ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
An intriguing title and one of the most
'addictive' books I've read in a long while. Then again, the first time I read it was when it was first published in 2014... and succumbed once more to it's mysteries and wonderful storytelling a few months ago.
Anthony Doerr weaves the most amazing story about a little French girl who loses her sight when only six years old. Her father builds her a model of their Paris neighbourhood, so she can 'see' it with her fingers and thus find her way around. However, these are troubled times and the Germans occupy Paris, so they move to a small village where Maree-Laure's Great Uncle lives. There are so many side stories... why does the occupation of the little girl's father play such an important part of the story? How come the Great Uncle never leaves his house?
Then there is the young orphan boy in Germany who is fascinated by a crude radio and brilliant at working it and repairing it, making him invaluable to the resistance. Their lives soon become intertwined.
The descriptions of the village, the once magnificent, but now crumbling house, and most of all the characters involved, will stay with you for a very long time. The story has so many layers, yet is very easy to follow. I suspect that this is one book I will reread a few times yet, if only to enjoy the talent of this master story teller.
Published by Harper Collins
Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
National Book Award Finalist
New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Fiction
