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

[Lee]

khungkhing wrote: "Erin wrote: "Chapter One [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It might now have been so bad if things picked up a bit? But now I'm a little farther and everything still feels slow despite being in the middle of the war. So, I don't know. And I always struggle with two POVs that don't really seem to connect and that could be part of my problem with it. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

khungkhing wrote: "Sierra wrote: "50% ..."

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I definitely think that she'll never see him again. I feel like he's going to end up dying. Or at least things are going to get worse for him or something. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Well, I'm glad that Marie-Lure ended up having a happy, long life. It is sad that Werner died, but I do think I would have been real upset if they both made it through the war alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

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Date changed. Restarting May 2nd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Catelynne]

Simone and I have restarted the All the Light We Cannot See buddy read. If anyone wants to join feel free to! We'd love to hear your thoughts :)

There's no super tight schedule to follow and feel free to go at your own pace because everyone will use (view spoiler)[spoiler tags (hide spoiler)]. If you wanted some idea of our pace, we plan to finish on the 19th of May so that'd be approximately 1/3 - 1/2 of the book per week.

Feel free to share any thoughts or ideas anytime but please use the spoiler tag to avoid others from being spoilt. Happy reading everyone! Can't wait for discussion to begin :)

[Simone]

Part 0

There were a lot of names of places that I'll never remember, so hopefully they're not important later on lol. The super short chapters will probably take a bit of getting used to, but they don't seem super choppy, which is good. I like this writing style, and the author managed to pull off having so many POVs. I also really like the overarching POV, because seeing the historical perspective just adds so much more for me.

(view spoiler)[We are introduced to our main characters, a 16-year-old French girl named Marie-Laure LeBlanc, and an 18-year-old German boy named Werner Pfennig.

Marie-Laure is blind, and despite the order to evacuate the city, is still lingering in her house. She appears fascinated by a model of the city. As the bombs come ever closer, she still does not go to safety. Instead, she opens her house on the city model, and out comes a stone, the size of a pigeon's egg, the shape of a teardrop. Her portion of the chapter ends with her clutching the model house and the stone, and whispering, "Papa?" which just broke my heart. I'm so confused about her story. What is the significance of the stone? Why would her great uncle leave her there and (I'm assuming) evacuate without her?

Werner is in the German military as a private (the lowest ranking soldier in the army). They prepare for bombs and whatnot. Not much really happens to him, but that makes me want to know more. (hide spoiler)]

What do you think of this part?

[Catelynne]

Sorry for taking forever. I've been busy the past few days. I didn't comment after Part 0 because I didn't have much to say on it. I've just finished part 1 now and wanted to write down my thoughts before I forget.

Overall, I like the short chapters and the jumping between perspectives. It keeps me pretty engaged. I also think that the relationship between Marie and her father is really sweet. I like Werner as a character and can sympathise with him (even if he is from Germany). I agree with you about having the omniscient narrator, it definitely makes it much easier to follow.

Spoilers for Part 0:

(view spoiler)[ I just took all the occurrences with the bombs and action as flashforward. So yes, I was pretty confused but I didn't bother me because I knew it would be explained. I liked that they introduced quite a few things so we kind of knew where we were working up towards. (hide spoiler)]

For Part 1:

(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed the way the author developed Marie and Werner as characters.
I liked seeing Marie and her father interact, her experiences before and after she went blind. The fact that she gets those little puzzles and braille books is really endearing and I think it adds lots of depth to her father as a character as well. I think I've come to care for Marie already because I was pretty concerned something would happen to her when she had that confrontation with the boy. I also really hoped they would be able to get on a train (but kind of also knew that wasn't going to happen lol). This part also answers your confusion about the stone haha.

I thought that it was really cool how Werner has a special talent and I hope that everything works out for him at the academy. I don't really know what I think about his sister though. I don't have too much of an opinion on her yet but idk not a huge fan so far.

The story really started to pick up for me when Marie and her Father had to leave their house for the train station. I could really tell that things were definitely getting serious. (hide spoiler)]

I'm enjoying so far and can't want to see how Marie and Werner's paths meet. Feel free to comment/ask questions about anything I mentioned. I'd love to hear it :)

[Simone]

Part 1

I think that the short chapters work really well with this kind of book. Switching between France and Germany really helps with gaining an overall view. And also allows you to see both sides of the spectrum. Also, I think this book is doing a really nice job of keeping the flow. With a lot of other books that I've read that constantly switch POVs, instead of getting a good overall viewpoint, you end up with choppy chapters that degrade the experience. So, props to the author.

(view spoiler)[This really did answer a lot of the questions that I had, but that's to be expected.

The Sea of Flames story was super interesting to me. I mean, you yourself cannot die, but everyone you love will? Immortality at a cost?

I also enjoyed learning more about Marie-Laure and her father. It was so wonderful seeing his patience with her, and those wooden puzzle boxes sound so fun.

