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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
"A man cannot realize that above much shattered bodies there are still human faces in which life goes its daily round. And this is only one hospital, one city station; there are hundreds of thousands in Germany; hundreds of Thousands in Russia; hundreds of thousands in France. How senseless is everything that can ever be written, done, or thought when such things are possible. It must all be of lies and of no account when the culture of a thousand years could not prevent this stream of blood being poured, in these torture chambers of hundreds of thousands. A hospital alone shows what war is."
Even as one of the greatest war-novels of all time simply for the language and brutality of its language and almighty power as an anti-war novel, the one thing I love about this book especially is how the descriptions of the sick, dead, dying soldiers and animals being tortured or slaughtered or killed endlessly shows no exaggeration nor secrecy. Remarque knew that wards could never describe the true horrors of war and even delved into this idea head-on during the chapter of this book when Baumer is on his very regrettable leave. Not only is this book disturbingly realistic and unnerving, there's also a fair dash of humor throughout the novel, which makes me cherish this book even more. I agree with the back-cover when it calls this the best war book ever... just maybe not the whole 'best' part. I'd put Slaughterhouse-Five above this, but All Quiet on the Western Front deserves the recognition and the acclaim. Above all: it is haunting.
Even as one of the greatest war-novels of all time simply for the language and brutality of its language and almighty power as an anti-war novel, the one thing I love about this book especially is how the descriptions of the sick, dead, dying soldiers and animals being tortured or slaughtered or killed endlessly shows no exaggeration nor secrecy. Remarque knew that wards could never describe the true horrors of war and even delved into this idea head-on during the chapter of this book when Baumer is on his very regrettable leave. Not only is this book disturbingly realistic and unnerving, there's also a fair dash of humor throughout the novel, which makes me cherish this book even more. I agree with the back-cover when it calls this the best war book ever... just maybe not the whole 'best' part. I'd put Slaughterhouse-Five above this, but All Quiet on the Western Front deserves the recognition and the acclaim. Above all: it is haunting.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Allein mit Worten erschafft Remarque Unbehagen, Unverständnis, Übelkeit und einen tiefen Schnitt ins Herz. Große Antikriegsliteratur!
It is impossible for me to review this book. It is impossible to talk rationally about it, to engage with it on a literary and/or historical level. This is a book that is steeped in emotion and hopelessness, that has more than earned the title of "war classic".
This is a book far bigger than its 200 or so pages.
This is a book that words fail to define or adequately describe.
This is a book that I would review by weeping and repeating "this book, this book" or by listing adjectives that will never seem to be enough.
Often, I don't hold for books people must read, but this book has more that earned its place on that list.
I don't hold for hyperbolic descriptions of books – books that wholly represent a nation, a generation, a war, the lost generation of men who were all ruined by the war that was meant to end all wars – but I would make the exception for this.
All Quiet On The Western Front is an intrinsically emotional read. It is the perfect representation of the lost youth of World War I. It is beautiful, and terrible, an awesome read. You must read this book.
This is a book far bigger than its 200 or so pages.
This is a book that words fail to define or adequately describe.
This is a book that I would review by weeping and repeating "this book, this book" or by listing adjectives that will never seem to be enough.
Often, I don't hold for books people must read, but this book has more that earned its place on that list.
I don't hold for hyperbolic descriptions of books – books that wholly represent a nation, a generation, a war, the lost generation of men who were all ruined by the war that was meant to end all wars – but I would make the exception for this.
All Quiet On The Western Front is an intrinsically emotional read. It is the perfect representation of the lost youth of World War I. It is beautiful, and terrible, an awesome read. You must read this book.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Obviously an intense book. I really like how the author describes scenes and plays with emotions. Stylistic it is very well written.
Some scenes were a bit too slow for my taste, especially when the protagonist started philosophizing and describing situations in a rather abstract way (but it rarely happened). I didn’t know many (probably old) words even though I read the book in German.
Apart from these minor issues I loved the book and would recommend it to everyone (in case it is a realistic portrayal which I assume).
I can’t think of a reason why anyone shouldn’t read this book.
There is no glory in war. War may at times be necessary, but it is hell, and this book reminds you of that.
There is no glory in war. War may at times be necessary, but it is hell, and this book reminds you of that.