Some things that I'm not keen on in books:
1. Short chapters
2. No really strong plotline
3. Final mysteries left unsolved.
This book had all three .... and I really, really enjoyed reading it. I'm not going to say I love it, just because I did still have a couple of reservations about it, but it was close to getting full marks.

The constantly changing viewpoints actually worked rather well - they mainly flit between Marie-Laure and Werner, first as young children just before the outbreak of WWII right through to the aftermath, but there are also chapters by the other minor characters. At first the two stories are very dissimilar - Werner is an orphan, determined to do anything not to go down the mines of his hometown, but realising that the Nazi school he ends up instead is not such a great alternative. Marie-Laure is a blind girl, living in Paris with her father, who works at a museum and ends up involved in diamond smuggling. Throughout the book, you are convinced that the two stories will merge so that they become integral to each others lives...but when they do, they barely interact, although you could say they save each others lives in some way. Then they are ripped apart by the war again, the two stories to divert and then briefly re-join at the very end of the book.

The language is beautiful and whereas I would normally prefer a fast-paced, action driven plot, I found myself quite happy to become lost in the words. Some of the chapters seemed slightly irrelevant and yet they were still an enjoyable snap shot of the characters lives.

The end of the book was suitably melancholy and with a few unanswered questions - but I kind of liked that.

A fantastic, enjoyable read that I'm glad was given to me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Here’s a special box of goodies from one booklover to another. I hope you enjoy reading your books and enjoying the Christmas candy.
HAVE A GREAT FESTIVE SEASON

Thank you very much for my festive box of goodies it was very kind of you, Merry Christmas ��

This just wasn’t for me, I struggled with the overly descriptive language and just wasn’t committed or interested enough in the characters to continue.

Gave a big bag of books to my mum after a sort out.