2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2020
>
All the Light We Cannot See: General Discussion *Spoiler Free*
I really enjoyed this book, not so much for the plot or the characters but more for the beautiful prose which really breathed life into the setting of German-occupied France. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.
I'm still getting through the Nightingale from the last group read haha, and will be jumping straight into this one after. Interested to see the difference as they sound similar
This is one of my absolute favorite reads ever! I love the fact that upon reading this manuscript said, "This book is going to change your life." How insightful! :) I loved every single thing about it and am anxious to hear other's thoughts. One of the most enjoyable aspects to me was the connections Doerr made...both on a literal and philosophical level.
This one has been on my TBR for a really long time, and I know I "should" read it..... I mean I do want to... Buuuut... Historical fiction is not really my genre so I keep postponing it. We'll see if I can get it together to read this in January because I think a group read that can hold me accountable is definitely the way to go.
I just received this as a Christmas gift, soI cant wait to join this Group Read!
Nice to meet you all! I am getting ready to start this highly recommended book, thanks for being here!
So, I started this the day before yesterday.I've heard amazing reviews about it.
It's typically a genre I seek out, and enjoy.
I had to put it down because my mind kept wandering and I couldn't focus on it. I'll give it another shot in a day or two, hopefully it hooks me then!
I am getting ready to start it; I also seek out and enjoy this genre. Hopefully it does not stay slow for long for you!Cassie wrote: "So, I started this the day before yesterday.
I've heard amazing reviews about it.
It's typically a genre I seek out, and enjoy.
I had to put it down because my mind kept wandering and I couldn't fo..."
Just started it! I love the short intros to each of the parallel plots, great warm up.
I read this in June. I loved the story, the different threads, the poetic prose, and the immersive imagery. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you thought of it.
Just started reading it. Seems interesting.
This ebook I on sale today on Amazon! 12/30
Brandi wrote: "This ebook I on sale today on Amazon! 12/30"I noticed that, and jumped on the offer. This book has been on my TBR for a while now.
I read this book...loved it! Enjoy everyone 😁
I'm joining you as well, this has been on my TBR for a while...
I'll be joining to read this with you folks.
Hi. I just joined the group and decided to try the group read. Put a hold on the book at my local library and will start reading as soon as it comes in.
I started this as audiobook and I have still a bit getting used to the quite strange pronounciation of the French and German words by the narrator. Her voice other than that is beautiful.
Just added this book to my Kindle. I hope to start readign it later today!
I will be joining in the group read...I put a hold on this at the library and hope it comes in by the middle of the month! :)
Hello! I’m new here and excited to read some more. This book has been on my TBR for a while. It’s just been sitting on my bookshelf!
I bought this one maybe two years ago and still didn't get to it so hopefully I'll be able to join as well this month.
Been off this group for quite some time but thought it was high time to get back into this! Going to ease myself into this slowly and have a go at the monthly reads! Synopsis of this book sounds intriguing so I'm looking forward to this!
I’ll be joining you guys. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this book :)
Joining in monthly reads too. Looking forward to hearing from you all.
I'm only a few chapters in, the story hasn't really begun yet, but I already love the prose.
I started this in December with my TBR twin. I’m currently on Part 3 and finding the style interesting with each short chapter alternating between the characters.
Gabi wrote: "I started this as audiobook and I have still a bit getting used to the quite strange pronounciation of the French and German words by the narrator. Her voice other than that is beautiful."I'm listening on audio too. So far, I'm actually very confused. I even had to slow down the speed so I could try to understand it better.
I picked the book up at the library today. I've been meaning to read it for years.
I'll be joining you in Reading this. I did the reading challenge last year and need some inspiration this year to get out of my 'thrillers rut'!
I'll be joining you in Reading this. I did the reading challenge last year and need some inspiration this year to get out of my 'thrillers rut'!
I have read this before and I will be reading again to remind myself and help with joining in the discussion. It is wonderful. That much I remember.
I keep seeing people saying how much they love the prose of this book. On the contrary, I find it too flowery for my liking. Is there anyone else who feels the same?
I read a book that was released last year that was SO Flowery, I honestly wondered if the author had been making up words. After THAT adventure, nothing seems too gaudy. It was a Barnes & Noble club read, and the entire group said the same thing. Ashleigh wrote: "I keep seeing people saying how much they love the prose of this book.
On the contrary, I find it too flowery for my liking. Is there anyone else who feels the same?"
