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emromc's review
4.0
Doerr's grasp of the English language in this memoir is incredible. I love his prose-he captures the life and wonder of his year living in Rome perfectly. He is sent to Rome for a year to write; the way is paid completely; apartment, food...everything is covered in this prestigious award he receives. His wife gives birth to twin sons just days before he finds out, and so he takes his infant sons with him. Adjusting to a brand new city, new language, and new fatherhood is quite the adventure, and Doerr makes his experiences very personal. It's a beautiful picture of Rome, and of the author's thoughts and memories. A quick read, but worth it just to enjoy a master of word choice. Sometimes I felt that he overdid it a little, but most of his language usage is really well done.
abbywdan's review
5.0
If you’ve ever been to Rome, or had twins, or not been to Rome, or had not twins, or have no children at all, and you exist in this world built on top of infinite histories of the world and the way we do things and think about life, you should read this book. It is a real pleasure to read (or in my case, listen to). Having been to Rome (once, 20 years ago, literally 20, in the year 2000, as a high schooler) and as a parent, it was extra wonderful, but those aren’t requirements. There is so much more here.
Also: remember going places?
Also: remember going places?
rayanne_liu24's review
5.0
a perfect book to read as you visit rome for the first time, captures the sense of awe in its intricate history
deecreatenola's review against another edition
3.0
Hard to rate. The writing is, of course, beautiful. Doerr knows how to put a sentence together. And you see in this book that he really works at that. Writing for him is no task to be finished. Done is not better than perfect for him. I applaud that in some respects, but I found myself wanting more in this memoir.
How did he get to a place in life where (a) he was nominated anonymously for this year-long fellowship in Rome and (b) he has the luxury to pick up and do that and (c) while there labor over words such that in one year's time he finishes a single short story?
I didn't know of Doerr before All the Light We Cannot See, so maybe his books were big enough best sellers that this was not a big lift. Maybe his wife had a job that supported his writing up to this point, but we know so little of her even though she is there throughout the book.
That, in fact, is my biggest complaint. Doerr's wife Shauna is never fleshed out. She is a cardboard cutout of a wife, always in the background taking care of the children. Yes, he does, too, but we learn nothing about Shauna. Did she have a career she left behind? What does she like to do? What are their interactions like? Did they - in their insomnia and twins-fueled delirium argue, disagree, or have any kind of interaction where we can see Shauna's expression? The only real sense I get of her is when she becomes ill from exhaustion and dehydration.
A little backstory would've helped. Did they always live in Boise? What led up to this?
I do have a better sense of Rome. The sights, the smells, the layout, the beauty and the grit. I have a better idea of how the hill towns surround Rome. Life in an Italian city, all of its love of living along with the challenges. You feel life here, life well lived.
How did he get to a place in life where (a) he was nominated anonymously for this year-long fellowship in Rome and (b) he has the luxury to pick up and do that and (c) while there labor over words such that in one year's time he finishes a single short story?
I didn't know of Doerr before All the Light We Cannot See, so maybe his books were big enough best sellers that this was not a big lift. Maybe his wife had a job that supported his writing up to this point, but we know so little of her even though she is there throughout the book.
That, in fact, is my biggest complaint. Doerr's wife Shauna is never fleshed out. She is a cardboard cutout of a wife, always in the background taking care of the children. Yes, he does, too, but we learn nothing about Shauna. Did she have a career she left behind? What does she like to do? What are their interactions like? Did they - in their insomnia and twins-fueled delirium argue, disagree, or have any kind of interaction where we can see Shauna's expression? The only real sense I get of her is when she becomes ill from exhaustion and dehydration.
A little backstory would've helped. Did they always live in Boise? What led up to this?
I do have a better sense of Rome. The sights, the smells, the layout, the beauty and the grit. I have a better idea of how the hill towns surround Rome. Life in an Italian city, all of its love of living along with the challenges. You feel life here, life well lived.
aprilalwayswithabook's review
3.0
As a memoir I found it plodding and I listened to the audio, but there were so many beautifully crafted sentences that I am wont to buy a used copy so I can go back and underline sentences that spoke to me. This was a collection of such sentences, but as a whole I didn't find that they made a great book.
tufriel's review
3.0
As much as the writer tried to explore Rome, assimilate into the Roman way of life and live in the moment (heading for St Peter’s Basilica when a new pope was elected), it felt like he didn’t really want to go to Rome and couldn’t wait to go home once he arrived. And that longing leached into his writing and marred the experience.
lassie90's review
4.0
I listened to this memoir on audiobook, read by the author. I felt the need to increase the speed of Doerr's melancholy voice, after which I enjoyed the audio greatly.
I can see how the parts about the twins could distract for some people, but anyone who has tried to travel with children can understand and smile when he recounts the struggles.
After reading the descriptions of life in each season, I felt as though I had traveled to Rome. Isn't that what we all want to feel after reading a book like this one?
I can see how the parts about the twins could distract for some people, but anyone who has tried to travel with children can understand and smile when he recounts the struggles.
After reading the descriptions of life in each season, I felt as though I had traveled to Rome. Isn't that what we all want to feel after reading a book like this one?
thegillbird's review
4.0
This book's main topics are topics I have almost no interest in reading about- parenting, Catholicism, the development of young children, insomnia, Italian history.
And yet while reading, I had to keep asking myself "why am I enjoying this book so much??" I think the answer is clear; Anthony Doerr's writing is so beautiful to read that the topic isn't all that important. He can write about a topic that (on the surface at least) holds no importance for me and yet I'm captivated. His poetic, detail- oriented descriptions hold the reader's interest and are thoroughly enjoyable.
And yet while reading, I had to keep asking myself "why am I enjoying this book so much??" I think the answer is clear; Anthony Doerr's writing is so beautiful to read that the topic isn't all that important. He can write about a topic that (on the surface at least) holds no importance for me and yet I'm captivated. His poetic, detail- oriented descriptions hold the reader's interest and are thoroughly enjoyable.
sbelasco40's review
5.0
This is a beautiful book. Italy has been my dream place to go for a long time, but never Rome in particular - after reading this I don't know how I could justify not going. Doerr's language is that of an overwhelmed poet, lyrical and lovely and sharp, all sense memories and breathing it in. I loved it.
modeislodis's review
4.0
Some of these sentences made me put the book down to savor his writing. "An hour after dawn it begins to snow. It tinkles on the branches and woodpile like shavings of glass." "The world is not a pageant: beauty is as unquantifiable as love. Geography is not something that can be ranked."
Really lovely book. A bit heady, but no harm done.
Really lovely book. A bit heady, but no harm done.