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Just finished All the Light We Cannot See… (self.books)

submitted by Dadbat69

Decided to pick this one up because a) heard so many good things about it and b) it’s been on my TBR for years! Here are my thoughts, and I hope I’m not alone…

Ugh, I wanted to like this one so bad. I will say, I thought the writing was very good and enjoyed the short chapters which helped give it pace for me (I’m a slow reader with a bad attention span).

I thought I finished the book feeling very unsatisfied, while at the same time looking forward to the book to end. I thought the climax of the individual stories fell flat and was hoping for some resolution. For example, in just one sentence of the book we finally hear what happened to Marie-Laure’s dad…and that was it. Moved on like it was nothing.

Even Werner and Marie-Laure lives finally intersecting, only having it last a mere 12 hours before they separate.

Or the stone. I thought there would be more significance to it in the end but…nothing really.

I don’t know, maybe I’m misinterpreting everything, but I just felt super underwhelmed finishing it. Jealous of those who got to enjoy it though!

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[–]TheMedicOwl 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Even Werner and Marie-Laure lives finally intersecting, only having it last a mere 12 hours before they separate.

This was something I really liked, even the sense of dissatisfaction it gave me, because it felt so hauntingly true to life. Just think of all the people we meet whose lives might be intertwined with ours in ways we'll never know. I think that helped to emphasise the futility and the waste of war. So often there is no real ending, just a lingering aftermath inhabited by millions of people who are trying to piece together their lives together in isolation. Lots of authors have tried to hammer the point home in a more didactic way, but it just feels like preaching when they make it so obvious. Instead Doerr just gives us a glimpse of all the possibilities that might have been, then drops the curtain.

[–]oh_such_rhetoric 107 points108 points  (0 children)

I loved it. I didn’t mind that they only met for a short time, it was a very significant moment that you have been seeing building up the entire book.

Also, the insignificance of the stone at the end shows how ridiculous it was that it was considered more valuable than human life. It was put somewhere safe, secret, and special so that it could never cause so much harm again.

[–]seaboardist 145 points146 points  (10 children)

Loved the book … couldn’t make it through a single episode of the TV adaptation. It was like “Hallmark Goes to War.”

Still, sorry for anyone who didn’t enjoy the book … I thought it was remarkable.

[–]Double-Membership271 35 points36 points  (2 children)

Perfect description of the miniseries. I haven’t felt this condescended to by a piece of art in a long time. It goes beyond spoon feeding.

[–]AcreaRising4 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I knew it would be bad the second they cast Mark Ruffalo as the dad. I love him as an actor so much, but it just rubbed me the wrong way to have a Hollywood actor portray this French character. Made me immediately think that it was gonna be super saccharine and inauthentic. Sure enough…

[–]flightless_mouse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I enjoyed the series once I lowered my expectations to about zero. But yikes, some of the dialogue! When we are introduced to Werner’s sister, Jutta, for example, she literally says out loud to Werner “I am your sister” as though we wouldn’t have figured that out. Or at one point Uncle Etienne says “Our duty is to France. The Germans are our enemies . We are the people of France.” What??? Is that a natural thing to say after many years of war?

They also recapped a lot of the plot like TV shows used to do pre-streaming when you’d watch weekly. But you don’t need to recap for bingers!

All that said, Hugh Laurie did look very dapper in his period attire.

[–]SingingPear 18 points19 points  (1 child)

I enjoyed the book somewhat, but the series was a complete cringe as the kids say, good description! :)

[–]AcreaRising4 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Watched an episode and wanted to punch Shawn levy. Awful awful adaption of one of my favorite books and also a truly bad show.

[–]rosiemclean 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I thought the book was ‘just fine’ but needed a good editing (she says, never having written a damn thing) but dear lawd I barely made it through the first ep of the show

[–]CasualAffair 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Loved the book, watched the whole series and hated it. Felt disrespectful to give it the same title when it was totally different. Got really pissed off when Etienne came skidding in on a motorcycle with a machine gun and shot a couple Germans

[–]clairebuoyant1202 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“Hallmark goes to war” - I’m hugging you mentally! That’s the truth.

