A review by mulhollen
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I greatly enjoyed this book. ATLWCS is an interesting perspective of World War 2 that I have not read much; children caught in the war, both victims of their countries choices, and the helplessness of their situations. The short chapters made this book an easy page turner. Just one more chapter.. 

I loved the invisible string of radio signals that tie together the two main characters throughout their entire lives. Two opposite sides in the war but united together by the incredible technology of radio. 

I appreciated that the ending of the book brought out all the different horrors of the war; ptsd, loved ones never being found, or dying a pointless death like countless others in the war. Like Werner’s death. He spent his entire short life wanting to escape the mines, just to die from one. 

Overall the book was written wonderfully and evoked many different human experiences. I especially loved Marie-Laure chapters where we ‘see’ how she views the world around her. I cannot imagine the research that went into this book to deliver such detailed accounts. 

I’d gladly read again! 
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