This post contains affiliate links. I read All the Light We Cannot See several years ago, and it became one of my top five all-time favorite books. Since then, I have read it twice more, and I’m more impressed each time than the last. I eagerly look forward to the movie based on the book coming out on Netflix. But when I read Cloud Cuckoo Land, I was disappointed. I wondered if my expectations were too high for Doerr after reading All the Light We Cannot See. However, I recently read About Grace by Anthony Doerr, and I’m happy to report that while this book isn’t as beautiful as All the Light We Cannot See, it is a good book, which I enjoyed.
About About Grace by Anthony Doerr
About Grace is told by narrator Winkler–a man who has dreams that predict the future. His first dream happened when he was a young boy. He was shocked and horrified when he experienced what he saw in his dream. His life was never the same after that.
Winkler goes on to have a somewhat normal life, but after his daughter, Grace, is born, he is haunted by his dreams, and his life is irreparably changed.
Only when he is much older does he seek to make amends for his life decisions.
My Thoughts on the Book
Doerr’s other two books I read have multiple storylines; in the end, all the characters connect in somehow. I love that about his books; when I read them, I can’t help but wonder how all of the characters will come together. However, About Grace has one storyline, which does not detract from the story.
I loved the simplicity of About Grace, as well as the impossible position Winkler is in with his dreams. We all sometimes say we’d like to see the future, but what if we had that ability and what we saw was not good? Would we try to change the future? Would we let things happen knowing that to do so might mean the death of a loved one? How would we know which dream will come true and which is just a bad dream? These are the questions and thoughts Winkler has to wrestle with, and in the end, the burden is too much and costs him most of his joy for life.
I give About Grace by Anthony Doerr 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Mom’s Plans’ scale.
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