“All the Light We Cannot See” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr. The book is set during World War II and follows the lives of two young people, Marie-Laure and Werner, whose paths eventually cross in Saint-Malo, France.
Plot Summary
Marie-Laure LeBlanc is a young girl who lives with her father in Paris. Marie-Laure is blind, but her father, a locksmith for the Museum of Natural History, has built her a miniature model of their neighborhood, allowing her to navigate the city on her own. When the Germans invade Paris, Marie-Laure and her father flee to Saint-Malo, where her great-uncle Etienne lives. Etienne is a recluse and suffers from severe PTSD from his time in World War I, but he becomes a father figure to Marie-Laure.
Meanwhile, Werner Pfennig is an orphan living in a mining town in Germany. He has a natural aptitude for science and engineering and becomes fascinated by the radio he finds. He and his friend Jutta become obsessed with listening to broadcasts of science lectures and another programming. When Werner comes of age, he is drafted into the German army and trained to locate enemy radio transmissions. He is eventually sent to Saint-Malo, where he will cross paths with Marie-Laure.
All the Light We Cannot See Characters
Marie-Laure LeBlanc – A young girl who is blind and lives with her father in Paris. She is intelligent, curious, and brave. Marie-Laure becomes fascinated with a book her father has given her called Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which inspires her to be adventurous.
Werner Pfennig – An orphan living in Germany who is drafted into the German army during World War II. He is intelligent and has a natural aptitude for science and engineering. Werner is conflicted about his role in the war and struggles with his conscience throughout the book.
All the Light We Cannot See Themes
One of the main themes is the power of imagination and curiosity. Marie-Laure and Werner are both intelligent and curious individuals who are constantly seeking knowledge and understanding of the world around them. This curiosity helps them to survive during difficult times and also brings them together in Saint-Malo.
Another major theme of the book is the impact of war on ordinary people. Both Marie-Laure and Werner are forced to confront the horrors of war and make difficult choices. The book also explores the idea of moral ambiguity, particularly with regard to Werner’s character. He is a sympathetic character, but he is also a soldier in the German army, which makes him complicit in the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
Writing Style
The writing style of “All the Light We Cannot See” is lyrical and poetic. Doerr uses vivid and detailed descriptions to bring the setting and characters to life. He also employs a non-linear narrative structure, jumping back and forth in time, which helps to build tension and suspense. The book is divided into short chapters, some of which are only a few sentences long, giving the book a sense of urgency and momentum.
Conclusion
“All the Light We Cannot See” is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that explores the impact of war on ordinary people. The characters of Marie-Laure and Werner are complex and fully realized, and their stories are intertwined in a way that is both surprising and inevitable. The book is a testament to the power of imagination, curiosity, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.