Goodreads Ireland discussion

I liked the Sea of Flames story. I don't think the book would have anything to hold it together if it wasn't for that.
I loved the scenes in the Hitler Youth camp, the learned brutality was scary.

I thought that the story could've been told without the diamond as well, but then, watching Doerr in the video I posted on the other thread, it was a theme he wanted to have in the book from almost the beginning.

The narrative in the Hitler Youth camp was brutal-I found the treatment of the prisoner particularly gruesome, no doubt based on fact as well.

Congrats to author Anthony Doerr for the 2015 Pulitzer, fiction, for this novel.

Well this one didn't quite grab me enough emotionally to make it to the 4 star threshold, but it was clearly written, and I can see why it won the accolades and awards it did. I preferred Werner's story over Marie-Laure and the "flashback" parts of the story to the ones set in the present day (the present day of the story that is). Some other elements I thought were interesting were the use of radio and also the use of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

I think I agree with Emma's view that the Sea of Flames story (while an interesting titbit) existed in isolation from the real emotional depth of the book to be found in Marie Laure's and especially Werner's stories of isolation.

All The Light Book Group Guide Questions.

Do these spark anything for anyone?

I read this in November but I really loved it.If I had to pick I found Werner's story more interesting but I think part of that is because most WWII stories are from the Allies point of view.I think Sea of Flames story wasn't actually needed but I think it added another layer to the story.Who ever had the gem lived but those they loved died.I think the father gave the gem to Marie-Laure and then she gave it to Werner to keep him safe but then he left it in the grotto to keep her safe and then he was killed.This might be my overly romantic take but it was the only way I could deal with the fact that the whole novel was about how fate was drawing them together and then it was over...but that happens in real life too I suppose.

J.S. wrote: "Congrats to author Anthony Doerr for the 2015 Pulitzer, fiction, for this novel."

I saw that this morning, J.S. What did you think of the book?

I have to agree with Colleen. It is interesting to read a German's point of view. Of course, he has an incredibly politically correct one. He only joined to escape a life of mining. It would be interesting to read a story about someone who really believed in Hitler and how they coped with losing the war.

Susan wrote: "I have to agree with Colleen. It is interesting to read a German's point of view. Of course, he has an incredibly politically correct one. He only joined to escape a life of mining. It would be int..."
That would be interesting to read about but might have to be non fiction otherwise somewhere along the way he would have to see the light and be saved lol

LOL, Colleen.

There is also City of Women which I loved even more than The Undertaking . The Aftermath which I have not read but has to do with Germany after the war.

I've added both to my TBR pile. I'll have to wait a little bit. I think I've read enough WWII books lately. Sometimes I wonder can there really be any more stories?

I saw that this morning, J.S. What did you think of t..."

Enjoyed it immensely for technique, and in an ideal universe would use the unlimited time to read it again!

J.S,, that just made chuckle. I love the idea of an ideal universe.

I finished All the Light We Cannot See on Monday and I have to say I unabashedly loved it. Maybe I'm too emotional, but it really touched me. I especially love that Anthony Doerr said that he did not grow up in a household where anyone would have been expected to be a writer. And then he grew up to write this beautiful book with its myriad of metaphors on light and dark. I think the book deserves every award it gets.

I'm about 60% through this book and I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

I have finished this book at last and I really didn't like it that much. It was a real struggle to finish it. the three met for such a brief time at the end of the book. I found the end hard to follow as it jumped around a lot. It was nice the poor little blind girl had a happy ending but sad that Werner had to die. For me it was just a boring book with too many metaphors.

My youngest daughter has to read All the Light We Cannot See for her honors 10 English summer reading.Hope she loves it as much as I did...

Marcia! Yours is the first comment I've read that is less than glowing, and I am relieved. It seems all the world is touting this books' brilliance, yet I find the writing so staccato that I can't get around it. But I prefer beautiful, lyrical language, which lends me a sense of depth of field, if you will. To each, their own, although this doesn't negate acknowledgement of this book's clever pacing, momentum, research and all the rest. When so many extol the virtues of a book, I want to read it for my own education, but I must report when my eight month old puppy found this book and decimated it in her joy over finding a teething toy, I picked up "Peachtree Road" by Anne Rivers Siddons and took a big sigh.

Claire wrote: "Marcia! Yours is the first comment I've read that is less than glowing, and I am relieved. It seems all the world is touting this books' brilliance, yet I find the writing so staccato that I can't ..."

I find if I read books before all the hype, I enjoy them more, and am able to more fairly evaluate them. Very few if any books are wonderful for all readers as each of us brings ourselves to the reading. I gave this book 5 stars but my reasons for liking it had a lot to do with the depiction of the blind girl's life and how she managed her environment, and the author's work to depict a young German boy in a sympathetic light by delving into his background, thoughts, etc. I have read other much-hyped books before the frenzy such as Gone Girl which I only rated 3 stars. I am increasingly dismayed and annoyed when book descriptions, reviews and even author talks give far too much away. Reading a book with no preconceptions is what I like best.

I can't say that I read it because of the hype. I read because I thought it sounded interesting as in the blind girl. But it just didn't grab me. As i said above for me it was a very slow laborious read. I found it boring and not very compelling with such an anti climax. The Book Theif was so much better than this as well as was the Boy in the striped pajamas and also The Reader.

I've just finished Les Mis. I loved it!! That for me was compelling!!!