Book Review
Title: All the light we cannot see
Author: Anthony Doerr
Publisher: Fourth Estate, London, 2014
Pages: 531
What we call light is just a tiny fraction of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Most part of the electromagnetic spectrum remains
beyond ordinary human perception. Such is human life too: so many of its shades
remain beyond our ordinary perception and understanding.
Anthony Doerr’s novel, All the
light we cannot see, unravels for us some of the mysterious shades of
human life.
Marie-Laure LeBlanc leaves Paris with
her father Daniel who is entrusted with the task of carrying a rare diamond, Sea
of Flames, to safe custody when the second world war breaks out. The National
Museum of Natural History, Paris, has made three counterfeit diamonds of the Sea
of Flames. Four men are assigned the task of carrying each of these
diamonds to four different destinations. None of them knows whether they are carrying
the original diamond or the counterfeit.
Marie-Laure arrives with her father in Saint-Malo where her great-uncle Etienne extends her and Daniel warm hospitality though he has been rendered slightly insane by the death of his brother in the first world war. Marie-Laure is only twelve years old. The real pity is that she is blind. And her father is arrested by the invading Nazi Germany for disregarding the curfew. He had been asked to report back to the Museum whose chief locksmith he was. Uncle Etienne becomes a good friend and guardian to Marie-Laure and the two together will play a significant role in helping France during the War.
Werner Pfennig is the hero of the
novel. He is a young orphan boy living with his sister Jutta in an orphanage
inn Zollverein, Germany. At the age of 15, he has to leave the orphanage and
work in the mines. But his gigantic intellect gets him admitted to the National
Political Institute of Education at Schulpforta. He soon witnesses the
brutality of the Nazis. An angelic person like Frederick who is Werner’s
bunkmate is bullied by mates and ravaged by the savage commandant. Nazism has no
heart. Nationalism of that sort cannot have a heart. But Werner has a heart.
The heart has little role in fascist
systems, however. Fascism is all about power and power for a select few. The
others are to be eliminated brutally. If you are with the fascist but have a
heart you too deserve to be decimated – like Frederick who becomes a living
corpse in front of Werner. Because of what fascism did to him.
“Your problem,” Frederick tells
Werner before he is incapacitated altogether by savage nationalism, “is that
you still believe you own your life.” No one is free in a fascist country. You
are only given the illusion of being free because you are allowed to commit
certain crimes with impunity. You are allowed to give vent to all your frustrations
by ill-treating those who are perceived as ‘antinational’ or ‘anti-race’ or
something of the sort.
How free are you? Particularly in a
fascist country? “Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they
close forever,” Madame Manec says to those who are willing to listen to her.
She is fighting for the liberation of Paris from German occupation. “Don’t you
want to be alive before you die?” She will ask you as you are immersed in the
novel.
This novel gets into your heart and
sits there. Provoking you to see some of the light that is not normally seen. Werner
and Marie-Laure are the hero and the heroine of the novel. One is German and
the other French. They are supposed to be enemies. What will happen when they
come face to face with each other at the end of the novel? That’s one of the
most amazing climaxes in fiction you can get. And the other is what happens to
the original Sea of Flames.
This novel is like a mesmerising
symphony with some brilliant cadences waiting for you at the end.
PS. This novel was a gift given me by a student who wrote the following inscription on the dedication page.
PPS.
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile.
I haven't read this book but watching the series and I am loving it. After reading your review I am going to pick this one. It is my first time when I am watching an adaptation before reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThe book will turn out to be a lot better than the series, I'm sure.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I must reread this... there is so much in it that speaks to our times... there's a sentence that haunted me (and forgive if I misquote); "it seems all the people of the world have become evil all at the same time." Yes, haunting. YAM xx
Yes it's quite a different kind of book.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteThis book has been in my TBR for a long time. I was tempted to watch the series but now, I think I will read the book first.
ReplyDeleteYou'll love it.
DeleteI watched the series a couple of weeks back. It's quite good but being a bookworm I'm sure the book would be better. Your review just confirmed that for me. I loved what you said here, " Such is human life too: so many of its shades remain beyond our ordinary perception and understanding."
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me too that the book was better than the series.
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ReplyDeleteOh I have heard a lot about this book but haven't read it. There's a series or movie as well.
Very nice write up.
The book may be deeper than the series if you prefer.
DeleteYou said it - this books sits in your heart for ever. I fell in love with the lyrical prose - such beautiful writing and such a poignant narrative. It will always be a favourite of mine. Glad you picked it for a review.
ReplyDeleteIndeed the style has music in it. I'm glad to meet someone who discovered that music.
DeleteI have heard about the book, but I have not read it. Fascism is a heavy word. And a book themed on its matters must be grave. I added it to my TBR list, hoping to read it sometime.
ReplyDeleteThis book treats fascism in an aesthetic way as far as that's possible.
DeleteBtw, i wonder where my previous response to you vanished.
I have heard about the book, but I have not read it. Fascism is a heavy word. And a book themed on its matters must be grave. I added it to my TBR list, hoping to read it sometime.
ReplyDeleteIt requires a little patience but is highly rewarding in the end.
DeleteWhat a beautiful gift! I started watching the series, but that day I was in mood for something lighter, so stopped. But now I feel I should read the book first and then watch the series.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my review has stimulated a thorough reader like you.
DeleteI read this book a few years ago and absolutely loved it! Such a beautifully written and thought provoking book!
ReplyDeleteI too read it a few years back. I reread it recently when another friend gifted another copy which i declined naturally.
DeleteNeither read the book nor watched the series but what I can understand from the review is that it is worth a read an I will pick it for sure.
ReplyDeleteYes, it deserves to be read.
DeleteI love the book. The protagonist's at the opposite side of the sepctrum, the darkness in both their lives, has been captured so well. Glad you wrote it's review
ReplyDeleteI havent read this book but have read rave reviews about it! The story seems to offer profound insights into the resilience of the human spirit. Will check it out. Thanks for recommending it!
ReplyDeleteI have not read the book but have read rave reviews about it. This story seems like a great read, offering profound insights into the resilience of the human spirit. Will check it out. Thanks for recommending it.
ReplyDeleteOnly after reading a few lines of the plot did I realize that I had seen the OTT series based on this book and it is my feeling from reading this review that the book must be even better. Loved your review, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe analogy between the electromagnetic spectrum and the hidden facets of human life is beautifully explored in Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See." The intricate plot involving Marie-Laure's journey, the Sea of Flames, and the impact of war on characters like Uncle Etienne creates a captivating narrative. The novel skillfully reveals the unseen shades of human experience, making it a poignant and thought-provoking read. Nice.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book but I know it's well loved and revered in the book community. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it as well, it sounds like a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting analogy. I haven't read the book or watched the series yet. Among the reviews I have read, your review has an interesting take reflecting the current state of affairs. I will probably pick up the book first.
ReplyDeleteThe book's been on my wishlist for a longtime. Sigh, when will I get to it!
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