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A review by lilandraws
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
emotional
reflective
sad
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
The amount of times I had to close the book and just cry about it: [redacted]. This hit different in the middle of the pandemic, honestly, I don't think I'd have the same reaction to Marie-Laure's descriptions of the outside world if it weren't for the fact that I haven't gone out in a year. Anyway. If you were to tell me a year ago that I'd root for a Nazi white haired sad boy, I would look at you funny but now ????
Doerr wrote the experiences of the main characters so elegantly and intricately that I was invested in their hobbies and interests like yes, Werner, tell me more about radios and soundwaves, yes, Marie, tell me more about mollusks. The way Marie-Laure described things were amazing and I might even prefer it to the regular way of describing things. Doerr also handled the topics of death and war so delicately; making us feel for and understand the Germany's side of the war but not diminishing the atrocities they committed. Werner is a prime example of compliance and I'm glad that he chose his own path in the end.
All of the characters are lovable and well-rounded, I loved them all so much.
Doerr wrote the experiences of the main characters so elegantly and intricately that I was invested in their hobbies and interests like yes, Werner, tell me more about radios and soundwaves, yes, Marie, tell me more about mollusks. The way Marie-Laure described things were amazing and I might even prefer it to the regular way of describing things. Doerr also handled the topics of death and war so delicately; making us feel for and understand the Germany's side of the war but not diminishing the atrocities they committed. Werner is a prime example of compliance and I'm glad that he chose his own path in the end.
All of the characters are lovable and well-rounded, I loved them all so much.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Grief, and Stalking