121 pages • 4 hours read
All the Light We Cannot See
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Book Brief
544
Novel • Fiction
France, Germany • 1940s
2014
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
All the Light We Cannot See alternates between the lives of Marie-Laure Leblanc, a blind girl living in Paris, and Werner Pfennig, a German boy joining the Nazi military to escape a mining town. As they become trapped in the besieged city of Saint-Malo in 1944, their histories, marked by resilience and imagination, converge. Their encounter leads to an act of courage that brings redemption and survival amidst war's devastation. This book depicts antisemitism, war, bullying, violence, and sexual assault.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Inspirational
Hopeful
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See is hailed for its lyrical prose and intricate dual narrative structure, exploring the lives of a blind French girl and a German soldier during WWII. While praised for its vivid character development and evocative imagery, some critics find its pacing slow. Overall, it's a poignant, richly detailed novel that resonates deeply.
Who Should Read All the Light We Cannot See?
Readers who appreciate meticulously crafted narratives set during World War II, such as Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, will be captivated by Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See. This novel appeals to those who enjoy richly detailed, character-driven stories intertwining historical events and personal struggles.
544
Novel • Fiction
France, Germany • 1940s
2014
Adult
16+ years
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