all the light we cannot see

i've read a myriad of wonderful novels this month ("the house at tynneford" by natasha solomons,"bread alone" by judith hendricks, "goodnight june" by sarah jio) but none quite so riveting as anthony doerr's "all the light we cannot see". (the non-fiction book he wrote while on sabbatical to research this one is also great writing, see also "four seasons in rome" very funny and touching). set largely in france's walled citadel of saint-malo by the sea (now a popular tourist destination) "all the light we cannot see", a decade in the writing, is set in differing time periods in the 1930's and 40's, going forth and back in time until two main characters converge. i was so mesmerized by this book that i looked for excuses to read every single one of doerr's 530 pages. the perfect excuse came today when the august temperature soared, melting blackberries on the vine and everything else in it's summer rays. "gee, darn", i thought to myself, "i might just have to stay in where it's cool by the air conditioning and finish this book...wouldn't want to get heat stroke after all..." at some points i literally forgot to breathe, abandoning my bookmark and some meals, staying up too late at other times...falling asleep with it in my lap only to wake up in the morning and read, sometimes even before making coffee (that's a big deal, folks, i'm a person who makes coffee before she goes out to coffee, so that's saying something). no big surprise that it's wanted back at the library where a queue of people wait for me to return it...having no idea just what a thrilling ride they're in for!