All the Light We Cannot See cover art

All the Light We Cannot See

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All the Light We Cannot See

By: Anthony Doerr
Narrated by: Julie Teal
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTION

A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II

Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.

In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.

Doerr’s gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

©2014 Anthony Doerr (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
20th Century Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military Military Romance Heartfelt War

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Critic reviews

'Far more than a conventional war story, It's a tightly focused epic revolving around two unusual main characters … Doerr paints with a rich palette, using prose that resonates deeply and conveys the ephemera of daily existence along with high drama, sadness and hope … A bittersweet and moving novel that lingers in the mind' Clifford Beal, Daily Mail

‘TIt is easy to understand why Doerr’s book is regarded by many as an epic and a masterpiece’ Justin Cartwright, Observer

‘This novel will be a piece of luck for anyone with a long plane journey or beach holiday ahead. It is such a page-turner, entirely absorbing… [Doerr’s] attention to detail is magnificent’ Carmen Callil, Guardian

‘Doerr’s novel seems poised somewhere between the sublime and the twee. It very much lands on the right side of things, thanks to the author’s eye for detail and the suspenseful rhythm of his chapters — often only a page or two — which expertly cut back and forth in time. He can bring a scene to life in a single paragraph … Delicate and moving … the novel takes hold and will not easily let go’ Lidija Haas, The Times

‘Boy meets girl in Anthony Doerr’s hauntingly beautiful new book, but the circumstances are as elegantly circuitous as they can be’ Janet Maslin, The New York Times

‘I’m not sure I will read a better novel this year … Enthrallingly told, beautifully written and so emotionally plangent that some passages bring tears’ Amanda Vaill, Washington Post

‘This jewel of a story is put together like a vintage timepiece … Doerr’s writing and imagery are stunning. It’s been a while since a novel had me under its spell in this fashion.’ Abraham Verghese

‘“All the Light We Cannot See” is a dazzling, epic work of fiction. Anthony Doerr writes beautifully about the mythic and the intimate, about snails on beaches and armies on the move, about fate and love and history and those breathless, unbearable moments when they all come crashing together.’ Jess Walter

All stars
Most relevant

Would you consider the audio edition of All the Light We Cannot See to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version but many times wished I was reading it myself to avoid the many jolting mispronunciations by the narrator. They were very distracting and such a shame as it spoilt the flow of the story for me. So, no, I'd recommend the print version for that reason!

What was one of the most memorable moments of All the Light We Cannot See?

I loved the story, the characters and the vivid settings. The account of Werner's schooling at the hands of the Third Reich was really chilling, especially the victimisation of his friend Frederick.

Would you be willing to try another one of Julie Teal’s performances?

No I don't think so. She has a lovely clear voice and I trusted her to tell the story, but there were just too many bizarre errors in pronunciation.

Any additional comments?

A wonderful book that deserved better attention to detail in the production of this audio version.

Fabulous story, marred by distracting narration

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The unfolding stories of intertwined lives held me to the end. This is one of the few books that I genuinely could not wait to get back to between listening. It held my interest and curiosity. There are pleasant and unpleasant twists that satisfies me more than a predictable storyline. Thanks Anthony. Great job!
I highly recommend it and now I want to speak about it to someone else who has read it or listened to it.

All the light

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Where does All the Light We Cannot See rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm a bit of an audio book junkie and have listened to many many books over two decades. I'd say that this is in my top 12. It is an extraordinary novel. Well worth the hype.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how two stories ran parallel and then towards the end the main characters crossed paths. Our hero learned the lesson of doing things and making decisions based not on who is right but rather what is right. Late in the day he redeemed himself and made a values led decision.

What about Julie Teal’s performance did you like?

Her diction. And her pacing and pausing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I got terribly engrossed in the lives of the characters. In a similar vein to Poisonwoodwood Bible, Alone in Berlin, People of the Book, Wilkie Collin's No Name and John Hersey's White Lotus (and many others)- I didn't want this novel to end.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Audible and thank you Ms Teal and above all thank you Mr Doerr.

I give it five

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Amazingly descritive and enticing story. One of my favorite listens so far, would contemplate buying this book to read it, it's so beautifully written. Sensory details that take you right into the lives and times of the characters. The tastes, smells, noises make this such an immersive listen. Fantastic.

A Real Gem

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A beautiful gripping story dramatically read.Difficult to stop listening for any reason. And a satisfying conclusio

brilliant

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