I’ve been very curious about this book for a while now and would like to start reading it. So definitely will be joining this group read to hopefully keep me motivated.
Ashleigh wrote: "I keep seeing people saying how much they love the prose of this book. On the contrary, I find it too flowery for my liking. Is there anyone else who feels the same?"
"Flowery" of course is always subject of taste, I guess. I'm 60% in and this would not have been a description that would have crossed my mind.
The book was available in my elibrary, so I'll join. It's not one I would have chosen on my own so thanks for getting me out of my comfort zone.
I'm going to bow out of this one, this has officially been placed on my DNF list. I just couldn't pull myself back into this story once I took a break for a few days. I hope everyone else enjoys it!
I still like it, but it is reassuring to see the Acceptance of DNF; I always beat myself up over that, but there are simply too many books on the TBR to not enjoy a read!
Cassie wrote: "I'm going to bow out of this one, this has officially been placed on my DNF list. I just couldn't pull myself back into this story once I took a break for a few days. I hope everyone else enjoys it!"Cassie I am 90% the way to the same. I will finish my other book and then give it one more chance. Even though this morning I decided to put it on my DNF shelf after reading a comment similar to Shareen's - that there are so many other books to enjoy.
Edit to this post.
After reading a particular review I am going to 100% put this on my DNF shelf. There are not many books I haven't finished. I don't know why I feel bad when I don't finish a book? But onwards.....
It seems there are a few people struggling to enjoy the audiobook version in particular. Just putting this out there as a warning to anyone choosing whether to physically read or listen.I personally really enjoyed the read but can understand why people are putting it down.
In the end I got used to the adventurous pronunciation of the audiobook narrator. It became more of a grinning matter than one of rolling the eyes. My favourite is the home area of Werner. I had not the slightest idea what this could be so I finally looked up the spelling. - and it turned out that it is literally in the vicinity where I live: "Zollverein". I would have never guessed it by the way Julie Teal pronounces it XD.Apart from that, I loved the book. Especially the last chapters moved me.
In general, I have a hard time listening to prose-oriented books in an audio format. I think I am just more of a visual person and I need to see the words. I'm OK with non-fiction books in audio, although I usually need to listen to each chapter more than once to pick everything up. Oh well, my mother said I never was a very good listener.
I'm not going to quit because I don't like leaving it unfinished but I can see why people have. It's definitely not my thing, but not to the point of dnf. I have been okay with audiobooks in the past so I definitely thing it's the book or the narrator I'm having issues with.
I wanted to love this book. I just really couldn’t get into it. I found it hard to keep my attention. Was only 2/5 ⭐️ for me.
I am happy I started my new year reading'All the light we cannot see'. Initially I found it a little difficult as the author was navigating between times frequently but gradually I picked up pace.Its beautifully written with well researched info about world war, magical description, fate and void human emotions. At times I felt lost in old French and German landscapes.
Book is worth reading !!!!
I found this book at a sale at my local library. I am reading it, slowly. I am enjoying it.I am interested in learning more about radios because most of the parts mentioning the components of radio I can't picture. Also it made me wonder if I can fix my broken headphones with some copper wire or something since Werner and Jutta could fix the radio.
I decided to listen to the audiobook whilst reading it because I just kept zoning out and falling asleep when I was trying to read this on my Kindle. I'm listening to Zach Appelman narrate it and so far he does a great job without butchering French and German words.
If you're struggling with the audiobook, I'd recommend checking if there are other versions narrated by someone else, if that's an option. I rarely listen to audiobooks but the narrator can really make or break an audiobook, in my opinion.
All that being said, I'm still not sure this is a book that's for me. And while that doesn't usually stop me from reading something - because of pushing out of comfort zones and the like - and this is going to sound horrendous, I'm just not sure I care enough about the historical aspect of it. But we'll see... I'm giving it a fair chance.
Ashleigh wrote: "I keep seeing people saying how much they love the prose of this book. On the contrary, I find it too flowery for my liking. Is there anyone else who feels the same?"
Ashleigh, I usually rather enjoy flowery, but I agree, it's just a tad too much, perhaps, for my particular taste.
However, I appreciate how poetic it is. It is really beautifully written, in my opinion. Granted I'm writing this while I'm only 15% through the book, but I enjoy how economical Doerr is with his writing style. I don't feel like he is being unnecessary with word usage.
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she 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, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.