I actually like Jutta. Something about her character just draws me to her. She is too much of a risk taker for my taste, but if she could control her impulses, she could be a very strong person. And Werner is great. I really like that there is a person who is gifted in more science-y fields. Often, you'll only ever see portrayed people who are gifted in the arts, and hate math and science. (hide spoiler)]

What are your opinions on the prose/writing style?

When I read The Book Thief (which has a similar structure to this), a lot of the prose felt very pretentious and nonsensical, but I think that this book does a good job of not making it, well, pretentious and nonsensical. While I haven't read anything yet that is particularly beautiful (though that's probably to come), I have read some really nice lines.

Lol I've been reading this way too slowly. Let's hope that I can speed up soon.

[Simone]

Part 2

(view spoiler)[Here, we see the aftermath of the bombing. Both Werner and Marie-Laure survive, though I didn't expect otherwise. However, Werner appears to have gone deaf, either temporarily or permanently.

This part was a bit unexpected. I didn't think that we would see the future again until we got there, but I guess not. (hide spoiler)]

What did you think of this part?

[izzy]

Well I have put this out for long. I'm glad I finally read it

[izzy]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ the beginning, how Marie lost her sight and adapted to life of a blind child.
Werner and his sister in the children home. His dread of working in the mine. One is in Germy, the other in France.
Germany is bombing France. (hide spoiler)]

[izzy]

Part 2-3
(view spoiler)[ Werner talent pays way for him as he is now in an academy. Though his sister does not approve. Marie and her father had to leave Paris to saint-malo because of the war. The father is arrested on his way back to Paris (hide spoiler)]

[izzy]

Up to part 7
(view spoiler)[ wow! Madam Manec is dead, Frederick gave up on the training and Werner is transferred.
I feel for Marie,with her dad in Germany and a nutcase for an uncle (Etienne). Though I have come to like the uncle. It is getting complicated and heated (hide spoiler)]

[izzy]

Up to the final chapter
(view spoiler)[
Von Rumpel wants the stone because he is sick. Etienne is arrested, Marie is saved by Werner. Werner dies and my heart is broken.
Lovely book (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

izzy wrote: "Up to the final chapter
Von Rumpel wants the stone because he is sick. Etienne is arrested, Marie is saved by Werner. Werner dies and my heart is broken.
Lovely book"

Could you make sure that you put everything in spoiler tags?

[izzy]

Simone wrote: "Part 2

Here, we see the aftermath of the bombing. Both Werner and Marie-Laure survive, though I didn't expect otherwise. However, Werner appears to have gone deaf, either temporarily or permanentl..."

Simone wrote: "Part 2

Here, we see the aftermath of the bombing. Both Werner and Marie-Laure survive, though I didn't expect otherwise. However, Werner appears to have gone deaf, either temporarily or permanentl..."

He isn't. I try to imagine Marie's condition during those times it is hard to fathom

[Simone]

Part 3

So much happened in this part! My oh my, what a whirlwind of emotions I went through. And I think I'm getting better at the names, but the amount of times I was just like, wait, who's that again? is kind of insane.

(view spoiler)[After leaving Paris, Marie-Laure and her father look for the friend of the museum director, but they find out that his house has burned down. They go to Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure's great-uncle Etienne lives. They are greeted by the super nice Madame Manec. Three days after they arrive, Marie-Laure meets Etienne for the first time, who turns out to be quite an intriguing man. We find out that Marie-Laure's grandfather is the one who did the science talks on the radio that Werner and Jutta were so taken with. We also find out that he has a radio to try to contact her grandfather in the attic.

Werner takes the entrance exam to get into the school (AKA a way to recruit kids into the German military), and passes. Jutta is not happy about this, or really anything that Werner does to protect her. At the school, Werner meets a boy named Frederick, who loves birds and becomes his friend. (Is it just me or does he have Neville Longbottom/Luna Lovegood vibes?)

We are also introduced to a new character named Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel, who we discover is hunting for the Sea of Flames.

The Germans occupy Saint-Malo. Marie-Laure's father continues working on his model of the city, which incites suspect from the perfumer (someone not to be trusted, according to Madame Manec). Because of this, the perfumer reports Marie-Laure's father to the Germans.

Many rules are imposed in Saint-Malo. They collect all of the radios, (well, except for the one in the attic). I really hope that this doesn't come up later, and that no one gets in trouble for it, but I doubt it.

Marie-Laure's father is confused about the (maybe) Sea of Flames that he has. The tests he conducts make him think it's real, and yet no one has come to collect it. He's also less sure if it is actually cursed. Later on, he gets a telegram, saying that he must return to Paris. He goes, and is immediately arrested for plotting to destroy Saint-Malo (which makes no sense, but I doubt that they required that to arrest someone).

