Review: All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley from the publisher in return for an honest review*

Marie-Laure has been blind since the age of six. Her father builds a perfect miniature of their Paris neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. But when the Nazis invade, father and daughter flee with a dangerous secret.
Werner is a German orphan, destined to labour in the same mine that claimed his father’s life, until he discovers a knack for engineering. His talent wins him a place at a brutal military academy, but his way out of obscurity is built on suffering.
At the same time, far away in a walled city by the sea, an old man discovers new worlds without ever setting foot outside his home. But all around him, impending danger closes in.

Anthony Doerr was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He has won various awards and prizes for his short stories and works of fiction. Doerr lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and two sons.

I loved the writing. It is easy to connect with all the characters. The stories of both Marie-Laure and Werner growing up while the war is approaching. Seeing the choices made for them or chances given it is easy to see the consequences and all you can hope for is that both stay safe. I did feel Werner was kept a bit on the good side. His only interest being the radios and obviously questioning the actions performed by the Germans during the war. I do think there was space to have Werner understand the German side of the war more. He was a bit to good. Still the loneliness and grief both characters endure in this difficult period jump from the pages taking a grip on your emotion and keep you reading.
Though I prefer a linear time in my stories the going back and forth in time in this book did not bother me. Chapters were closed and new ones started making it obvious in one sentence where and when it was happening.

All The Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Publisher: 4th Estate
Pages: 531
Format: eArc
ISBN-10: 0007548664
ISBN-13: 9780007548668
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