All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr

A mesmerising tale of war, fire, and survival

In 1985, as a student, I visited Saint Malo, a port city in Brittany North West France.  My most vivid memories are of the tall granite walls which surround the old town.  

St Malo today

 To my shame, I had no idea that those walls encompassed thirty years of extensive reconstruction following large scale damage during WW2.   In 1944, St Malo was almost completely destroyed by fire.  Of the 865 building within the walls, only 182 remained standing and all were damaged to some degree (see here for more details).  

St Malo after the siege

The siege of St Malo is the setting for the climax to the 2015 Pulitzer prize winning novel,  “All the light we cannot see”.  The author, Anthony Doerr, deftly takes us on a journey starting in 1934 and ending in 2014 during which a blind, French girl and a German boy navigate the horrors of war until their paths finally collide during the devastation of St Malo.

Although the horrors of WW2 are well known, Doerr’s story of the Nazi occupation of Paris and  the cruelty of the Hitler youth told through his characters were especially illuminating and the siege offered a new and interesting dimension. 

Doerr was able to cover a lot of historical and geographical space by creating numerous short chapters.  The hussies were divided in their appreciation for this approach.  Although some appreciated how the story kept moving, others found the brief chapters less satisfying.  No sooner had they immersed themselves in a situation, then it was time to expend more effort and adapt to another.   There was some concern that the book was simply too long.

Those of us who enjoyed Doerr’s style, were deeply moved by his language, sense of detail and rich metaphors.  However, this was not a universal response and some found the novel too descriptive.  His use of “Americanisms” like sidewalk were deemed inappropriate and distracting in the context of a European setting.   

 Despite the critique, the Hussies agreed that this was a worthy read – which might explain why this book has sold so many copies (New York Times bestseller) and other awards (Carnegie medal for fiction)!

Enthusiasm for our meal and surroundings at Walwick Hall was unreservedly positive.  There was resounding (and unusually consistent) praise for this venue.  The food, service, décor were all popular and reasonably priced. 

Next time we will be reviewing, a mighty thick book…….Ken Follett, Fall of Giants.  Hopefully, we will complete it in time for a review…..

Sons and Lovers by D.H.Lawrence

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

Two mysteries in one read.  

When this book was put forward as our latest read, there was a communal sigh.  Surely life has its own stresses without spending time reading about that most depressing of conditions, dementia?  However, those of us who pursued this literary challenge found an unexpectedly enjoyable read between its pages.

Despite being narrated by an elderly mother with dementia (Maud), it was nowhere near as grim as expected and, after a slow start, turned out to be a cleverly plotted double mystery - historical and modern day. 

The modern day mystery entails a search for Maud’s friend, Elizabeth.   The search entails a lot of lists, reminders, labels, and excessive purchases– so typical of people with memory problems  - and manages to enrage Elizabeth’s son as well as creating additional demands on Maud’s daughter, Helen. 

Those of us with ageing parents could identify with Helen and saw our shameful reflection in Maud’s eyes.  Whilst uncomfortable, it was helpful to see ourselves in the eyes of another and has paid dividends for future relationships in difficult circumstances. 

In reality, the modern mystery is simply a backdrop, or vehicle, for the main feature which is the historical mystery.  Effectively narrated though flashbacks, this mystery creates momentum and motivation to turn the pages and find out whatever happened to Maud’s glamorous older sister, Sukey who married the notorious, Frank.  Many of the group enjoyed the portrayal of England during and immediately after WW2  and realised the implications for individuals and communities faced with daily bombings, rationing, evacuation and conscription.

Sadly, beyond a touch of poignancy, dementia may take more from this book than it adds.  The author faces an uphill struggle inviting readers to knowingly spend time with this condition, and the plot suffers by having such an unreliable narrator.  These prejudices seem grossly unjust for what turned out to be an enjoyable, clever, and illuminating read, but surely mirror those faced by many whose life is touched by dementia?  

Maybe, in writing Elizabeth is Missing, Emma Healey offers up an alternative, and more positive, narrative for the condition we currently stigmatize as dementia?

We reviewed this book at   The Robin Hood Inn at East Wallhouses. .   The food was  very well received – especially the lamb and the Thai curries.