All the Light We Cannot See: General Discussion *Spoiler Free*

[Jille]

I really loved this book.

[Kim]

Lisa wrote: "I enjoy how economical Doerr is with his writing style. I don't feel like he is being unnecessary with word usage."

Exactly. Doerr showcases that is not necessary to use overlong sentences with a lot of adjectives and subordinate clauses to paint a vivid picture.

[Elle]

I just finished the book. I’m not sure where I thought the story was going and I didn’t necessarily get all the answers or loose ends tied up in the end, but that’s what made it so touching to me. It was beautifully written and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this book.

[Shareen]

Congrats! I am looking forward to getting back to it; I really like it so far, and am also glad to finally be reading this winner.

Elle wrote: "I just finished the book. I’m not sure where I thought the story was going and I didn’t necessarily get all the answers or loose ends tied up in the end, but that’s what made it so touching to me. ..."

[Jill]

One thing I liked about the book is it was from the point of the younger generations, and a girl with a challenge.

I don't like books about the holocaust! However with this one it wasn't about it. Usually the books about the subject isn't from a young person's view and how it affects them, and this one had the view point from that perspective.

I enjoyed the book because it was more about the people and their views about the war and the difficulties of having a challenge in life and then dealing with it while dealing with the war

[Shareen]

I do like Holocaust fiction, for how much it educates my four "Babies", so yes, the perspective of the youth is the cherry on top.

Jill wrote: "One thing I liked about the book is it was from the point of the younger generations, and a girl with a challenge.

I don't like books about the holocaust! However with this one it wasn't about it..."

[Taylor B.]

Just finished this book last week and really, really enjoyed it. I loved the character development. Sometimes, for me, when there are what seems to be a ton of characters and story lines I get bored or find one more interesting than another (even though there's a connection) which takes away the excitement, but every character/storyline in this book I found equally interesting.

[Ashleigh]

The book and narration picked up for me about 4 hours into the audio so I'm enjoying it now

[Kiyan]

that's good hopes it's a good book

[Sabah]

Kim wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I enjoy how economical Doerr is with his writing style. I don't feel like he is being unnecessary with word usage."

Exactly. Doerr showcases that is not necessary to use overlong sent..."

I completely agree with this. It took me a while to get into the book, but now I am about halfway through and enjoying it so far. Hope to finish it soon.

[Nóri]

I was hesitant to start this book because I feel like I'm a bit sated with WWII stories right now (I couldn't even finish The Nightingale last year, it was just too much of the same things I read a hundred times before), but then I read a review that said there's a mystery-aspect to it, and that drew me in... now I'm 20% through and I'm not sure what to think. The short chapters make it easy to breeze through it but at the same time not much is happening to truly keep my interest. I'm hoping it's going to pick up soon.

[Sinisa]

I really liked this book. It started really slow but i liked that slow pace that let you in the plot. Characters were were great but shifting between them felt too fast and i wished chapters were longer. Book has few flaws but was pretty enjoyable read, cant wait to read more Doer books

[Deniselt]

I finished the book a couple nights ago. I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as other WWII books I’ve read. However, i liked reading from a German perspective. I found the short chapters and the time jumps a bit distracting

[Sabah]

I finished the book yesterday and overall I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the writing style and seeing the perspectives of different characters and how they deal with the events as they unfold and how it impacts their lives.

I agree with some of the previous comments that the time jumps in combination with the shifts between characters can get a bit confusing or distracting. Also, I’m not really sure how I feel about the last chapters. Maybe they could have been left out. Anyone else feel the same way?

[Rob]

Yes I do. The last few sections should not have been included. There was an obvious point where that story should have ended. Glad you said it!

[Kim]

Sabah wrote: "Also, I’m not really sure how I feel about the last chapters. Maybe they could have been left out. Anyone else feel the same way?"

I also just finished and I really liked the 1974 chapters wrapping everything up. Only the Frederick one I felt was unnecessary as that thread felt wrapped up a lot earlier in the book.

I also liked how the last chapter in 2014 shows that only two generations later, these terrible events are already so far away in public memory that a child thinks nothing about talking lightly about being killed in a wargame, while his grandmother's personal memories still linger on those that were lost.

[Ashleigh]

I finished the book on audio and when the narrator said 'the end' I said 'Oh thank god' and I think that sums up my experience with it.

I did give it 3 stars though - mostly due to the prose.

[Nóri]

40% in, I think I'm going to put it down for now. I do care about what happens to some of the characters, but the little story there is is just not good enough to incite me to continue.

What is especially disappointing to me is that the author is completely wasting the dual timeline concept. I don't see what is even the point of having the 1944 chapters when halfway through the book the characters are still in the exact same place they started out in. At least in the 1940 chapters some things are happening, however slowly.

[Kim]

Nóri wrote: "I don't see what is even the point of having the 1944 chapters when halfway through the book the characters are still in the exact same place they started out in. "

I think the point is to demonstrate just how hopeless their situations are at that point in time, as if their lives have come to a dead end. It makes the impact of their life-threads touching in the end bigger.

I agree this book requires some patience, but I found it worth it. It is about enjoying the journey more than it is about reaching the destination.

[Paul]

Uff finally finished reading it ... The book itself is entertaining, all the drama of the two different views of both protagonists were excellent, plus the different metaphors of both the war, Saint-Malo, etc.

The book is somewhat dense and many things could be summed up being honest BUT this at least continues to maintain a certain intrigue to know what will happen to our protagonists.