, rinsing her hair: as though his for his daughter will outstrip the limits of his body. The walls could fall away, even the whole city, and the brightness of that feeling would not wane.”
Light and darkness being the obvious other ones. I loved how the professor explains darkness and light using the following example:
“The brain is locked in total darkness, of course, children, says the voice. It floats in a clear liquid inside the skull, never in the light. And yet the world it constructs in the mind is full of light. It brims with color and movement. So how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?
Strange but true, I had never thought of my brain in such a way.
I’d like to know what your thoughts are. I wonder if Werner and Marie-Laure’s paths will intersect? Also, what significance does Etienne’s character have in the book? I am yet to understand him and his presence in the book.
I have just got the book and planning to start it by tomorrow or this Friday. Hopefully will be able to catch up with you guys by the weekend.
Welcome Venkatesh. Have you started? And Aarti, how far have you progressed? I am at 90% and the story is fast moving The author has adroitly portrayed the emotions of love, comradeship and family bonds in the backdrop of war.
Apart from what Reena has presented, I would like to mention the comradeship between Werner and Volkheimer. At the beginning Volkheimer was portrayed as stern believer in the propaganda. And he was senior to Werner in the training institute. But when they go to the front, their bond grows stronger.
I really liked the guy Fredrick, the ornithophile. His friendship with Werner was heart warming. Its sad how they had to part ways and that too so early !
A beautiful message the author coveys here, that we all are unique in our on ways.
“Some people are weak in some ways, sir. Others in other ways.” Frederick can walk for hours in the woods, can identify warblers fifty yards away simply by hearing their song. Frederick hardly ever thinks of himself. Frederick is stronger than he is in every imaginable way.
Etienne was a father figure to Marie . chapter 93 (view spoiler) He does things that he has not done for years for her. He fights his fear for her. When Marie asks him, "are you ever sorry that we came here? ". He replies, “You are the best thing that has ever come into my life.” This sums up the love he feels for her. He feels grateful to her for making him 'more alive' .
chapter 93 (view spoiler)
chapter 61 (view spoiler)
It is a jewel of a book, beautifully written, and it is not surprising it won the Pulitzer prize. I did not like the ending however and for that reason probably would not read another novel by Duerr.
