Title: All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical Fiction
Destinations: France, Germany

I finished this book while on a plan it was definitely the worst place you could ever finish this book. I cried straight for the last 50 pages. So as a PSA to all future readers of this book, DO NOT read it on a plane.

All the Light We Cannot See is not a plot driven novel. It is character driven and what entices you to keep reading are the back and forward time jumps. The two main characters lead separate lives that are entwined in a way that seems simple but is deeper than anything they could imagine.

The best part of this book is the way Anthony Doerr writes. The main female character is blind and as you are reading from her point of view you begin to feel that you are blind yourself. You feel the darkness and the fear, but you also feel your other senses being heightened and the beauty the cames with having your other 5 senses make amends.

When Doerr writes from the male's point of view you feel as though you are a confused adolescent boy caught on the brink of either complying with or rebelling against your superiors. This internal battle rattles him for the entire novel. In the end when he finally makes the decision about who he wants to be, it will have been the best decision he ever could have made.

This novel takes place during WWII and vividly paints the fear that came to all the citizens of France as well as those of Germany. This was an incredibly tumultuous time and I loved that I was able to experience it from the stand point of a young blind girl and young genius boy.

Definitely take the time to read this beautiful piece!