[–]lushlife_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As i told my book club friend, the series was kitsch. We both enjoyed the book though.

[–]bagelundercouch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol your description. Yeah the book doesn’t translate well to the screen. Prose which I personally thought was fantastically gorgeous on the page does not work in spoken dialogue. I will say however that the series got pretty good in episodes 3/4, where they departed from the book.

[–]paper-trail 74 points75 points  (6 children)

I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Cloud cuckoo land by the same author stuck with me though.

[–]Potential_Carry1898 23 points24 points  (1 child)

Was just about to say this. I prefer Cloud Cuckoo Land by far. Would not guess the books were by the same author if I didn't already know it.

[–]laowildin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've read both of these and didn't realize!

[–]BobaBelly 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Same reaction here! I loved Cloud Cuckoo but didn’t expect to after All the Light.

[–]My_Name_is_Galaxy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I also liked this one better.

[–]trixietravisbrown 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land tonight and although it took me a bit longer to get through, I enjoyed it more, too

[–]jayhawk8 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Came here to say exactly this. I adored Cloud Cuckoo Land (read it first), came back to All The Light with high expectations and just didn’t love it. Not bad by any stretch, but 6/10 vs like 9/10.

[–]EugeneDabz 17 points18 points  (1 child)

This one was just OK. If you liked the short chapters and his writing style you should definitely read his book Cloud Cuckoo Land. It is superior in pretty much every way.

[–]snwlss 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I actually liked All the Light We Cannot See, but I was blown away by Cloud Cuckoo Land. He basically takes a lot of the storytelling elements he uses in the first book and made them better. There are more perspectives and timelines used in Cloud Cuckoo Land, but he connects them in such a way that it keeps the overall story very intriguing.

[–]My_Name_is_Galaxy 33 points34 points  (4 children)

Me too. Typically I’m a big fan of WWII historical fiction so I was expecting to like it very much and was quite surprised when I thought, “Well, that was OK” upon finishing.

[–]elleyk 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Same here. I had it on hold at the library for months. When I finally got it, I felt like I was trudging through some of it to finish before I had to return it. It was so long and I just felt so meh at the end.

[–]ArrivesLate 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I like Alan Furst novels. Looking for new recommendations.

[–]girlhowdy103 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Try the Joe Wilderness novels by John Lawton. They primarily take place post-WWII, but they're similar in terms of the dense, trust-no-one plotting. Lawton's writing is snarkier, though.

[–]ArrivesLate 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!

[–]dawgfan19881 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I loved it. Werner failing to realize that his life really doesn’t belong to him was refreshing take. Being conscripted and essentially a weapon to be used by his masters is a sobering thing but a reality. Marie Laure never finding her father was another very sobering but real experience. People having to move on and rebuild their lives after suffering the horrors of war is in that same light.

[–]Fermifighter 10 points11 points  (4 children)

I liked it but I also spent wayyyyy too long in ophthalmology so I was waiting for the reveal that Werner had oculo-cutaneous albinism giving him a parallel to Anne-Marie’s ophthalmic issues and explaining his fair skin and hair. It was like hearing the first four lines of a limerick again and again and again only for there not to be a rhyme, the author talked about his fair features so often even for a Hitler youth I just KNEW it was coming and it never did. EDIT: oculocutaneous. I left two years ago and my brain has turned to mush.

[–]paper-trail 4 points5 points  (3 children)

Optometrist here and yes I agree.

[–]Fermifighter 6 points7 points  (2 children)

THANK YOU. Talked about it to one of the docs who said she’d read this book and she gave me a very strange look until we established the book she’d read was The Light Between Oceans.

[–]paper-trail 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Ok that is hilarious

[–]Fermifighter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Have you read this book?

Yeah! Were you just waiting for them to say he had albinism?!

…

…

The book about the lighthouse?

…I think we have a disconnect.

[–]bigolemoose 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The entire Sea of Flames plotline was absolutely pointless and did nothing for the story. This book was good in spurts, but ultimately I really felt like something was missing overall.

