Scan barcode
alice_horoshev's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beccakatie's review against another edition
3.0
Waugh’s characters are varied and entertaining. They all have strong personalities and distinct foibles that make them a joy to read and laugh about.
I liked the way that the war ran mostly as an undercurrent through this book. Although it was obviously set in the army and army training, and all the characters were soldiers, there were times when it just became a mockery of upper-class preoccupations and habits, with gentle scenes of bingo. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic and focus shifts in the following books in the trilogy.
The scene with the head, however, did make me uncomfortable. The way they so casually carried it about and discussed its preservation was unpleasant and really added nothing to the book. Arguably it highlighted appalling racist and colonial attitudes of the time but it just wasn’t necessary, and it definitely made a significant impact on my engagement with the final section of the book.
I liked the way that the war ran mostly as an undercurrent through this book. Although it was obviously set in the army and army training, and all the characters were soldiers, there were times when it just became a mockery of upper-class preoccupations and habits, with gentle scenes of bingo. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic and focus shifts in the following books in the trilogy.
The scene with the head, however, did make me uncomfortable. The way they so casually carried it about and discussed its preservation was unpleasant and really added nothing to the book. Arguably it highlighted appalling racist and colonial attitudes of the time but it just wasn’t necessary, and it definitely made a significant impact on my engagement with the final section of the book.
micromys's review against another edition
4.0
Got straight into this and enjoyed it from the start, though didn't really warm to Crouchback until the last part of the book. It reminded me of Wodehouse in a strange way - the nature of the characters - and it was an easy read. A nice mix of the absurdities, boredom and unfairness of war.
drlove2018's review against another edition
3.0
I definitely enjoyed this book, even though it wasn't quite the light-hearted romp (through WWII, ahem) that I had been expecting from the blurbs on the jacket. It did, however, amply meet my need for something less dense and academic than the three books I've had going for several months now. I was able to actually finish it in relatively short order, which felt good to do since I hadn't read a book straight through cover to cover in far too long. It is rather classic Waugh (I say this based on all 2 of his novels that I've read) - sharp, dry British wit and social satire. Just the kind of humor I love, but if you're looking for a laugh-riot or a beach read in the traditional sense of the term, this ain't it. Personally, this IS what I would call a beach read and it hit all the right notes with me. Dry wit about human folly perpetrated in the unexpectedly fascinating collision of extraordinary circumstances with ordinary people, the entirety of this book defies the notion that ordinary and uninteresting are always synonymous. I plan to read the other two books that, along with this one, make up the "Sword of Honour" trilogy. I might even try to do it before the summer is over :o
exurbanis's review against another edition
4.0
Winner of the 1952 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, Britain’s oldest literary award, Men At Arms is the first part of Waugh’s The Sword of Honour Trilogy , his look at the Second World War.
It follows Guy Crouchback, the nearly-forty-year-old son of an English aristocratic family who manages to get accepted to officers training in the early part of 1940, and is eventually posted to Dakar in Senegal West Africa. While there, he inadvertently poisons one of his fellow officers and is sent home in disgrace.
That’s about all the plot there is. But the book was interesting for its look at British officers’ instruction in WWII, in contrast with other reading I’ve done which focuses on the training of rank and file soldiers, and for the insight into the chaos that was the British Army in the early part of the war: “The brigade resumed its old duty of standing by for orders.”
Waugh’s wickedly dry sense of humour is brilliant.
Read this if: you’re a fan of Downton Abbey – different war, but same country and class; or you love the subtle humour of traditional British writers. 3½ stars
It follows Guy Crouchback, the nearly-forty-year-old son of an English aristocratic family who manages to get accepted to officers training in the early part of 1940, and is eventually posted to Dakar in Senegal West Africa. While there, he inadvertently poisons one of his fellow officers and is sent home in disgrace.
That’s about all the plot there is. But the book was interesting for its look at British officers’ instruction in WWII, in contrast with other reading I’ve done which focuses on the training of rank and file soldiers, and for the insight into the chaos that was the British Army in the early part of the war: “The brigade resumed its old duty of standing by for orders.”
Waugh’s wickedly dry sense of humour is brilliant.
Read this if: you’re a fan of Downton Abbey – different war, but same country and class; or you love the subtle humour of traditional British writers. 3½ stars
joncoughlin's review against another edition
3.0
Great writer, great satirist, wondering if this series is going to go anywhere, though. The plot isn't carrying me, but maybe that's the point. Love 20th century English writing :)
oldpondnewfrog's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't really distinguish itself much. The humor was pretty well buried, sometimes I'd stub my toe on a bit of it but for the most part didn't find any.
Some occasional embers of tragedy blown on until they almost caught fire.
Apthorpe is a great creation though. He came alive with his chemical cabinet.
Some occasional embers of tragedy blown on until they almost caught fire.
Apthorpe is a great creation though. He came alive with his chemical cabinet.