Some have said "The best novel I've ever read." The New Your Times Book Review 2014 called it one of the 10 best books. It was a 'National Book Award' finalist. Anthony Doerr's All The Light We Cannot See is certainly a fine book with a great plot and superb writing.
Most of the action takes place in WWII but part of it's genius is following some characters until 2014. By extending the time that long after the war it provokes reflection on the lingering effects of the war on those who live through it.
Quite a long book, at 530 pages, it felt like a quick read for two reasons. The first reason is that the story is compelling and the second is that the prose rolls easily along with great images and reflections.
A friend who read it via audio books found that the author's technique of non-linear time sequences made it a bit difficult to follow. She found it necessary to concentrate on the dates given at the beginning of the chapters. In fact the book opens 7 August 1944 but a few pages later is 1934 and this juxtaposition of dates/times continues throughout the book.
This is a book that, after resting on the shelf for sometime, could profitably be reread.
1 comment:
Read it on your recommendation. I really enjoyed it! Thank you for the nudge.
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