Reviews tagging 'Racism'

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

52 reviews

rebekahvldz's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I came to this book with the expectations of a crushing, thrilling tale- a romance between two lovers or friends not fated to end up together amidst a turbulent World War 2 backdrop. I expected heartbreak, insights and a lot of sobbing a la Book Thief. This absolutely was a romance book but not between people- rather it was two characters who fell in love with everything and everyone around them, who would do anything to preserve the life they lived so dearly in the countries they were loyal to. It was interesting to see the contrast between what that meant for both characters and both of them did end up breaking my heart in small ways. But there was no fanfare finale, no resolution to the two particular storylines that suggested the story was moving forward. It was kind of worse in a way, because it lacked those. I still loved the book- , the writing was poetic and enthralling, the characters were passionate, curious and dedicated and made me love the things they did but I will say there was no major plot here. It was more a study of two characters, an exploitation of their passions and how that interacted with the impending war but again no grand sweeping story. It was still beautiful, of course and I did enjoy it but I was still waiting for the story to start at page 450. Other than me turning the pages, I would’ve had no indication that the story was moving forward. And each chapter spends only a couple pages with either character so you don’t really get to sink your teeth in, despite the 527 pages. I thought it was worth the read but I deeply wish I had come with no preconceived notions- I might have enjoyed it more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and War

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Excrement, and Death of parent

breewee's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I didn’t realize it took place during WWII (I usually avoid those) and found it to be a very interesting angle. I enjoyed the different POV style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Murder

maxgdy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

weirdolympics's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this has actually broken me i don’t know how i will recover 

the slow pacing was so worth it i got attached and the last 100 pages happened and ehdbdvfbxbx

maybe i’ll write a proper review when my emotions calm down

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Minor: Genocide and Racism

letsreaddrew's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A magical story set in WWII France about a blind French girl navigating her way through life in war torn France, and a German boy navigating his way through being a child soldier in the Wehrmacht with a gift for understanding radios and the dangers they face that lead them to crossing paths.... It's one is them great WWII hf books out there.... Very easy to read told in small chapters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Murder, Abandonment, and War

janan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Moderate: Blood and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lettersinthemargins's review against another edition

The bleakness of the text is obvious considering it is a WW2 novel. However, the characters did not stick as much as other works I've read in this genre. Even a book as popular as The Book Theif. The women characters serve to further the male character's story. And Marie Laurie's disability narrative felt over the top. A few of the Nazi narrative details felt a little sensationalised and devoid of empathetic condemnation. Ultimately, couldn't get beyond the second half because it felt like too much effort for nothing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment

aaryan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

lilandraws's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The amount of times I had to close the book and just cry about it: [redacted]. This hit different in the middle of the pandemic, honestly, I don't think I'd have the same reaction to Marie-Laure's descriptions of the outside world if it weren't for the fact that I haven't gone out in a year. Anyway. If you were to tell me a year ago that I'd root for a Nazi white haired sad boy, I would look at you funny but now ???? 

Doerr wrote the experiences of the main characters so elegantly and intricately that I was invested in their hobbies and interests like yes, Werner, tell me more about radios and soundwaves, yes, Marie, tell me more about mollusks. The way Marie-Laure described things were amazing and I might even prefer it to the regular way of describing things. Doerr also handled the topics of death and war so delicately; making us feel for and understand the Germany's side of the war but not diminishing the atrocities they committed. Werner is a prime example of compliance and I'm glad that he chose his own path in the end.

All of the characters are lovable and well-rounded, I loved them all so much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Grief, and Stalking

noshelf_control's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, and Racism

Minor: Rape and Terminal illness