All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr - Restarting January 7th 2022

[Drishti]

@Ezy Did you start reading?

I've finished one of my other books and I'm gonna finish another one today. So, I'll start reading this one tomorrow.

[Drishti]

I've read Part One and I'm halfway up Part Two (specifically- on Open Your Eyes) . I don't know why but the book is becoming a really long one for me. But, I like the way the characters have been written. (view spoiler)[Both Marie-Laure and Werner are the curious type. And, curiosity is one of my dominant emotions, too. Werner is a really smart kid. Repairing a radio! *bows down* Marie-Laure's father is one of the most patient character I've ever come across. The legend of Sea of Flames is one of those legends which you don't and do believe at the same time. (does that even make sense?) (hide spoiler)] I think that the story is going to be an interesting one for me. I'm really interested in history and this one is historical fiction!

[E.T.]

im going to start reading this book tomorrow i think im going to finished the book im reading now first hehe

[Drishti]

I'm hanging somewhere halfway between the book. It's a good one, but is proving out to be a really long read for me. I'm gonna wait for you and catch up on my other books.

[Abi]

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Reading from the 3rd of January 2016

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[Manveer]

Err, I don't know if I signed up for this, but anyways, joining in.

[Drishti]

Manveer, you agreed to be my partner for this BR. I was going to PM you the link. But, I'm glad you found it. =)

And, BTW Happy New Year!! =)

[Manveer]

Ah yes, I remember now xD
And a very Happy New Year to you too :)

[Berit☀️✨]

I will join you guys for this!

[Manveer]

Started before sleeping yesterday. Continued this morning. I am really really liking this book. I am already 21% in. :)

Werner and Marie are really great characters and the book has been beautifully written.

[Drishti]

Great that you started, Manveer. I have 2 books to finish before I start this one. Luckily, both of them are hardly 100 pages. But, school starts tomorrow and I have a lot of last minute homework to do. So, reading is incredibly slow.

[Manveer]

At the pace I am going, this shouldn't take long. Lmao.
Taking a break for now, doing other stuff. Will read later at night.

[Manveer]

Soo, did anyone start it yet?
I am still at the same place. Will continue later tonight. Didnt get much time during the last two days.

[Drishti]

I finally started. =)

I had tried to do a BR of this on this thread before too. But, due to some reasons I abandoned the book halfway through. So, feel free to comment on my handful of previous posts. =)

I'll post my further views after a bit of more reading. =)

[Manveer]

Haha. Sure. Good Luck!

[Manveer]

Just hit part Four!

[Drishti]

That's great! I'm on part five.

This book is really slow paced. Unfortunately, it makes me fall into a reading slump! But, when I finally start reading it, I don't understand why it's making me fall into a reading slump, because it's so beautifully written!

Anyway, enough with my rant. What are your thoughts about the book? Liking the characters? The writing style? The pace?

[Manveer]

I just finished the book. I really really don't have any words. The book is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The characters are all so detailed, and lovable.
I didn't mind the pace a bit. It was perfect. The ending did put me off a bit, but we'll talk when you get there :)

[Drishti]

You're fast! I'll finish it tomorrow, provided I don't fall into a reading slump. :-/

[Manveer]

Haha. Good Luck.

Btw, No spoiler rant :P

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[[deleted user]]

Just got my copy from the library. Starting it later tonight.

[Berit☀️✨]

I'm so hoping to get to this by Friday, fingers crossed

[Berit☀️✨]

20% I also just read The Nightingale, also about French occupation during WWII, So far not much has happened in this book, but I still am riveted and finding it very interesting, what a very interesting time of history, interesting and horrible.
(view spoiler)[ I found it really interesting when they were trying to figure out the exact color of blue, and the exact color of blonde, all my kids are blonde hair and blue eyes, wonder what exact color blue they have, they're definitely not the lightest blonde not snow (hide spoiler)]

[Berit☀️✨]

40%(view spoiler)[ so interesting his training, and the radios, radios everywhere, also can you imagine not being able to see and being trapped in that big house all by yourself??? Why don't they move to a lower floor? (hide spoiler)]

[Berit☀️✨]

60%(view spoiler)[ I really thought they were going to meet a lot earlier in this book, still hasn't happened, but it still is so interesting and disturbing, although I'm thinking the radio connection is how they will meet??? I really like how she has brought her uncle out of his shell, a lot of jumping around in this book, but I like all the stories, my in person book Chad is doing this book on Thursday so that will be very interesting (hide spoiler)]

[Drishti]

I'm so sorry that I didn't keep my word on this. I guess, historical fiction is not my cup of tea. Reading All the Light We Cannot See once was a big work for me. I think that's maybe why I failed to re-read it.

