All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Title: All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year of Publication: 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1476746586

Summary

Main Plot & Characters

All the Light We Cannot See follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German soldier, during World War II.

Their lives intersect in occupied France as Marie-Laure struggles to survive with her family, while Werner is swept into the Nazi war machine.

Their paths converge through the presence of a valuable gem and a secret radio broadcast, each seeking hope amidst devastation.

Key Themes

• War and Innocence: The novel contrasts the innocence of youth with the brutality of war.
• Survival and Sacrifice: Marie-Laure and Werner each make sacrifices in pursuit of resilience and compassion.
• Connection and Humanity: Despite the odds, Marie-Laure and Werner’s connection highlights shared humanity in times of conflict.

Writing Style

Doerr’s writes using multiple perspectives. You get to see what the war does to both Marie-Laure and Werner and view the war from a human perspective.

We follow both characters from early childhood up through their early teenage years and then the story splits timeline and you see them during the war and the consequences it has on their lives.

The chapters are extremely short so it’s easy to get through although the pacing of the story is slow.

Impact of All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2015.

Doerr’s powerful storytelling and historical accuracy have made it a beloved work in contemporary literature.

What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!