Shandi Sturgill

 All the Light We Cannot See is an award winning Historical Fiction novel by Anthony Doerr. It tells the story of a young French girl named Marie-Laure and a young German boy named Werner. As World War II rages on, their lives drastically change and ultimately collide. Marie-Laure and her father must seek refuge in Saint-Malo, meanwhile Werner is swept into the Hitler youth and the Nazi party. A mysterious gem – called the Sea of Flames, said to bring immortality and destruction to its possessor- impacts both of these young people’s lives.

This was a wonderful read. Doerr does a masterful job of melding together elements of history, philosophy, and action. I enjoyed how Doerr used the alternating time lines to show the implications of past actions on the future, and to build suspense. The plot was at times complex but Doerr did an excellent job at folding together Marie-Laure, Werner, and von Rumpel’s stories. My biggest complaint about the plot is that the confrontation between these three ends too neatly.

An intriguing part of this book is its characters. Doerr has an interesting way of developing his characters. Marie-Laure, Werner, and von Rumpel have their points of view articulated by a third person narrator. This allows the readers to get into their heads. We see Marie- Laure’s bravery, Werner’s disillusionment regarding the Nazi party, and von Rumpel’s ruthless quest for immortality. Though they are not as developed, Doerr eandears the minor characters to readers; this is particularly true of Fredrick, Etienne , and Jutta. Marie- Laure was such a wonderful character, and for me the star of the story. It was moving to see her adapt to losing her sight, and becoming more independent and resourceful.

This is a brilliant book, and it is clear to see why it won the Pulitzer Prize. The volume of it, and the timeline that jumps between the years may seem daunting, but don’t be intimidated. If you love Historical Fiction, definitely pick up this beautiful and moving story.