All the Light We Cannot See

Nizam Adrienne

Nizam Adrienne

Harmony
Enjoying the book? Tell us what you love! Came across an exciting/shocking part? Don't hold it in! Have questions? Ask away! The world is your oyster.

I'll update this post when we have the date for the VC discussion. In the meantime, if you have anything you want to talk about regarding the novel, go for it!

RULES

There is only one: Be respectful of people still reading the book. That means use spoiler tags and note the chapter you want to discuss on the outside of the tag, so people know where you're at and what's safe to open up. Example:

Chapter 15


Spoiler
Hi. I am a spoiler. Thanks for hiding me here.




Have fun!

 
Discussion Questions - Respond to all or none! 

 
What does the title All the Light We Cannot See mean in the context of the story?
 
 
Let’s talk about the significance of the Sea of Flames jewel. Do you believe it did hold those “powers?” Or do you think it was supposed to represent something more about human nature? Did you believe that Marie-Laure and her father had the real jewel the entire time? 
 
 
Let’s discuss part eleven and the ending of the book. What did you think about what happened to each character?
 
 
What are some of the key themes that stood out to you?
 
 
Whose story did you enjoy the most? Was there any character you wanted more insight into? 
 
 
In what ways does Marie-Laure’s blindness protect her, and in what ways does it make her more vulnerable?
 
 
What do you think of the author’s decision to flash forward at the end of the book? Did you like getting a peek into the future of some of these characters? Did anything surprise you? 
 
 
Reread Madame Manec’s boiling frog analogy on page 284. Etienne later asks Marie-Laure, “Who was supposed to be the frog? Her? Or the Germans?” (page 328) Who did you think Madame Manec meant? Could it have been someone other than herself or the Germans? What does it say about Etienne that he doesn’t consider himself to be the frog? 


 

 
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Continuation of Opa's post above

Possible Spoilers in These 


Spoiler

Why was Marie-Laure’s father arrested in Paris? What were they trying to accuse him of? What do you think happened to him in the end?M
 
[SIZE= 18px]Before Werner and Marie-Laure part so she can go somewhere safe, he tells her she’s brave. On page 469, she says, “When I lost my sight, Werner, people said I was brave. But it is not bravery; I have no choice. I wake up and live my life. Don’t you do the same?” He responds, “Not in years. But today. Today maybe I did.” Let’s talk about this moving exchange.[/SIZE]
 
 
[COLOR= rgb(76, 76, 76)]Why do you think Marie-Laure gave Werner the little iron key? Why might Werner have gone back for the wooden house but left the Sea of Flames[/COLOR]
 
 
[COLOR= rgb(19, 25, 26)]After Frederick is dismissed from school, Werner reflects, “Frederick said we don’t have choices, don’t own our lives, but in the end it was Werner who pretended there were no choices, Werner who watched Frederick dump the pail of water at [the prisoner’s] feet–I will not.” [/COLOR][COLOR= rgb(19, 25, 26)]How do you think Frederick would explain this situation if he were able to speak for himself? Do you think his decision to have mercy on the prisoner allowed him to take ownership over his life?[/COLOR]
 
 
[COLOR= rgb(41, 44, 46)]Why is it significant that both Jutta and Marie-Laure go on to have children by the end of the novel?[/COLOR]
 
 
[COLOR= rgb(19, 25, 26)]Despite her efforts to avoid being involved with the Nazi party during World War II, Jutta feels ashamed of being German for decades after the war has ended. Where do you think this shame is coming from? Have you ever been in a situation where you carried shame or guilt for the actions of others?[/COLOR]
 
 
[COLOR= rgb(19, 25, 26)]Werner is fascinated by the inner workings of mechanical systems like radios. However, when he hears German society referred to as a “great machine,” he is repulsed by the comparison. [/COLOR][COLOR= rgb(19, 25, 26)]How are humans like machines, and how are we unlike machines? Why might it be frightening or disgusting to imagine ourselves as machines?[/COLOR]
 




 
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