All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See

I cannot say, for certain, what made me pick this book up. 

Maybe it was the beautiful Cover. Maybe the title; which gleams of hope. A faint Promise? But neither are profound reasons. Nevertheless, I am glad that I did. It is one of the most beautifully written book that I’ve read, probably the most beautiful, for I haven’t read too many books (Not proud of that either).

The Story: World War II. German Occupied France. I was bracing myself for the Usual stories of Nazi Germany. Stories which make you wince your eyes. And almost instantly you root for whatever side is opposite the führer (Even the Jojo Rabbit Hitler couldn’t escape my revulsion) at that moment. Happened here too. No Surprises. But there was so Much more to it than that!

It’s a story of a young, Intelligent boy, who at a young age gave his heart to the Radio Set he found at a dumpster. Turned its silence into static and its static into Music. The boy who faces so much Inner conflict and at every front has so little that he can take away. A Story of a young, blind girl who read the braille volume of  “Around the World in Eighty Days” in two months and flipped it back to the first page and read it again. Why? Because she values things like no one else can. Maybe because things were taken away from her unjustly. She’s such a ray of Light, that girl..

The prose is beautiful. The way Anthony Doerr has set the locations in the book is just simply amazing. I didn’t have to force myself into the setting. It was a Slow read though! Probably because I tried pronouncing every French and German word or name in French and German :D And probably because I dozed off so many times and almost without fail, dreamt. Of the Book. Myself as a character. Doing something daring. Standing Up against the German Reich? Saving a friend? Anything.

I liked the book. Maybe I’ll read it again someday. To someone. Who Knows?

Keep Going - Paulo Coelho

"You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts - and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place. Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.” ― Paulo Coelho

Books are our best friends, guiders and philosophers.

Hi! I am Rajat, and I have started reading books and novels a few days ago...

THIS IS HOW I STARTED.

Before we start, I want to share something with you, Since my childhood, I never really liked reading. I considered it a waste of time. 

Even in the free time I got, Instead of reading something, I preferred sitting for long hours in front of screens. Hurting the eyes. Damaging the brain! Spoiling myself!

So, basically, I was not into reading. It was not just my kind of activity! I couldn't imagine myself turning the leafs of a classic novella just because somebody very old (maybe dead!) has written it. Why should I? 

Obviously! Result was not good. I didn't have a good vocabulary. I couldn't express myself in front of people. I hesitated speaking among them!

Something had to be done!

So! One day at school, during a free class, out of boredom, I decided to go to an even boring

place, known as The School Library. The Old and fat books in the bookshelves, arranged systematically, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Basic German, Basic Hindi, Mathematics, and much more.
My Head Spun!

So, I wished the librarian good Morning and sat down with a newspaper in hand. She looked at me in amazement as if she was scrutinizing me through those oval and thick glasses. Somehow, I ignored her and started reading the newspaper.
5 minutes done- I kept the newspaper on the table and advanced towards the door

The librarian stopped me. She asked, did you read the newspaper? I said Yes Ma'am. She asked what did you read. 

(I actually didn't read anything. I was staring at pics. Pics of Messi being compared to an Alien! Ronaldo winning the Golden Shoe! Tendulkar commenting something. The New Marvel movie, Stuff, and gir.. ahemm.. Yes Stuff.)

She asked again, this time a bit loudly, So. Tell me What did you read in these 5 minutes?

Me: (Head Down) Nothing Miss.

She: I Knew son. Go sit there. 

She came back with A Book in hand.

She: Have you watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone?

Me: Yes Ma'am.

The Conversation was followed with some quick questions asked left unanswered.

She: Who is Sirius? 

Me: ----

She: What is the history of Quidditch? 

Me: ----

She: Ron's brother's Names?

Me: ----

She: (Handing me the book) Here, this book is written by J.K Rowling and it is the first book of the harry Potter series. 

This was the Book Cover.

Me: Harry Potter series has Books?  
Yes I was that dumb!

She: Read it and write a book report on it.

Me: (Cursing Myself!) Okay Ma'am. Smiled and went out.
        Threw the book in the bag and forgot about it.


 The Weekend was nearing, My schedule was already prepared- football matches to be watched, movies to be watched, Homework to be done, etc.

The Book was nowhere near in my schedule.

So, on Friday, This happened:

~Finished the homework
~Studied a bit too!
~Played football with friends
~Prepared the Social Science project work. Real fast.

There was still some time left in the match. So I decided to do something which was not in my schedule.
I decided to READ.

Took out the book. Stared at the cover and started reading. It was a bit of struggle initially, but I kept on going!
For the first time in my life, I felt that I was enjoying reading a book. Time passed really fast. So, did the pages of the book.

 I was meeting people whom the world has admired and praised, the people who never really existed, and even though have earned praise, respect, love and appreciation from all over the world. 

The Dursley Family, The Potters, prof. Dumbledore Sir, Rubeus Hagrid, prof. McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Malfoy, Snape, and "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" and many more beautiful characters.

To my own surprise, I skipped the match that day.
Woke up saturday morning, started reading, I finished reading the book by sunday Afternoon. 

This Picture clearly defined my feelings!

Harry Potter Books vs The Movies!

Never judge a Book by its Movie!

Without any delay, I prepared the book report. Believe me. It was the best thing I have ever prepared. My book Report got published in the school magazine. Students and teachers congratulated me.