Reviews

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

ndeniseg105's review against another edition

3.0

The writing of this book was beautiful. I really loved all of the characters. The plot just didn't do it for me. Very predictable. This book wasn't for me, but I see why others enjoy it.

joanaramosbarros's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

kirstenrose22's review against another edition

3.0

It was good, but not great. I found the super-short alternating chapters to be a really irritating structure, although it did mean that eventually the plot started to zip along. But the time shifts were irritating too - just added to the confusion of when and where we were....

lucyreadsss's review against another edition

5.0

This has been my favourite read of 2024 so far and I would even go so far to put it on my list of favourite books of all time so far - yes it's that good. I got recommended this book on holiday a few years ago (I think it was in London Waterstones, however I am not fully sure) by one of the employees of the bookshop, so I brought it. I also heard from one of my bookstagram friends that it was a good book, so that made me want to read it even more. Finally getting round to reading it years later, I definitely did not regret it.

I don't usually often read historical fiction novels, but this one I really enjoyed. I liked the short chapters that flicked between the POVs of the two main characters as it allowed me to see the thoughts and feelings of both of them. I also found the very contrasting characters intriguing - a blind French girl and a young German boy set within the war. The way that it shifted through time, showing them growing up and then when they were young adults was well done.

This book was deeply emotional too, to see the long distance connection slowly form between the characters who are an unlikely pair due to their backgrounds being on opposite sides of the war. This shows us that there is hope for connections and reconciliation within war and that it is not simply black and white between sides.

The writing was beautiful, with little hints and symbols imbedded throughout and I really felt a connection form to the characters, I didn't want anything to happen to them. It also felt very real, very well researched and crafted.

Overall, I loved this book it is one that I will not soon forget but will stay within and I would recommend as it is not just an emotional experience but an enlightening one too.

teenala's review

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

em010110100's review against another edition

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

the characters were so beautifully entwined with such beautiful stories that i don’t think i will ever forget them.

luna_granger's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

 Set in 1935-45, the story is of a radio in Germany and a stone in France and how they shaped the lives of people 

arojo1's review against another edition

3.0

I really liked the beginning and the end, but I thought the middle of the book was a jumble of confusion. The characters, the time jumps, I had a hard time finding motivation to keep reading during the couple hundred pages in the middle. I listened to this on audiobook so I’m wondering if that is the problem? This book is also a slow read. I can’t imagine the number of research hours it must have taken to amass the amount of facts present in the book.

kaylielovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

I cried several times over the time I read this book. The world may never look the same to me after beginning to comprehend Doerr's writing.

Spoilers ahead,


My heart has been thoroughly broken after Werner's death, this is the first book about the holocaust that I have read, and has set the standards high for those to come. I believe a book that makes someone feel something and question their existence is worth reading. This book has checked both boxes thoroughly, my reason for the review I am making. Besides that, Doerr's descriptions of emotions and objects are slightly mind-blowing. I recommend anyone who is interested in a little emotional rollercoaster and another view of the holocaust, to read this book.

bopowell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-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