Finding hope, love and joy amidst the heartbreak of war

“Number 4 rue Vauborel” has been home to Marie-Laure LeBlanc for four years when the leaflets float down from the sky to warn the residents of Saint-Malo that the bombing of their little town will start. Marie-Laure captures a leaflet on the window ledge but doesn’t know it is telling her to take shelter.  

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is not your usual story of war, but instead revolves around the lives of a young blind girl and an orphaned boy; so different but so alike.

Marie-Laure lived in Paris with her father, Daniel.  She is blind but sees so much.  Her father is the keeper of the keys at the Museum of National History and is her sole parent since her mother died giving birth to her.  He is a kind loving parent who carves directions for his daughter in the form of the city where they live. He teachers well and she can find her way through his tiny but intricate wooden carvings.  

Daniel LeBlanc is liked and trusted at the museum.  He has heard the story of the Sea of Flames, a beautiful blue diamond, many times.  The gem is kept hidden in a special vault at the museum and the guard tells the story of how it keeps the holder of the gem safe but its curse gives bad luck and disaster to those around them. Daniel tells his daughter that it is just a stone and he does not believe the curse, but Marie-Laure is not sure.  

When the war started and France was drawn into it, Daniel and Marie-Laure fled to Saint-Malo, where they stay with Daniel’s uncle Etienne and his housekeeper of many years. The Museum entrusts Daniel with the Sea of Flames – or is it? In the following years, the diamond will spark a search across France. 

Etienne served in the first war and some say, has been a little crazy ever since, but he welcomes them.  He forms a bond with his great niece and seems happier than he has been in a long time.

Werner Pfennig and his younger sister Jutta are orphans.  They live in Children’s House in the town of Zollverein east of Paris. Werner and his sister have white blond hair and blue eyes. Young boys from the orphanage have to work in the mines when they turn 15. 

Werner loves to fix things and is fascinated with transistor radios and soon becomes quite skilful at fixing broken transmitters. The war has come to Zollverein and some of the young orphanage boys join the Hitler Youth movement. 

When Werner fixes a radio for a member of the German Army, his reputation grows and soon he is sent to the National Political Institute of Education. The 400 boys there are hand picked and some will not make it through the training, but Werner is spared working in the mine.

Although small for his age, Werner has the hair colour and sky blue eyes that Hitler believes create a superior race. He survives the school and becomes friends with a young corporal, a giant of a man with a gentle nature.  

Marie-Laure and her father are happy living at number 4 rue Vauborel Saint-Malo with Uncle Etienne and Madame Manec the housekeeper until Daniel is called back to Paris. Madame Manec organises a women’s movement to help the cause of the French defeat the Germans.  

The war comes to Saint Malo with ferocity. Werner is at the Hotel of the Bees, a few streets from where Marie-Laure lives, waiting for the return of her father.  Hidden in one of his models, she finds what she believes is the Sea of Flames.  Bombs are dropped on Saint-Malo and Marie hides in the cellar her uncle has shown her. He has not returned to the house for many hours and Marie-Laure prays that both he and her father will be brought back to her.

Werner has been listening to a young girl’s voice broadcasting from a radio not too far from the Hotel of Bees.  He should report it but doesn’t. When the bombing stops and he and his corporal are freed from the rubble, he goes to find the voice.  He discovers Marie-Laure at rue Vauborel.

Anthony Doer tells a gripping story of the lives of two young people, Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig during WW2. They are so different but so similar. The story of their joys and sadness is expertly told amidst the hopelessness of war.  

I found this novel heartbreaking yet full of hope and love.  I became involved with the characters and the final pages brought me to tears.  I would not hesitate in recommending this book to my generation and my children’s generation to read.  

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (published by HarperCollins Australia) is available now. Click here to learn more.