Goodreads Ireland discussion

Looking forward to it!

Last month a friend of mine told she that she was reading the book slowly because she liked it so much that she didn't want it to end. I had the opposite reaction. I read it rapidly because I couldn't put it down.

Just when I thought there were no more WWII stories to tell, this book comes along.

My copy should be arriving in the mail Tuesday. I was going to get the e-book version but it was $12.99 while the Amazon hardback price has dropped to $13.87. It's hard to beat getting an actual physical book for less than a $1 more.

That sounds pretty steep for an ebook?

Sometimes even Amazon does that with new books. The price of the e-book will likely drop to the standard $9.99 or less when the paperback comes out. On Kobo, the price is frequently a few bucks more, but I'll go ahead and pay it because Kobo will kick back a small percentage of the sale to an independent bookstore of my choice.

Just started it. We're on the road for two hours on the way to family for Easter, so I'll have a good chunk of reading time. Such gorgeous writing so far.

Just started it. We're on the road for two hours on the way to family for Easter, so I'll have a good chunk of reading time. Such gorgeous writing so far.

That's a great summation, Emma. My feelings exactly.

I adore the writing in this book. It's like taking a warm bath. Supposedly it took him ten years to write it though! I can't imagine writing the same thing for ten years! At least it came out well in the end.

I've just started reading this book and am liking the writing style so far.

I finished this today, and while I didn't love it in the same way as those of you that have read it seem to have done, I did enjoy it very much.

I'm still trying to pinpoint my reasons for not being blown away in the same way I have been by other novels of a similar ambitious nature, like The Son or The Street Sweeper (now there's a WW2 story that really hasn't been told, Susan!)-I'm thinking maybe that some of the links in the narrative were a little too incredulous or contrived, or perhaps there was just too much going on at times?

I'm not sure, but I have to say that it still is a really enjoyable read, and one that you'll fly through.

An explanation by Doerr on how he came to write the novel, btw-interesting to hear him talk of the importance of the radio thread, as Emma had noticed early in the narrative.

Anthony Doerr on All the Light We Cannot See: https://youtu.be/IYBK3Lsx7aI

As I'm reading it I keep thinking of the book thief. I'm not in far enough yet to really draw parallels but I read a bit today about how childrens radio plays were used as propaganda. It's really bad how those sorts of dictatorships used children to infiltrate into the home.

Emma wrote: "I have a feeling that this book will be turned into a film soon. It's got all the elements Hollywood tends to like and it's proving extremely popular. If the film rights haven't been snapped up yet..."

Sometimes I wonder if authors write their books with a film in mind. That was my impression of Kevin Barry's City of Bohane which I really liked.

I'm about 30% into this book now. It's ok I think. Not as good as I thought it would be. It is interesting to have a perspective from two sides French and German. But I'm finding it's dragging a bit.

Marcia wrote: "I'm about 30% into this book now. It's ok I think. Not as good as I thought it would be. It is interesting to have a perspective from two sides French and German. But I'm finding it's dragging a bit."

I'm somewhere around there, too, Marcia, and I'm a little surprised that I'm not racing through it. I like it--but I'm not completely immersed in it yet.

I'm finding it to be a smooth easy read, but I'm not sure it will be one that sticks with me. I'm enjoying most the parts that are flashback telling about what leads each characters to the day of August 7th 1944. The events of that day are less interesting to me. I'm also more intrigued by Werner's story than I am Marie-Laure's. I'm a little over halfway through.

Cathleen ..... I'm not completely immersed either.

I agree with Sara. I think the parts involving Werner are more interesting than those about Marie.

I'm still not very far into the book. My days seem to need a few more hours these days, but I have to say while I find it easy to read it's not the kind of book I can't seem to stop reading. I don't like much that the character of Werner is kind of a stereotype. The orphan kid who has a special talent and of course gets the attention of someone with power who opens the path to a great career. Of course this career is within the Nazi-spektrum and his sister is absolutly anti-Nazi. I would like to read a book of that era that takes a twist on these clichés.

I have finally finished this book. For me it was not compelling at all. I found it boring. The end was disappointing. I had read quite a few other books about the wars for example life after life and another one. Maybe I was saturated with war books. But this book was boring for me.

I just didn't like this book.

Marcia wrote: "I have finally finished this book. For me it was not compelling at all. I found it boring. The end was disappointing. I had read quite a few other books about the wars for example life after life a..."

I'm sorry that you didn't like the novel I thought it beautifully written .I loved how it flipped from Weiner and Marie and how slowly they were drawn together.It's sad they only met for a little while but it was war time .I never thought it would end happy so I wasn't disappointed in the ending.

I, too, am saturated with WWII books but I did like this one. I am sorry you were disappointed, Marcia.

I didn't think it would end happily......... I think that would have made it worse. I just didn't really enjoy the way it was written.

I liked The book thief, Life after life, war horse and the boy in the striped pajamas so much more. I just couldn't get it.

Oh well. :-)