[–]netflixandquills 16 points17 points  (2 children)

My takeaway from this book is that it was so long and so many of the scenes were repetitive to me. There was a lot that was narratively redundant and saying the same things. I think you could have cut 200 pages and it would have worked better. However I am a read a book in one sitting person. The people I know that have loved it are sometimes more of a pick up and put down reader. So maybe there is something there.

[–]chsd1997 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes!! I’ve always thought it was 200 pages too long.

[–]YakSlothLemon 37 points38 points  (3 children)

I despised this book and have been mystified by the good reviews. I hope fans of the book will come explain why they love it! But it’s always just a little heartening when someone else doesn’t like a book that you really didn’t— it makes you feel like it’s not just you!

I agree that the ending was a bit unsatisfying, I was especially unhappy about how the sister’s story ended.

[–]AcreaRising4 15 points16 points  (2 children)

i found it to be really gripping how they showed two compelling characters who we get invested in, living completely different lives, and eventually crossing paths in a major, but also minor way.

Just really hit me as a meaningful human connection despite how short their time together was.

[–]Smartnership 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I found it to be so moving showing two compelling who we get invested in living

I’m not sure what this means

[–]AcreaRising4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

characters*

It was early, forgive me. I rewrote the first paragraph so it’s a little more understandable. Not my best work lmao

[–]Grace_Omega 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’ve tried to get into this and only made it a few chapters. Really didn’t like the writing.

[–]Copperheadmedusa 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Just finished it too! Utterly overrated and frankly I can’t believe it won a Pulitzer. Boring, predictable characters, a mysterious gemstone plot that goes nowhere, thematic ideas over-explained and beaten over our heads again and again, and an ending that was so unsatisfying

[–]standswithpencil 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really didn't like how Werner had to die at the end with the landmine. Like no matter what, the author decided this character would die regardless of the circumstances and his character. Yes he was sick and delirious, but his plot line felt railroaded to the point that the reading experience ended for me

[–]DifferenceUpper829 4 points5 points  (0 children)

when I first read I was also pissed that their interaction was so short but I grew to appreciate it. it shows how our paths can cross at some point and be meaningful. I really liked it wven though I thought we were going to see more of them. To me, this was a special moment, it was the climax of the story

[–]pinkpitbullmama 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I didn’t like this one either!

[–]CatWithAPen 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I actually really liked this book, although I do remember a few things being annoyingly unresolved. What I think really sells this book and why it was so well regarded when it came out though is the craftsmanship in the writing, particularly in the non-visual descriptions when Doerr is writing from Marie-Laure’s perspective. I agree with everyone saying that the miniseries was a letdown, and I think a large part of the reason it doesn’t work is that that feature of Doerr’s writing just can’t be translated to a visual medium. I’m glad to see so much love for Cloud Cuckoo Land in this thread, as while that is a much more dense and intricately plotted book, it was one of the most personally impactful books I’ve read in a very long time. I would recommend it if you like Doerr’s style.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Currently reading it and idk, i have like no motivation to go through it despite the fact that i love historical fiction.

[–]Altruistic_South_276 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was really frustrating. Would have been better ending with them separating and not knowing what happened after.

I appreciate it highlighting the grey areas of war and that the aftermath is easier if you win but it felt like it could have been a book on its own, and it was a scrambling finish after so much build up.

[–]imaginary-handle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“Fine but could have been 200 pages shorter” is my go-to review when anyone brings this up.

[–]TheDevilsAdvokaat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I found it slow going at first, but it got better as it went along.

And then in the end it just ..petered out, as if he had run out of ideas.

I didn't find the ending of any of the stories satisfying.

In general though I enjoyed it and it was worth reading.

[–]a_happy_nerd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I loved the book, but I understand where you're coming from. I think a lot of other people feel like you, but the issue is that for people who really resonated with the book, we hyped it up like crazy. I knew nothing going into it when I read it years ago and so loved the slow rolling story that felt focused on characters and "vibes" more than anything. It just hit right for me, but when people recommend it, they make it seem like a vast war time epic when, in reality, it is far more insular.

