All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

10 members or our group met to discuss this book and the conversation flowed as we unwrapped layer after layer of this wonderful story. 

For the first time in a long time we were unanimous - we loved this book. It was easy to read with short chapters and it was brought up to date at the end which gave us a kind of 'closure'. This is a beautifully written GOOD BOOK with an atmosphere that draws in the reader.

The story is a cleverly presented account of the German occupation of France in WW2. It is told through the parallel lives of two young people: Marie-Laure and Werner whose lives were connected despite their being on opposing sides.

Werner: In Nazi Germany, a young orphan boy who lives in a sparse children’s home with his young sister. He is exceptionally bright and curious with a knack for fixing radios. He fixes one old radio and becomes spellbound by a nightly science program broadcast from France. His talents in maths and science win him a coveted spot in a Hitler Youth Academy. This is his only chance of escape from a grim life working in the same deadly coal mines that killed his father.

Marie-Laure: In Paris, France,  a shy, freckled redhead. She is intuitive, clever and sensitive. She lives with her locksmith father who works at a museum. When she goes blind from a degenerative disease at the age of six, her father builds a detailed miniature model of their neighbourhood, so she can memorise every street, building and corner by tracing the model with her nimble fingers. When the Germans attack Paris she and her father must flee to the coastal town of Saint-Malo to live with a great-uncle who lives in a tall house next to a sea wall.

There were some surprising turns in terms of timing and outcomes. Things you expect to happen do so, but not when you most expect them to.

The obvious brain-washing of the Hitler Youth was well described and we felt the book could be set anywhere at any time as the same things are still going on today. The plight of the ordinary German people during WW2 was also well represented and we imagine it was probably worse for them than for the UK as they were suppressed and controlled by their own leaders as well as coming under the attack by their enemies. 

We warmed to most of the characters including Marie-Laure's father Daniel, her uncle Etienne, the museum porters and academics, the people of Saint-Malo, Frederick, Frederick's mother and so on. It was Marie-Laure we loved most and she was also loved by those around her in her life. She was gentle, often frightened yet determined enough to make the right decisions. 

Werner was the other favourite. He was a lovely lad in a situation where he had no real option but to comply (as the fate of his academy friend, Frederick, proved). Werner did try to stand up to orders but this led to his early departure from the academy. Eventually though, at the point where he could finally take control, he made a right decision thanks to his gentle giant friend and colleague Frank Volkheimer who quietly turned a blind eye. Jutta, Werner's sister, was a strong character who may well have challenged the 'status quo' had she been in Werner's shoes (probably to her own detriment). 

Frau Elena the German housekeeper and Madame Manec the French housekeeper were both strong characters who cared deeply for the people they looked after. Both went far beyond expectations to keep their 'charges' safe. 

We most disliked Sargeant Major Von Rumpel who stood out as an individual seemingly operating for his own interest.

Would we recommend this book? Yes, highly!

As an end note, we are lucky enough to have a Parisienne in our group who took the time to illustrate and share her very local knowledge of the area in and around the Jardin des Plantes. This is where Marie-Laure and her father lived  and where he worked at the Natural History museum. The botanical garden looks exceptionally beautiful and has been added to our list of Book Group places to visit when in Paris.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 19^th May 2016 at 8pm in The Hundred of Ashendon when we will be discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett.