All the light we cannot see

as many books about WWII as there are, and as many as I've read, there always seems to be a little more... feeling? meaning?.. that can be squeezed out.
I truly enjoyed this tale of 2 separate narrators, alike only in age, who are destined to meet. perhaps the girl's story was more compelling - coming from the point of view of being blind. fear inside war is strong enough. now add being abandoned and blind; the terror is nearly too much to take.
I didn't need the update to 2013. not everything needs to actually tie to the present day to mean something. the war itself has merit on it's own.