Over the summer, I started reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I found the book on my mom’s bookshelf and after hearing it circulate the Bowdoin headlines last year decided to read it for fun. I’ve never been much of a pleasure reader, but this book is great example of how so many people are. Doerr creates an incredibly vivid picture of Europe during the World War II. The novel follows Marie-Laurie Le Blanc, a young blind girl living in Paris, and Werner Pfennig, a brilliant German boy entering the Nazi Army. Doerr addresses the tragedy of war but also the sense of shared humanity that exists even in the darkest of times.
As I read the book, it was hard to put down after being lost in the use of gorgeous metaphors and stunning imagery. It is easy to understand how Doerr has received nationally acclaimed reviews and awards (like the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) after reading a few pages. The novel tackles some serious historical and contemporary messages, but never loses the compassion drawn between the characters. This combination of utter tragedy and renewed hope absolutely makes this book worth the read and even a second read if you have the time. Plus it is always great to read and appreciate a fantastic Bowdoin author.