I first heard about this book on the Facebook page of one of my favorite authors Kate Morton. She rarely recommends a book, but she gave this book a glowing recommendation so it immediately went on my 'to read' list. Of course, it was also on many Best Books of 2014 lists, so I was really looking forward to reading it. I was definitely not disappointed. In All the Light We Cannot See, you meet Marie Laure, who at the age of 6 becomes blind. Her father builds her a miniature version of their neighborhood in Paris so that she can learn to navigate the real area on her own. When the Nazis invade France, Marie Laure and her father go to Saint Malo to stay with her uncle Etienne. Marie Laure's strength throughout her life was inspiring. You also meet Werner and his younger sister Jutta who are growing up in an orphanage in a mining town in Germany. Werner is a genuinely curious boy and learns to repair radios, which sets him on a different journey than what he expected. Werner's story caused me to think about all of the young Nazi soldiers and what so many of them endured as well. As you read their alternating stories, you begin to wonder how their lives are going to intersect. This book is a very engaging story and the author does a fantastic job of character development. I was very interested in learning more about even the more minor characters and the journeys their lives took. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this should be on your must read list.
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