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I'm so glad I overcame my WWII aversion and read this book. The whole era has been so overdone in books, movies and TV shows. But after seeing this on our PBT Top 15 in 15 Years list last year, I had to pick it up. And the collective wisdom of our group didn't let me down!

Set in Germany and France during WWII, the story follows multiple characters and multiple timelines. But while the backdrop is the war, this was a character-driven novel. No one could ever be prepared to find themselves in the midst of a war, and this book tells the very personal stories of a handful of people as they each try to survive the best they can.

BWF for "A" - not tagged - Sassy Sisterhood

Like so many others, I thought this was a wonderful book. So glad that you thought so, too.

I loved this book-I also enjoyed his non-fiction Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World

When I read this it novel, it had just received the Pulitzer Prize. I was hesitant to read it since some major prize winners don't live up to my expectation. This one truly deserved its prize. I believe that it will be a classic in fifty years.

So glad you loved it too, Sue! This book is on my list of favorites.

I actually was disappointed in it, but it was probably my misunderstanding. I thought the book would be about the relationship between the 2 young people, and they literally cross paths for only a page or two near the end. I also thought the author tried too hard with his various symbols of spirals, for instance, and with the romanticization of the blind girl. However, I was impressed with how the war could actually be a good thing for a boy with no resources who really wanted to learn technology (until it wasn't, of course.)

It didn’t grip me either Robin - you’re not alone. A wonderful premise and absolutely beautiful writing but it never clicked.

I found this one a bit tough to get into, but I really liked it once I had properly got into it. I did, however, really struggle with Cloud Cuckoo Land by the same author.

I loved Cloud Cuckoo Land, on the other hand.

I recently (in the past year) read Doerr's memoir of the year he spent in Rome after winning a fellowship... Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World. In that memoir he talks about trying to write a story about WW2 with two characters who don't really "meet" until close to the end of the story. Of course, he gets distracted by all that is Rome and he doesn't get very far but ...