All the light we cannot see

[walruswhiskers]

Am 3/4 of the way through this fabulous, tragic book. It is so beautifully written and the way the two stories dovetail together is so clever. Am dreading the end though - it has to end badly for at lead one of the two young people, I'm sure.

NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!

[BaconAndAvocado]

I too ADORED this book, it stayed with me for a long time.

No Spoilers Indeed!

This best book I read last year.

[Waterlemon]

I read most of the book on holiday in the summer, but only picked it up again and finished it last week. (I chose the book as we were on holiday in France)

There's a few unexpected twists, but I thought all the different stories concluded well. (which is a biggy for me) I nearly didn't finish it, as I had found out what happened to the main characters, but it was good to go back and tie up all the loose ends!

I loved it!

[HelenaJustina]

Loved it, you picked a good 'un! Come back and tell us what you thought when you've finished it.

[walruswhiskers]

Finished it. Cor. Beautiful. And haunting.

I've thought before that the British narrative of the wars is so focused on US, iykwim. It's hard to comprehend how v appalling it was for the nations where land was actually fought over. This book gives a glimpse into that. And I loved the final chapter, in the cave with the snails. Werner understood her, didn't he?

[Waterfeature]

Read it, loved it. Beautiful.

[auberginesrus]

Best book I read last year for sure. Have bought it for two friends since. Beautifully written and I agree with walrus that it's refreshing to read about the war from a non UK perspective.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I really liked it, but wish the story had stopped a bit sooner, as the ending was rather unnecessary for me. I had all I needed a chapter or so before the end and would have absolutely loved it otherwise, ending with a bang rather than a whimper.

Agree with all above though, good to see the war from inside Europe, and it was very well written.

[Waterlemon]

satsuki that's just how I felt about the ending.

On holiday in the summer, I read up to the end of the war/where we Found out about the main characters. I felt like I had finished the book, so I only picked it up again to properly to finish it last week.

I don't think I gained anything from those extra chapters. I'm wondering if they were setting the scene for another book?

[presidentfart]

Best book I've read in year, loved it.

[RemusLupinsChristmasMovie]

I thought the last few chapters were dreadful and that the writer just didn't know when to stop. I thought it was a real shame, as I'd really loved the rest of it.

[Clawdy]

We read this book for book group, and it was one of the few books we nearly all agreed on - we loved it. I actually thought the end was somehow right.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I felt like the whole book had been leading quietly and in small increments to the scene with the two characters, and it really hit me emotionally as a result and felt beautifully crafted and realised; the stuff that followed kind of diminished that impact. If I'd been left with the image of the tinned peaches it would have been perfect

I'm glad others enjoyed it, but it annoyed the hell out of me

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Wonderful book.

[Bue]

Remus I agree. It was such a powerful story and the author just went too far forward into the future, I felt. I kept thinking, OK now end it already!

[BurnTheBlackSuit]

I liked it, but I'm not sure I enjoyed it. I also wasn't sure how how true all the violence at the school was. It's a book written by someone who wasn't there. From what I've read, the Nazis were more subtle in their nastiness, especially regarding children. And I agree about the ending going on far far too long.

[queenoftheschoolrun]

My favourite book of the last year and I read a lot of books. Highly recommend it.