All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr

Historical fiction is a genre that makes me uncomfortable. Probably because history was a subject I hated in school. Hence this book is a read that I had reserved for a 'later' time. But I started with the first chapter looking for a change and fell for the writing, like a moth drawn to a flame.

The book captures the events in the life of people when Germany invaded France during World War II. The narration alternates between the lives of Marie-Laurie and Werner over a period of time.

Marie-Laurie is a blind girl who had to relocate to Saint Malo from Paris along with her father because of the war. She is helped by her father to understand the neighborhood using the miniature model he makes.But there comes a time when her father has to leave her to the care of her uncle in Saint Malo. Marie's life is a poignant representation of life torn by war.

Werner,who is German, is a very bright boy who happened to be an orphan by birth. He has to abandon his dreams of becoming someone he 'could have been' to join the German army.

Through the rest of the story, the events are such that you keep anticipating if their paths would cross.

The lives of Marie-Laurie and Werner gives us a peek into human consciousness that battled fear with courage and hope because life didnt present them with any other choice. A time when 'Fuhrer' used them to intimidate the world. My heart goes out to Werner, who represented a sea of possibilities but was reduced to one of the voices that amplified "Sieg Heil".

All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr is a read where the prose is pregnant with beautiful imagery and there is a graceful rhythm to it that's alluring. I am so glad that my maiden attempt at historical fiction happened to be this beautiful book.

Highly recommended to people who enjoy reading!