Doerr, Anthony - All the Light We Cannot See - Informal Buddy Read; Starts January 12, 2015 - revisit Sep 18th, 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This topic is open for discussion of All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr




Book Synopsis:
Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.

In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.

Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved

[Rebecca]

I FINALLY got this from the library! I've had it on hold for months.

[Sarah]

When is this one being done - I would like to try. I have soooo much to read.

[Rebecca]

We haven't picked a date and there are a couple people interested. Maybe January? I was waiting to hear from the others. Mid-late January is best for me, but I'm really flexible.

This one has been on my radar all year (its even in a BN commercial) so I'm hoping it's as good as I've heard!

[Justin]

I'm in. Mid-January works great for me. Jan. 12?

[Srividya]

I just finished reading this one. I would love to join in for the discussions.

[Sarah]

Srividya - did you absolutely love it? It has gotten a lot of praise.

[Srividya]

I really liked it a lot Sarah. Definitely worth the praise it is getting from all corners. However, I won't call it the best book in this genre, although it is decidedly different in its approach. I think it is this difference in approach that I liked the best about this book, rather than the story itself.

[Cynthia]

I've been eyeing it a long time. I have it on my Kindle already, but just haven't made the time to read it.

I'm in for mid Jan.

[Rebecca]

Jan 12th works for me.

[Rebecca NJ]

I may join in - mid-Jan would work for me.

[Ashley Marie]

I'd like to join on this one, and can do mid-Jan as well.

[Janet]

I will join along. I started this a few weeks ago but had some other things I needed to finish. This is by no means a comment on the books ability to capture attention. I just needed to be disciplined or Christmas gifts would still be balls of yarn. What I have read so far I have really enjoyed. I will join in discussions in January

[Janet]

The story and characters are very captivating, but what I loved the most was the descriptive and lyrical writing. Such interesting phrases and metaphors.

[K~Terror]

I'll be joining this one too!

[Sarah]

This book was a runner up in fiction for the National Book Prize.

[Rebecca]

I feel like everyone I notice reading around the city has been reading this book last year. I also have noticed a lot of groups and people on GR reading it. I'm glad to finally get to it!

[Renee]

Janet wrote: "I will join along. I started this a few weeks ago but had some other things I needed to finish. This is by no means a comment on the books ability to capture attention. I just needed to be disci..."

Sometimes life just gets in the way! Once I get through the pile of books I'm currently reading, I think I will have to check this one out too.

[Laura]

1-44( Around the World in Eighty Days)
My only compliant would be that there are no number breakdowns for chapters.
(view spoiler)[
The writing is wonderful. Its as if I am sitting there listening to the radio with all the kids or with Marie-Laure trying to find her way home. I absolutely loved the tale from the gentleman at the museum
Being blind would be horrible. You can't help but admire and like Marie-Laure for all she has to endure. Its amazing that she can find her way home after her father spins her around. I thought it was cruel at first when he did this but in some weird way he is developing all her other senses so that she can survive without her sight.

I am guessing that her father went to fight in the war or was captured and that is why she is now living with her uncle.

I wish I had Werner's talent to put stuff back together! Very intelligent for 10 years old. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I'm about 15% through (page 68 on my kindle).

The format of this book so far has thrown me a bit. (view spoiler)[ The way it just gives you a small snip-it of each story is hard to get used to. I feel like as soon as I am interested in what's happening in the plot to Maurie or Wener, the chapter abruptly ends and switches. I'm definitely not a fan of it so far, but hopefully it either changes to longer chapters or I can get use to it.

These sections also seem to be less personal than I would have liked. The writing is beautiful, but seems stiff and far-away. (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

I just started this and I am glad that there is someone else reading it. I am also reading it on my Kindle lol...1% in.

[K~Terror]

I'm going to start this one too - either tonight or tomorrow!

[Rebecca]

Around 24% (page 102 on my kindle)

So it seems like this (view spoiler)[ format is going to continue. I've started to get used to it, but still I feel like as soon as I am really into the story, the author snatches away the threads and gives us another one.

I have a feeling Marie-Laure and Werner are going to meet or their stories are going to intersect somehow. Either during the war or after.

I also believe that Marie-Laure's father has the real cursed diamond and that is why she is blind. I wonder if he gives it to her and that's when he dies? So she can "live forever".? (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

I am now at 20% on my kindle through to "Entrance Exam"
(view spoiler)[I am absolutely loving this book and my interest stays engaged. I have read so many books of this kind and I get be very picky and get bored easily, but not with this one. I think the fact that we are "seeing" the world of war through the perspective of a blind girl is genius! The author was brilliant in this regard because it takes brings our experience at a different angle and then we feel plopped right in the midst of a horrible time in history. I can't make up my mind if I love Marie-Laure's story more or Werner's. I think I have to say, I love both. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I'm only about 10% or so into the book... When does it pick up?

[K~Terror]

RebeccaS wrote: "I'm about 15% through (page 68 on my kindle).

The format of this book so far has thrown me a bit. The way it just gives you a small snip-it of each story is hard to get used to. I feel like as ..."

I'm about 15% and feel the same as you. (view spoiler)[ for some reason the story seems real impersonal to me so far.. Just like someone is giving you facts on something that happened - like a very long news article. I see some folks love this book so I'm guessing I'll feel some sort of connection to the people at some point.. (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "I'm about 15% through (page 68 on my kindle).

The format of this book so far has thrown me a bit. The way it just gives you a small snip-it of each story is hard to get used to...."