[–]teamakesmepee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I felt the same way! It was really slow to me and I felt like when there was an “emotional scene” it didn’t affect me at all and I’m a sucker for sad books. I also felt really annoyed at the way SPOILER >! Werner went out. My boyfriend joked “they should have called it All the Landmines We Cannot See !<

[–]sbrown_13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just finished this book last night too! It was a difficult one to get through, kind of wish it went a bit faster. But I do love how it ended…it kind of just pieced it all together and you basically followed her on her journey through life. Good writer for sure.

[–]duckfat01 2 points3 points  (4 children)

100% with you OP, except I was also irritated all the way through the book by the beautiful, kind, intelligent (but completely uninteresting) heroine. Between this book and The Nightingale, I don't trust recommendations anymore.

[–]Dadbat69[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh no, Nightingale was no good? That’s on my TBR as well

[–]YakSlothLemon 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Warning: a bit rant-y

She irritated me, but then I was absolutely thrown for a loop when we were supposed to be sympathetic to him sparing her because… she’s hot (but blind, so she doesn’t know it). It’s a shame all those Ukrainian women he executed weren’t hot enough, maybe he would’ve saved one of them. It reminded me of The Exception, the film where the German officer wants to save Rachel Weisz even though she’s Jewish because, you know, she’s hot. There seems to be a general theme that if only women had been hotter there would’ve been less murdering by the Germans, and I… can’t really get behind it. It makes me a bit nauseous, really. But then, I don’t really think there’s such a thing as love at first sight – we knew that she was actually the perfect girl, but he didn’t. He just thought she was cute. sigh

None of his victims got a hundredth of the characterization that she did. But I’m just old and I’m not ready for German soldiers to be heroes or “fun” (I thought The Captain was a million times better than Jojo Rabbit.)

[–]duckfat01 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I love a good rant. :) You and I are too cynical for dreamy love stories set in war-time.

[–]YakSlothLemon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be” — Ambrose Bierce 😈

[–]noodleslirp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I couldn’t not get half way through it. It just didn’t have any spark for me.

[–]WheresTheIceCream20 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I hate this book. Its ok that you didn't like it.

[–]Odd_Wolf_NW 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IMO The book was boring but surprisingly the TV series was pretty good.

[–]wishyouwerehere58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I kept going with this due to all the hype and I really regret the time I spent on it.

It just felt really up its own arse.

Boring and unimaginative. Even the title is pretentious...

Always glad to find I'm not the only one!

[–]Allah_Mode -1 points0 points  (0 children)

it turned me off from page one with its present tense. didnt enjoy it at all.

[–]whoisyourwormguy_ 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Are you planning on watching the new show that recently came out?

[–]Dadbat69[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I do, just to see how it compares. But the main reason I want to watch it is to see how big they make this Volkheimer guy to be lol

[–]Roscoe340 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not to spoil it, but Volkheimer is barely in the series. They absolutely butchered the book.

[–]dickensesq 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’ll probably like the series. It’s a totally different story that just shares some very basic plot aspects.

[–]thismightaswellhappe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I read the first half and was debating with myself if I should tackle the second. After seeing this, eh. Maybe not.

[–]bookish7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's been a while since I read it but I remember loving it. However, if you like his writing style, I highly recommend his short story collections that explore many of the same themes as his novels, "Memory Wall" and "The Shell Collector."

[–]Kusakabe19 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I read this book long ago and I loved it so much.Your post reminded me of this book once again so thanks for that.Also,I feel like letting them meet just for some time at the end was the best option by the author because that's what made it so meaningful and the bittersweetness of that was just top notch.

Totally unnecessary side note: I cried after reading the book lmao

[–]elveebee22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I felt exactly the same. Beautifully written. No one can criticize his prose. But the story left me so unsatisfied and I was longing for the book to be over for quite a while. Which is disappointing, because I was really expecting to love it.

[–]Adventurous-Desk-454 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m skipping over comments here to avoid spoilers. But just wanted to see if anyone else is also watching the show on Netflix? I got frustrated with the book, trying to keep the characters and timeline straight but I’m loving the show. Not the typical experience for me so I was wondering if this was the case for anyone else. I’m only on episode 3 and I don’t know how it ends since I DNFd the book.

[–]Ambitious-Pea-4240 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely agree with you, I did not find it to be a good book at all and found it a struggle to finish