Fresh perspectives in this retelling of WWII in occupied France - outside of Paris for once!

All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

Scribner, May 6, 2014, 560 pages

With the release of Netflix series of the same name, the race was on to read this 500-pager before spoilers were inevitable. I bought this book as a 'blind date' from a bookstore in Boston's Back Bay (Posman Books which is a chain but I still love it for its indy vibes), which is fitting given our heroine is blind. A blind date is a brown-paper wrapped book with small clues about the package inside. It's a fun surprise way to let others choose your reading from time to time. Luckily, this had been on my list for a while and I was finally able to settle in.

I found this novel to be actually perfect and the true definition of exquisite.Though many of the outcomes are sad, and of course they would be given the subject matter, I would not change them at all. This is definitely worth a read - don’t settle for the series on Netflix, which takes significant liberties and changes much of the course of the story which cannot compare with Doerr's work. In fact, it deviates so much I was incredibly frustrated watching, as I believed Doerr's original to be so masterful.

I was intrigued to read a World War II story that didn’t center around a concentration camp, and I was deeply moved by the plight of those left behind. I’m bothered more than I realized I would be at the endings for some of the characters, and isn’t that a sign of greatness? Invested and I wasn’t even aware of my falling in love! Almost immediately, I began lamenting the fact that I finished this novel and was missing these colorful characters even before the last word was read. (Looking at you Etienne!) I especially missed Werner, believe it or not, and Doerr uses him to shed new light on what it meant to be a Nazi conscripted for service. This was a fascinating perspective for me to contemplate, given this is a genre I read quite a bit of. And of course, the continual reference to literature within literature sings to my soul!

For those who enjoy a "If you liked ____, read this" recommendation, this title reminded me of Ursula Hegi's Stones from the River as it explores not those doomed to a concentration camp, but those that must bear witness to the atrocities and the uncertainties surrounding them. For those that enjoy the revolutionary-type characters during this time period, be sure to check to Jojo Moyes The Girl You Left Behind, Kate Quinn's The Alice Network, and Kristin Hannah's fantastic The Nightingale. Each of these novels showcase strong women and the complexities of female relationships. If you've already read any of these titles, including All the Light We Cannot See, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Happy Reading!