Book review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Title: All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scribner
Publication date: 6th May 2014
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Summary:
“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.“
My review:
All the Light We Cannot See follows Marie-Laure as she moves away from Paris with her father at the age of six, and Werner, an orphan who is struggling to find his place in the world as he joins the forces in Nazi Germany. The reader joins these two characters on their incredible journey as they try to survive the war each in their own way. Both characters are well developed and likable enough for the reader to form a true bond and I felt eager to follow their journeys.
Written in short alternating chapters of each character’s POV, the plot feels almost feels too linear and I wondered why the author chose this style several times as I was reading the book. My favourite part was by far the moment when their paths cross as this was the closure I needed from the beginning and I finally understood his decision of writing the book in this style.
As far as storytelling goes, no words can do this book justice and Anthony Doerr deserves all the awards. Only a few other authors come to mind when it comes to telling a heartfelt story from start to finish but none manage to do so with as much ease and finesse. Although the scenery is almost always dreary and somber as the war spreads through France, the feeling of hope is so deep rooted in this book that it makes for a very raw and real reading experience.
My pet peeve in Historical Fiction is short chapters as I feel that there is not enough depth to the narrative and not enough time to truly engage with the scenery and characters. I definitely felt that way as I read this book and I would have preferred longer chapters focusing on each character rather than small snippets into their lives until their reunion. I could have carried on reading past the ending as by that point I was so invested in both characters and would have enjoyed reading whichever way the story developed.
It is no wonder that All the Lights We Cannot See is the Goodread’s Historical Fiction win of 2014. This book is moving, exciting and incredible. If you decide to read any Historical Fiction book, even if it is not your choice of genre, I am sure that you will not be disappointed if you make it this one.
13 Comments
bingingonabudget
Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to give this book a read. Do you have any more book recommendations?
Darina
I hope you enjoy it! I would also recommend The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I recently finished it and really loved it.
Stephen Writes
Great review, Darina. Interesting point about chapter lengths; I think longer chapters are perhaps more suited to historical fiction compared to some other genres.
Darina
Thanks, Stephen! I agree and could certainly feel it in this book.
jennifertarheelreader
This one has been on my shelf for so long, Darina, and your review has me wanting to read it right away. I love all those things in a book!
Darina
This is a truly great read and I’m sure that you’ll love it when you get round to reading it! Thanks for your kind words, Jennifer <3
Lashaan Balasingam @ Bookidote
Every person who has read this has reiterated how good it turned out. I’m glad to hear that you saw a reason for the alternating POVs, even if the short chapters wasn’t as compelling as longer ones could’ve been. Great review, Darina! 😀
Darina
Thanks! It did turn out really good but I still would’ve preferred longer chapters. Hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it!
R A I N
This book is high on my list of books to read by the end of this year and your review just made me wanna go there faster! LOVED IT! You write very engagingly, Darina. <3
Darina
Ah thank you so much, Rain! You should definitely read this one, you won’t be disappointed!
Marina_Books of Magic
Oh I can’t wait to read this one, it’s been on my list forever! Beautiful review! <3
Darina
Thanks, Marina! I hope you enjoy it, I personally loved it 🙂
Priyasha
Its such an amazing book 🤭