All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr | Summary & Analysis

by Book*Sense

All the Light We Cannot A Novel by Anthony Doerr | Summary & Analysis

Anthony Doerr offers a gripping tale of World War II and its aftermath in the National Book Award Finalist novel All the Light We Cannot See. A departure from much of the historical fiction and reported history of the time, the book is an excellent read, well worth the honor heaped upon it. It offers new insights into the effects of that war on those who fought in and lived through it, increasingly valuable as the Greatest Generation passes into history. The connection to real places and events does much to enhance the text’s verisimilitude, allowing it to function as an immersive narrative.

The novel relates the interwoven stories of the blind Marie-Laure LeBlanc, the orphaned and diminutive Werner Pfennig and others as they are brought into the globe-spanning conflict that was the Second World War. The plot centers but does not focus upon the fate of the Sea of Flames Diamond in the conflict, with several characters united by it and others tied to them. Although the diamond drives much of the narrative action, though, the focus upon the “common” folk of the war amid the turbulence and chaos makes for an almost intimate, decidedly human story not common among the many tales of that massive war.

This companion to All the Light We Cannot See also includes the
• Book Review
• Story Setting Analysis
• Story elements you may have missed as we decipher the novel
• Clear, concise description and analysis of personalities
• Summary of the text, with some analytical comments interspersed
• Discussion & Analysis of Themes, Symbols…
• And Much More!

This Analysis of the novel fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.

Genres: Audiobook, Book Club

109 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2014

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this time in History. The story simply told is about a German boy with a skills beyond his years, a blind French girl, a diamond, and WW2. What will always stay with me is the imagery.I could clearly picture the hand made buildings that were created, I could imagine the streets and smell the sea air. Not many writers can do that for me.
Some of the metaphors and images were a little over the top and the ending leaves you with some questions only to be answered in your imagination.
But the story worked for me. I didnt mind the jumping back and forth in time and I didnt mind the parallel story lines between the boy and girl.
Yes it was sad and evocative and the colliding of the stories with the link from the past was all very neat but it still took me by surprise.
It danced and sang for me and created wonderful images in my minds eye.
Worth a read.

[Arthur Okun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will live with me for a long time.The novel has so many themes--Love for a father and for a daughter.
And how this love transfer through generations.
It is seeing through a blind girl-Marie-Laure LeBlanc she was sixteen when her father taught how to see what she
could not.
Werner Pfennig had an amazing talent-to understand the mechanics and the the receptions of radio.
What war had caused these two young people miles apart had lived it.

[Marian Baldy · Rating 1 out of 5]

another disappointment

I was curious about these little books that tagalong with novels such as "all the light we cannot see@" because I thought I could learn something from them. I was wrong. This this one is insultingly simplistic, somewhat pompous, and just plain annoying. I'm a retard college professor and spent three years reading student papers. This book reminds me of something written by a D- undergraduate.

[Bill Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/13/2017

[Melissa Weedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the characters. Such a testimony to the time of WW 2 and what people endured. Great read

[J Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than I ever knew...

I have always felt broken when I hear of World War ll and the dark cloud that hanged over the earth as mankind endured the crucial clutches of diverse diseases, hunger and other great pains.

This Summary & Analysis really pulled my heart and mind in a state of deep meditation. I agree this companion is fitting, accurate and captures the complete motive of the author. Although I've never read the original text I felt satisfied and adequately sufficed by the contents outlined here. The characters were real and the imageries were languished with a mixture of scenes, some not so good.

Interesting read for history fans, students and teachers.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This summary and analysis book is a good addition to "All the Light We Cannot See." It starts with introductions, a review, a plot analysis, and a character list. Further along, you get brief summaries of each. In the end, you get conversation starters with questions about the characters, themes, perspectives, etc. Personally, I think the ending is the most helpful part because these questions help create a better understanding of the novel.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A friend mailed it to me, and I almost never put it down until I was finished.

[Rikka Filkins bos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Those wanting a classic crappy ending or some sort of great crescendo might be disappointed as they won’t find it here. What readers will find, though, is poignant reality (albeit filtered and condensed), fading photos of what was, what couldn’t be, and what will, inevitably, come again.

[Buckeyebet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. The author brought the characters to life and induced empathy. I could visualize the scenes.

[TomiR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book. I read six parts, then decided to put it down and read something that I would really enjoy.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the writing and the theme. Difficult subjects and events are handled deftly. Ending is both happy & sad. Recommend.

[Beverley Faulder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart wrenching..

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Sharon Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this book and found it even better than the first time I read it many years ago. Looking forward to the movie coming out next week!

[Nandini Chaudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourites, loved it.

[Christine N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving and very engaging

[Greynomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. The ending was humbug

[Natalia Wobst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several compelling character studies set in the dark context of WWII. Still here there is light, amid unbelievable loss. The novel takes some unexpected turns.

[Shalon Rice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very hard for me to follow this book and get into it

[Mike Henthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read.

[Deborah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant story of a devoted, loving father during WWII, and his ingenious efforts to keep his blind daughter free of fear, and at the same time, provide her with valuable life skills. Concurrently, there is a tale of a young boy, an orphan, in Germany, who is innocently being groomed by Hitler's brain washing regime to target and kill the enemy. These two good souls intersect at a timely moment. This is a riveting story, filled with a teetering balance of joy and pain.

[William C Stringer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed read

I was greatly disappointed with the depth of this summary and analysis. It was much more summary. The section titles; I.e. motifs, themes, etc., are each a page and a half at most. This book is good for someone with only fifteen minutes to spare and desiring a capsule of what is truly a great book. For everyone else, stick with the real thing.

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, time, and that's how you learn the story and how the pieces fit together. I completely enjoyed reading this book

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except it could have ended maybe five pages sooner. To me there was a more natural stopping place than where the book actually did stop

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I really wanted to know how the characters came through the deprivations of WWII and what happened to the stone.

I was a little disappointed in the ending. I was delighted to find out what happened to the characters after so many years, but I felt the book fizzled to a close.

[Chel Zimpleman-ploss]

It has started off a little boring, but I suppose if you enjoy war novels it's perfectly fine. I can watch a war movie but reading to me is dreadful.

The story is finally coming together as a story, going back in time to when Marie is just six years old & is beginning to lose her sight.

[Joyce Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow in the beginning, but soon it becomes an intriguing tale of a blind girl and her father during World War II. A secondary story of a young electronics genius and his sister emerges and the story keeps you interested to the end.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WWII from the perspectives of two young lives - German & French. So beautifully written.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and terribly sad at the same time.

[Tim Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blind French girl, a young German soldier, a fabulous diamond, WWII, plenty of suspense. The storytelling is good, language good, characters affecting. Not great, but good.