Review: All the Light We Cannot See

Review by Margo

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr tells the parallel stories of a blind French girl and a German boy trying to survive the devastation and horrors of World War II.

When Marie-Laurie loses her sight at the age of six her father builds her a miniature of the neighborhood to help her navigate the streets. When the Nazi’s move into Paris she and her father escape to the seaside home of a relative, taking with them a valuable item from the museum where her father works as a locksmith. After her father’s arrest, Marie-Laurie begins to work for the resistance.

Meanwhile Werner, a young German orphan finds escape from his dismal life by building and repairing radios, a hobby that draws the interest of the Hitler Youth. He finds himself assigned to track the resistance. When he is assigned to Saint-Malo, the town where Marie-Laurie has taken refuge their live collide.

The writing is beautiful, and the alternating points of view and settings help to increase tension. Each character is well developed, allowing the reader to empathize with both characters. While this is a book set in the horror of World War II, it is also a book about bravery and goodness.

This novel was published in 2014 and spent 130 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, as well as winning a Pulitzer. It has been reported that Netflix is interested in a televised adaptation and I can’t wait!

Read the ebook on Overdrive. Read the audiobook on Overdrive.

Here is a short presentation from the author about All the Light We Cannot See.