All the Light We Cannot See

This book is haunting.

I had seen this book receiving rave reviews. I read the back. Another WWII story? What can possibly make this any different. Oh, the girl is blind? Is that why the reviews are so high? How does a blind girl survive a war?

To find out, you need to pick up the book. When you do decide to read this, devote time for it. It can be heavy, but it is strangely beautiful. It reminded me of The Book Thief mixed with The Pianist. Yes, both of those also took place during WWII, but it goes deeper than that. There's an innocence to Marie that was similar to Liesel from The Book Thief. The writing style was also similar. Unlike the book thief, there is the story of survival. That is where The Pianist comes in to play. Marie must find a way to survive. Against all odds, she must.

There is also a magical stone that Marie's father believes will keep her alive. Unforunately, it means everyone around her will attract an unfortunate fate. That aspect was slightly strange in a WWII setting, yet also worked. Was it really magical, or was it just a story that helped a girl make sense of the world around her? Was the stone at fault, or was it just a trinket (like a stuffed doll) for comfort.

This is not a major adventure story, but a solid fiction piece that deserves the awards it has been given. Think of The Pianist and The Book Thief. If you're interested in something similar, pick this up.