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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reflects the war of matériel rather well, and captures the spirit of camaraderie admirably as a work of fiction. I especially like the description of inexperienced recruits—very accurate. A few acts of heroism were moving, as always they would be if told adequately. The bit conveying the weariness of the combatant towards civilian pettiness—very, very to the point. The monologues are thoughtful and not boring.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
• a very poignant prose that still doesn't deny itself the less refined meanderings of its protagonist's perspective. it reads like a journal, for better and for worse
• there are many characters here whose names are semi-memorable and whose role in the plot is difficult to discern, but that's the point. Kropp, Kat, Kemmerich, Tjaden - they're all just like Paul. Faceless kids given guns and sent to war. Some are killed, some aren't. Which are which? Who can remember. It's meaningless
• I felt very deep sorrow, a great connection to the grasping of Paul's mind and soul to anything that could distract him from the horrors of war, but not in the average Hollywood cathartic payoff sort of way. Remarque prioritizes speaking to reality, not to some polished narrative
• so many fantastic, cutting lines and entire paragraphs in this book
• the sequence where Paul grapples with his killing of the French printer while attempting to get back to his trench was the most affecting for me personally
• what a powerfully powerless ending
• my only complaint with the book is the repetitiveness of some of Paul's ruminations - it's a dumb complaint as the book is clearly meant to be this way, but I did find myself skimming segments of Paul's repeated ponderings to get to the next substantial paragraph
• this book entered the public domain this year, so that's cool
• there are many characters here whose names are semi-memorable and whose role in the plot is difficult to discern, but that's the point. Kropp, Kat, Kemmerich, Tjaden - they're all just like Paul. Faceless kids given guns and sent to war. Some are killed, some aren't. Which are which? Who can remember. It's meaningless
• I felt very deep sorrow, a great connection to the grasping of Paul's mind and soul to anything that could distract him from the horrors of war, but not in the average Hollywood cathartic payoff sort of way. Remarque prioritizes speaking to reality, not to some polished narrative
• so many fantastic, cutting lines and entire paragraphs in this book
• the sequence where Paul grapples with his killing of the French printer while attempting to get back to his trench was the most affecting for me personally
• what a powerfully powerless ending
• my only complaint with the book is the repetitiveness of some of Paul's ruminations - it's a dumb complaint as the book is clearly meant to be this way, but I did find myself skimming segments of Paul's repeated ponderings to get to the next substantial paragraph
• this book entered the public domain this year, so that's cool
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
incredibly poignant prose.
“This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war.”
“This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war.”
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced