Does ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ classify as a love story? This question might pop up in your mind if you’re gearing up to dive into Anthony Doerr’s critically acclaimed novel or its Netflix adaptation. Let’s unravel this literary quandary.
So, you’re curious if ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ is a love story. Well, you’re not alone in wondering about the genre of this deeply moving narrative.
The Short Form Answer: It’s Complicated
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ isn’t a love story in the traditional sense. It’s a war novel set during World War II, spotlighting the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths cross in occupied France. Their interaction isn’t romantic but profoundly impacts each other’s lives, showcasing a different kind of love
The novel’s core isn’t romance but the intersection of lives during the tumultuous times of war. It delves into themes of survival, the impact of war, and human connections beyond romantic love. So, while it doesn’t fit neatly into the love story genre, love—in its various forms—plays a crucial role in the narrative.
But What About the Miniseries?
The Netflix adaptation released in November 2023 maintains the original’s essence, focusing on the war’s backdrop and the intertwining of characters’ lives. Despite some critics finding the adaptation’s changes detracting from the novel’s complexity, the series, like the book, doesn’t pivot towards being a conventional love story.
Changes made for the screen adaptation aimed to end on a more optimistic note, yet it preserved the non-romantic expressions of love and connection among the characters, further emphasizing that ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ transcends simple genre labels.