For me personally the style of writing like you say seems impersonal but actually I think it brings a different perspective of allowing yourself to stand off a bit and view it as though watching a movie. I feel endeared to both stories even if it is somewhat told in a factual way. Sometimes I can't quite make a connection with a character when the author is trying to hard to get us to feel along with the character. I like the particular style in this book because it is like you are slowly being "reeled in". At least this is from my viewpoint. :) The sense of realness in the story also makes me feel like I can visualize what it must have been like.

[K~Terror]

Margaret wrote: "Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "I'm about 15% through (page 68 on my kindle).

The format of this book so far has thrown me a bit. The way it just gives you a small..."

Thanks, Margaret - That helps. I'll try looking at it differently. Part of the issue may be me and the timing of reading this. Everything in RL is fast-paced at the moment -- and most of my books lately have been pretty quick reads. I need to switch gears and sit back and let myself enjoy the unfolding.

[Rebecca]

Margaret wrote "I like the particular style in this book because it is like you are slowly being "reeled in" "

Now that I am a little further in, I definitely agree with you. At first I was a little thrown off and waiting for the story to move faster. Now I've realized that this pace has me really invested in the story. It's like I'm sitting next to Marie-Laure or Werner and just seeing and absorbing what they are seeing/experiencing. Last night I got sucked in and read much longer than I thought I had.

Kristin - It's definitely not a book I will zoom through, but I am appreciating the pace more as I read. Similar to what you said, I've been reading really fast-paced books recently so this one is definitely a way different style and pacing.

And I agree that I love both stories equally.

[Rebecca]

Up through "Prisoner", about 44% in

(view spoiler)[ I like that we are now seeming glimpses of a possible connection between Werner and Marie-Laure. Her grand-father is the voice that Werner and Lutte listened to on the radio and became so entranced with. I wonder if somehow the radio will bring them together? I'm also curious about the diamond story line and maybe that will also somehow connect them.

To be honest, during a lot of the narration I forget that Marie-Laure is blind. They way she thinks and describes things are not what you would expect. She is a fantastic character. (hide spoiler)]

[Srividya]

RebeccaS - I agree with you. While reading this book, I initially got irritated a little because I was so engrossed in what was happening to Marie-Laure or Werner only to find that I had to switch places/people/events in my head. However, I agree with Margaret, it is a book that reels you in and wows you with its narration. Won't say much as I don't want to give away spoilers inadvertently, but am sure there will be a point where you won't be able to put it down, despite the slow pace.

I loved the style of writing in this book. It was refreshingly realistic. I just had one problem with it and that was more 'fact related' than story related! Lol but I can be kind of picky with things like that!

[Renee]

Just picked this one up. 4% in. I agree with many of the earlier comments, the writing style is more detached. I feel like I'm looking on rather than part of the story. It's a bit like how I felt when I read The Road. The writing is quite poetic in its style. This is so different from everything else I've been reading lately - Kristin, I think I've been following you around the BR threads.

[K~Terror]

Hey Renee! *waves*
We have had the same reading selections lately!

[K~Terror]

I'm appreciating everyone's comments on this book. For awhile I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with the book, but I'll get back to it tonight after work and see where it takes me. :)

[Margaret]

I love BRs because it is fun to hear the other buddies' thoughts and perceptions, kind of a good incentive to keep on, especially if you aren't sure of the book. :)

[K~Terror]

Absolutely - I totally agree!

[Rebecca]

I agree! I would have kept putting this one to the side if it weren't for this BR. Now I can't put it down!

[Jane]

I'm about 20% into this book and reading it as an audio book. I've been thinking the story a little slow but thought it was just because it was my first audio book! Glad to know its not just me!

[K~Terror]

RebeccaS wrote: "I agree! I would have kept putting this one to the side if it weren't for this BR. Now I can't put it down!"

Do you remember how far into the book you were when you were getting hooked? I'm about 40%...

[Rebecca]

kristin - hmm I'm not sure but I would think around then or a little after, I don't want to say why because of spoilers :)

[Renee]

I keep getting distracted by other books, but I'll keep this one going on the side. I like the little snippets because I can read a bit here and there and put it down easily. I don't need to find an uninterrupted 30 minutes to get through a chapter.

[K~Terror]

RebeccaS wrote: "kristin - hmm I'm not sure but I would think around then or a little after, I don't want to say why because of spoilers :)"

It's probably good you didn't add that in a spoiler because I would totally sneak a peek! LOL!

[K~Terror]

Chapter 11 - It's definitely picking up... :)

[Laura]

Up to Herr Sielder ( p 80)
(view spoiler)[
The bombing has started and Marie Laure and her dad are waiting to get on a train. Scary enough for everyone but how much more scary for Marie Laure when she can't see.
(hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Laura wrote: "Up to Herr Sielder ( p 80)

The bombing has started and Marie Laure and her dad are waiting to get on a train. Scary enough for everyone but how much more scary for Marie Laure when she can't see.
"

I love how we view the war through Marie Laure perceptions, it makes an already frightening war really scary!

[Margaret]

I am finished and it was beautiful! Perhaps it seemed slow but what a build-up and it so worth it! So keep trudging on!

[Rebecca]

Laura - (view spoiler)[ I thought about that a lot during the book. Reading about the events of the war and occupation of France makes it seem like a very scary time to be living. But to not be able to see anything on top of that is something I can't fathom. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

RebeccaS wrote: "Laura - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
we take our sight for granted. I would be lost without it. I wouldn't be able to see my children, drive, how do you cook without being able to see, household chores would be daunting. I'm sure there are so many more things I didn't list that would be so hard to do.

You would have to relearn how to do everything. Ahhhh I forgot read!!! I would be heartbroken to not be able to read. I would be learning braille pretty quick!
Marie-Laure is a brave, smart young woman! (hide spoiler)]
I can't wait to read some more tonight!