[Abi]

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Reading from the 12th of July 2016

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[Brooke]

Been waiting forever to get my hands on this book. loving it so far, hopefully will finish tomorrow and update then :D

[Sharon]

Starting right now!

[Sharon]

Finished Parts Zero-Two, here are my updates for those parts.

Part Zero - 7 August 1944 (Chapters 1-8): (view spoiler)[ Locals are advised to leave their towns for an American offensive. Bombers are preparing to attack. Sad to see that Marie-Laure LeBlanc is blind and living in a French town called St. Malo, and this is the area where the attack is going to begin in. I am intrigued by Werner. I want to know more about him. Marie-Laure goes back to her house and calls for her father. I would like to know more about Marie-Laure, especially how she became blind. I am enjoying this book a lot. I am usually not a fan of historical fiction books. However, this book is interesting and very well written. (hide spoiler)]

Part One - 1934 (Chapters 9-31): (view spoiler)[ It is interesting to see Marie-Laure's childhood memories of the age of six. She went to the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle because her father works there. I still want to know why she lost her eyesight. I find the history of the Sea of Flames interesting. Ooh,,,I like learning more about Werner. It is sad that he is an orphan with a sister. He found a radio and fixed so everyone can listen to music. I think that is sweet. I like the fact that we are learning more about the miniaturized city that her father built. It must be hard to navigate through the neighbourhood without her eyesight. I am glad that she finally succeeded. I like Werner. He is a hard-working guy. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two - 8 August 1944 (Chapters 32-36): (view spoiler)[ The bombings at St. Malo have begun. Oh no, Marie-Laure seems to be alone and does not know if she will survive the attack. I think I would be scared and start freaking out like her as well as she seems to not know what to perceive as real or not. That is scary, especially for a young blind girl like herself. At least she hid in the cellar with food so she can survive. Werner thinks that the bombing have deafened him while staying at the House of Bees. Werner, Volkheimer, and Bernd, an engineer, are trapped in the cellar. Bernd is seriously injured. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Part Three - June 1940 (Chapters 37-61): (view spoiler)[
The LeBlancs finally reach the St. Malo home. It's sad to see that Etienne had some psychological issues since returning from World War 1. Werner takes an entrance exam to enter a special school instead of going to the mines. He passed the exam, and says goodbye to his sister at the orphanage. I like Frederick. A gemologist? That sounds very interesting. Von Rumpel is trying to pursue the Sea of Flames. Dr. Hauptmann seems like an interesting character. Marie-Laure explores Etienne’s home and meets him finally. Aww. Marie-Laure and Etienne are bonding. I feel bad for Frederick because he was abused at school. It sucks to be picked on for being the weakest one. (hide spoiler)]

Part Four - 8 August 1944 (Chapters 62-67): (view spoiler)[ Von Rumple headed to St. Malo in order to search for the Sea of Flames diamond. St. Malo is still being bombed. Sad that the city is in ruin. I am sad that Marie-Laure is still at home alone. Werner, Bernd, and Volkheimer try to get out of the cellar. I hope that they succeed. Volkheimer encourages Werner to work on a radio. Marie-Laure hears someone enter the house. I wonder if it is Daniel. (hide spoiler)]

