All the Light We Cannot See

24 June, 2015
Author: Anthony Doerr
Genre: Fiction
Category: Heywood Hill Readers

Recommended by Heywood Hill Reader David Astor

'The two best books I have read in the last month both have unmemorable and not dissimilar titles. The first is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr; it takes place in the second world war and much of the narrative is related by a blind girl. It's utterly compelling. The second is In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haidu Rahman.  This is a brilliantly written modern day account of an exceptionally clever young man from Bangladesh who makes his way into English society. The author was born in Bangladesh and went to Balliol so there just might be a touch of autobiography concealed in the narrative.'

On himself: David Astor's working life has involved small time venture capital, politics and the Arts. If he had spent less time reading books he might have been more successful.