All the Light We cannot see - don't watch, read!

 

 

It's on Netflix now: The story of two young people caught up in the Second World War. And of course, it's instantly become super popular. BUT: you should read the book! And here's why ... (no spoilers!)

 

Movie vs. Book

First of all, I don't really want to get into a comparison between the movie and the novel. This is not what this blog is about. So, if you do want to watch the movie, go right ahead - just do so after you read the book :-) For what reason? I've made the experience over the years that once I watch a film and then start the book, all I see before my mind's eye are the scenes from the screen: all the characters, the setting, all of it comes just straight from Hollywood. There is hardly any room left for one's own imagination. 

The most striking example happened when I wanted to read The Lord of the Rings. This was a few years after I saw the blockbuster (and loved it). There was no way for me to get the screen pictures out of my head. Gandalf was simply this great character smoking his pipe - played by the actor Ian McKellen. Sadly, it actually made be stop reading.

As far as everyone I know, who also enjoys reading, they all feel the same: Read first, then watch. 

All the Light We cannot see - the Plot

Marie-Laure resides in Paris alongside her father, who serves as the custodian of the numerous locks at the nearby Museum of Natural History. At the age of six, Marie-Laure loses her sight, prompting her father to construct an intricate miniature replica of their surroundings. This tactile model enables her to memorize the layout and find her way home by touch. When she turns twelve, the Nazi occupation forces them to flee Paris for the fortified enclave of Saint-Malo, where her reclusive great uncle resides in a towering seaside dwelling. Accompanying them is a precious and perilous jewel, possibly the museum's most prized possession.

In a mining town in Germany, Werner, an orphan, grows up alongside his younger sister. Their fascination with a rudimentary radio they discover shapes Werner's expertise in building and repairing these vital devices. This skill leads him to a harsh Hitler Youth academy and a subsequent assignment to track the Resistance. As Werner becomes increasingly conscious of the human toll exacted by his intelligence, he embarks on a journey through the heart of the war, ultimately converging with Marie-Laure's story in Saint-Malo.

 

Reasons to Read

Number 1 on this are the two main characters, Werner and Marie-Laure, who are all but so likeable and very special in their own way. And this hold true in spite Werner being part of the Nazi-force. As a reader I felt for them both, rooted for them, hoped and feared with them, struggled with them. They basically pulled me into their story.

The second reason as to why you should read All the Light We cannot see is because of the author's unique and supreme writing style. I find it hard to put into words, but its easy going without being blunt, it tackles the big issues and big emotions without being corny, it takes places in one of the most written about periods of human history without being cliche or outworn.

Thirdly, the topic of two characters entangled in the chaos of the Second World War, which in itself belongs to one of the most fascinating topics people enjoy diving into, brings suspense, powerful moments, terror and struggle, interpersonal bonding, hope, and so much more - just everything a reader longs for.

At this point I'd like to quote the San Francisco Chronicle on All the Light We cannot see, which put it so pointed: "Doerr’s stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

 

For Fans of

All the Light We cannot see has won various awards and became a bestseller quite quickly. If you enjoyed novels such as Where the Crawdads Sing, To Kill a Mockingsbird, The Midnight Raven or Wolf Totem, this book by Doerr will be your next good read!