Diane Kerrison answers “**HUGE SPOILER ALERT** Was anyone else...”

Elizabeth asked this question about All the Light We Cannot See:

**HUGE SPOILER ALERT** Was anyone else as disappointed as I was with Werner's death? I was so mad after reading it. I thought it was pointless and dissatisfying, almost like Doerr was done with him after he and Marie-Laure met, though I'm sure the author thought long and hard about it. Any thoughts?

Diane Kerrison I hate it that he dies. He was central to the book and it really ruined the story for me. I don't believe at all that he 'needed to pay for the sins o…moreI hate it that he dies. He was central to the book and it really ruined the story for me. I don't believe at all that he 'needed to pay for the sins of his people'. I would like to think we are beyond such simplistic notions of morality in times of war and horror. It's as if Doerr had to kill of every German that existed in the novel so no reviewer could accuse him of being a Nazi sympathiser. He was basically a child in the hands of very powerful forces, without many choices available to him. We see the arc of his story as he realises the evil of what he is participating in and then helps Marie. I see no need to kill of his character except to appease the readers who cannot believe there were ordinary German people who lived and suffered in the war like everyone else.(less)

flag

Marcelle Clemmens But Volkheimer lived, so that arguement burns in the fire of Saint-Malo. If Doerr wanted to kill every German that existed, why was Volkheimer allowed ...more
Dec 17, 2022 01:35PM · flag

More questions about All the Light We Cannot See…

All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more