Part Five - January 1941 (Chapters 68-95): (view spoiler)[ I like Frederick and Werner's friendship. I also like that we got to know more about Frederick and his family. Students have to torment a prisoner? What the heck? Why would you subject children like that? I feel bad for Marie-Laure because Daniel might not come back and she has fallen into depression. I think Madame Manec is a vood character. I like how she tries to help Marie-Laure out of her depression by taking her to the beach and introducing her to the Old Ladies' Resistance Club. I like them very much. Why wouod you keep searching for the Sea of Flames if you are sick? I think Von Rumpel should take a break and rest. Cool...Etienne is helping with the resistance. I want to know why her code name is Whelk. Omg! Bazin is missing now! Aww...poor Frederick. He was removed from school. I wonder why though. Oh snap! Dr. Hauptmann needs to go to Germany, and Werner is sent on active duty. Please do not kill him. He is a good character. Oh no, there is news about Daniel at the Paris police. I feel bad for Madame Manec. She is not recovering from her illness the second time around. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Part Six - 8 August 1944 (Chapters 96-100): (view spoiler)[ I really do not like the fact that Marie-Laure is trapped in the attic. It must be scary to home by herself. No one to look after her. Why is Von Rumpel entering her house for? Wait a minute is the diamond in ber house? So he trashing her place to find it. That is messed up. I think Marie-Laure knows what he is looking for. While this is happening, Werner is trapped in the basement of the Hotel of Bees. Poor Bernd, his injuries are really severe. I do not think he will make it. It's really sad to see. How is the radio Werner's fixing their last hope of surviving? It is one of those transmission radio that you can communicate with otbers through? (hide spoiler)]

Part Seven - August 1942 (Chapters 101-120): (view spoiler)[ I thought Etienne was already helping with the resistance. Guess now it is official. Aww..he lets Marie-Laure to work for him and order and get ordinary loaves of bread from the bakery every day. The loaves contain a series of numbers that Etienne broadcasts through the transmitter. He also has to along information for people. Must be hard. I love the scene when Etienne dances with Marie-Laure. I thought it was sweet. I wonder if the other young girl that Werner is daydreaming about is Marie-Laure. That would be interesting. So it is a transmitter radio. Hopefully Werner can find the codes to triangulate the signal. This Von Rumpel dude needs to give up on his search of the diamond. (hide spoiler)]

Part Eight - 9 August 1944 (Chapters 121-128): (view spoiler)[ Von Rumpel thinks that the diamond is in the missing part of the house. Poor Marie-Laure, she is going to starve to death for being in the attic too long. However, she cannot get out because Von Rumpel is still in her house. I like that she starts reading through the transmitter. I feel bad for Werner. He can find a signal on the radio and he is contemplating death. Omg! He hears Marie-Laure reading her book on the radio. Werner continues to think about Jutta, his sister. I hope she is alright during this time as well. I am really enjoying this book. I am glad that I decided to read it. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Part Nine - May 1944 (Chapters 129-147): (view spoiler)[ Werner is to capture people transmitting illegal broadcasts. However, he doesnt tell anyone when he hears Etienne’s voice transmitting because he remembers his childhood listening to Etienne’s voice. Omg! Will Etienne and Werner finally meet in person? I think it is a bit stalkerish that he is following her around town. Von Rumpel talks to Marie-Laure when she comes out of the grotto from her mission. I can't believe he is questioning her about her father. This guy is insane. I am glad that she got away from him. Wow! Etienne finally leaves the house after 24 years. That's big for him. He is arrested when he tries to retrieve the codes himself. Is that why she is alone? Because he got arrested? (hide spoiler)]

Part Ten - 12 August 1944 (Chapters 148-165): (view spoiler)[ I really feel bad for Marie-Laure because she is still stuck in the attic and with no food to eat. I love that she decides to play Claire de Lune as loud as possible. Is she trying to get herself killed. Von Rumpel better not hurt her or i will be so sad. Omg! Werner and Volkheimer blasted their way out the hotel I did not think that it would work. Werner saves Marie-Laure. Yay! Did they hirt Von Rumpel? As Werner and Marie-Laure say goodbye, she is reunited with Etienne. Yay! Oh no! Werner gets captured. Now, he is in a medical tent because he got ill. (hide spoiler)]

Part Eleven - 1945 (Chapters 166-167): (view spoiler)[ Marie-Laure and Etienne go to live in Marie-Laure's old flat in Paris, while she waits for her father. In Germany, Russian soldiers are working from a factory, and they rape women. That is so disgusting. I am glad to see that Jutta and the orphanage are still okay. The girls need to be careful about these Russian soldiers. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Part Twelve - 1974 (Chapters 168-177): (view spoiler)[ So do this mean that Werner did nit survive the illness he caught? Volkheimer receives Werner's backpack and he find Jutta to give it to her. Jutta finds a model of Etienne’s home and tries to find the girl Werner talked about, so she travelled to St. Malo. The girl turns out to be Marie-Laure. Werner, you are an amazing character. Love you. So sweet that he wanted to give Frederick a picture of birds. It was nice to see that Jutta was the one to give him the picture for her brother. I think this part was beautiful. It was like a scavenger hunt to find the people who deserves the contents of the backpack. (hide spoiler)]

Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ This was an incredible read. I thought the story was beautiful and well-written. The characters were relatable and unique. I liked the dual perspective. The whole book was really good. I think this is the first historical fiction book that I really enjoyed. I hope to read more books from Anthony Doerr. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

25%
(view spoiler)[ i will freak out if they keep explaining how the testing goes. I am loving this so far. thou we kinda know how this "ends" i am hoping for something nicer. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

Sharon wrote: "Part Three - June 1940 (Chapters 37-61):
The LeBlancs finally reach the St. Malo home. It's sad to see that Etienne had some psychological issues since returning from World War 1. Werner takes an..."

The Part five part really got to me. Why were they making them hit that prisoner, they are just freaking kids, then the last kid attempted to stand up about it but i feared for his safety and am glad he kinda just went with it. Still very hard to read.

[Brooke]

Radio Station/Show
(view spoiler)[ i feel like the Nazis would be monitoring the wave lengths better than this, like have someone double checking behind someone else to make sure. and idk who he can tell the voice, i would never be able to do that. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

65%
(view spoiler)[ oh no we are doing "treatments" now. This isn't going to end well :(((( (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

98%
(view spoiler)[ OMG that little house thing, sweetest thing i have ever read, for sure. I was almost crying at this point! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

Ending Thoughts
(view spoiler)[ as much as it hurts me to read about the treatment of Jews and others in WWII, i do think it's my favorite historical fiction topic to read about. This was an emotional read for sure. The dual POV really added to the story, thou the side characters in each POV was a bit hard to keep track of. Overall, a nicely written book that everyone should read. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Can I get this reset for the 4th? Please & thank you! :D

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting October 4th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dr. Andy]

11% (view spoiler)[ Enjoying this so far. I love the puzzle boxes Marie's father makes. The mythology of the Sea of Flames is intriguing to me and I hope it continues to tie into the story. I wonder how the two characters will meet? It's hard for me to keep track of what's happening at times because I have an audiobook and so if I get distracted I'll miss what happened or who was talking. Whoops. Werner and his fascination with radios/circuitry reminds me of myself! That's my favorite part of physics besides Astronomy. (hide spoiler)]

[Eunice]

Bye, Bye Blind Girl (view spoiler)[I wonder how they'll meet each other. And also who was the one who wrote that letter? I would've thought it was Jutta.

Also liked the puzzle parts. It's a cute tradition for her birthday. (hide spoiler)]

[Eunice]

The Wardrobe: (view spoiler)[I can't help but worry over Marie's father. Looks like a tattletale saw him. I hope he doesn't die, but I have the feeling that he will. Eventually. Honestly I feel bad for all of them. Marie, her father, uncle, Madame Manec.

I'm happy for Werner though. Because he's gaining a reputation there. It's sad that Jutta isn't responding to his letters. At least that's what I assumed happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Eunice]

Nadel im Heuhaufen: (view spoiler)[I feel so sad for Marie-Laure's dad. I just knew he would be arrested. Well, not exactly. I thought he'd be killed, but arrested is better. By a little maybe. And poor Frederick. Kids are just cruel.

I think I'm starting to think that they won't ever meet. Their lives are too far apart, especially since they're in a war, with their countries against each other. (hide spoiler)]

[Eunice]

Rue des Patriarches: (view spoiler)[I almost tensed up when Werner caught their first victims. I thought it was Eteinne and Marie. Whew.

I feel sadder for Werner than I do for Marie. It just goes to show that being in the (seemingly) winning side isn't something luxurious. Werner has grown so much, and I think not in a good way. (hide spoiler)]

[Eunice]

Part 11: (view spoiler)[HE DIED! Poor Werner. How could he be so stupid? I thought he was actually going to live through the entire book. It's so freakin' sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Sadly my copy got returned! But after Gemina I'll get back to this ASAP!!

[Eunice]

End: (view spoiler)[It was nice seeing a glimpse of their futures, and it gave the characters some closure, in a way. I feel so sad over Marie's dad and Werner's death. They had good lives ahead of them. (hide spoiler)]