Ugh, I know that the scene is going to come where Marie-Laure realizes that her father isn't coming back, and yet I'm sure I'm going to be super devastated. I can just feel the tears coming in the future. (hide spoiler)]

What are your opinions on this part?

[Simone]

Part 4

(view spoiler)[Am I the only one who did not expect dual timelines? Like, for some reason, that really surprised me.

Anyway, we see the after-effects of the bombing. Marie-Laure finds two cans of food that Etienne missed. Marie-Laure and Etienne have been living together, alone, for quite a while, and I'm interested to see what happened to Madame Manec. Werner, Volkheimer (and now we know who that actually is!), and Bernd are trapped underground, and Werner has lost all hope. Sergeant Major von Rumpel goes to Marie-Laure's house to get the Sea of Flames. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting August 19th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Lydia]

Thank you!

[Lydia]

10%
I really like the writing so far especially that scene where (view spoiler)[her father firsts lets her guide them home and she says I can't,and the author says She can't. Very powerful (hide spoiler)]

[Lydia]

I'm there too and I found it very smart (view spoiler)[ that they are trying to make it a main thing, with the 4 diamonds . the back and forth in times annoys me a bit because I soooo wanna know what
happens next and then they skip to the other time (hide spoiler)]

[Lydia]

still at 23% here too, stuff came up hehe
no worries, I'll keep commenting here in my slow slow pace

[Lydia]

No worries, life happens take your time :)

[Lydia]

no worries!
I'm probably at about 30% by now, and though I do like it, it just gives me a very sad, hopeless vibe (i mean yeah the whole story obviously is sad but there's something differest about it from other books)
I think that's why it's taking me so long to read it hehe

[Lydia]

I am at 34% now, and it's amazing to see how easily so many people are "turning bad" just because someone else told them too and not because they believe it themselves
Also, I don't really know the whole in-depth history but the book just make it seem like the French army and goverment isn't really doing much to fight back at the moment and I don't really get why

[Lydia]

I'm at about 40%, sorry something came up this weekend and i didnt have anytime 😟
This is probably the slowest br i have done on my end again sorry lol

[Lydia]

About 50% done now
(view spoiler)[ First of all, I don't really like the characters (I mean I don't dislike them, but I can't really feel for them). Second of all I am super bored and not eager to pick this book up, and that hasn't changed 😂 But I'll keep going cause I am really curious why people keep giving it 5 stars. It is interesting to see how some Germans managed to convince everyone that they should fight. Still annoyed that the French are doing nothing. I really hope it gets better soon (hide spoiler)]
How are things going at your end?

[Lydia]

I am at 60%
(view spoiler)[Yes the whole stone thing is really dull and not thrilling at all. Also why Marie Laurie risks her life to hold on to the stone is beyond me, if she just left it there the guy would leave. I really liked Jutta too and hope we see more of her later. I really liked Frederick as well, and hated the fact that while he was such a strong person he didn't leave the school. Finally some French people did something resistance like and they're all dead. Lovely. My hopes that the book gets better are at their lowest (hide spoiler)]

[Lydia]

nope, I feel exactly the same way, when I actually have free time I wanna do something fun and that's not it for me , honestly I can't wait for it to be over hehe. hopefully i make some progress on the weekend

[Lydia]

yes i had very high expectations as well
Honestly I was thinking about DNFing it especially now that I've gotten to the more -completely unessesary- violent parts
So I think I'll take like a week off and if then I see that i still think about it I'll pick it up again hehe
You can DNF it completely if you want
Fyi this was weirdly a great BR though cause we seemed to agree on everything, I enjoyed that

[Lydia]

Hi! not going to continue either, it really seems like a waste of time to me
It was nice BRing with you!

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting January 7th 2022. Happy Reading ☺

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[Heather]

joining in!

[nefeli]

Hey, I'm starting this today!

[nefeli]

i'm very excited

[EdenB15]

I’m excited to start it 2 but not for a few days I’ve a couple other reads on the go x

[nefeli]

Heyy, sorry for not replying earlier. I just finished with some other books I was reading so I am going to start now, will keep you updated!

[nefeli]

Aleja wrote: "Finished Part Zero

[spoilers removed]"

Finished part zero as well
(view spoiler)[ I do agree with what you said, this is already sad.
I find a bit confusing so far but i'm sure once i read more I'll be able to understand better. I also really like the fact that it has short chapters (hide spoiler)]

[nefeli]

Aleja wrote: "nefeli wrote: "Heyy, sorry for not reaplying earlier. I just finished with some other books I was reading so I am going to start now, will keep you updated!"

That's okay, I'm taking this one at a ..."

Okay!!

[nefeli]

I'm about halfway through part one and I have to admit it's kind of a hard book to read. However, I'm really enjoying their backstory.

[nefeli]

Hey, sorry for not updating for the past few days! I think i'm going to read this slower and once i finish a part I will update you.