A review by ktbeth143
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I felt physically I’ll after finishing it. I’m amazed at how an author can tie up all the loose ends of a complex story and yet no one gets a happy ending…and how it’s understandable and necessary.

Have you ever read a book that makes you consider changing the entire way you rate books?
5 star reads for me are books where I wouldn’t change a thing, and normally that means if a character I like dies I give it a 4.75, but after really processing this story, I hate to say it, but Werner’s death was necessary. So I wouldn’t change it as much as I wanted every one to have a happy ending.


This story is emotionally gripping. And it shows the complexity of people dragged into war. Ultimately it left me feeling like anyone who grew up in Europe in the 1940s was gyped of a decent life. This book details how WW2 affected the youth who lived through it. 

I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, but also to anyone who likes good stories. Be warned though, you will not feel okay while reading it. 

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