Review: All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anthony Doerr's story of the experiences of a young German soldier and a blind French girl is nuanced, multi-layered; it is told with deft and skillful prose. These two individuals have their own views of the war, shaped by their circumstances, as they each survive the onslaught of social and political turmoil in their separate countries. In fact, for most of the novel, these two do not even meet. This is not a romance novel, though romance is involved; this is not a retelling of World War II's strategies and outcomes, though that is the background. This is a poignant tale of the complexity of our human existence, our connections with others. The German soldier is not evil. The blind girl is not wise. It is a soulful dance of life in all its shades of gray.

I was advised once that Hitler engaged the youth of his country at a time when people were hungry, and his promise of a chicken in every pot was remarkably effective. This approach is a part of the story, and it will give you an insight into the machinery of war.

This novel will dispell any Hollywood formulaic preconception you might have had.

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