Reviews

Toda a Luz que Não Podemos Ver by Anthony Doerr

kccool02's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

I really liked this book! It was slow to start because I think the reading level is above the thrillers and summer reads I have most recently read, but it was written beautifully and I loved the plot and the characters. Really liked the historical setting as well.

kathybc123's review against another edition

5.0

One of the best historical novels I've ever read. It's an amazing story so beautifully told. (It should have won the National Book Award.)

helenalinnea's review against another edition

4.0

73/100

carms123's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

wwrawson's review against another edition

5.0

Loved it! One of those books that I'm sorry is over because I'll never get to read it for the first time again.

witchybooknerd16's review against another edition

5.0

(Spoiler-free review.)

This book.
OH. MY. GOD. This. Book.

This requires a more thoughtful review than what I normally share, so bear with me while I pull on the Serious Hat.

bedsidebooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

lyndamr's review against another edition

4.0

Oh, what a lovely read! Richly written and a wonderful story, I had a hard time putting this one down.

ayjay3's review against another edition

4.0

A bit confusing going backwards and forwards with dates, unnecessarily in my view, just a gimmick. Drags a bit in the third quarter, but otherwise quite an interesting read.

brainbowie's review against another edition

2.0

Perhaps my book preferences are not as clear-cut as I thought; this one has all of the makings of books I usually really like - psychological, character-driven - but somehow I just couldn't get into this. Instead those features I tend to like struck me as slow and boring this time. I couldn't connect with the characters. The writing was good, but in a sort of detached way such that I objectively recognized it as well-written, but it didn't emotionally land for me. I also think I'm maybe very picky with WWII novels. They are very hard to do well. It seems like sometimes authors have a tendency to choose WWII as a setting for their story because it was a highly dramatic period in time and they rely on that drama to carry their story, which often ends up feeling like a disservice both to the story and to the history. However, given the accolades this book has received, and the pieces of depth I see the author was going for, I might need to revisit this book again at some point and see if it lands differently for me next time.