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beachy123's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
didn’t really enjoy this book. Only read it as it was part of a reading challenge. It was endlessly depressing but then I imagine war on the Eastern Front was depressing. I couldn’t really identify with the characters and the I didn’t find the plot engaging at all.
flavius_nichifor's review against another edition
5.0
A gritty depiction of the life of a ww2 soldier written with a great amount of detail that send shivers into the spine of the reader.
I feel somewhat guilty to say this, but I liked the manner in which the wartime was painted: the uncountable loss of human lives, especially young ones, the feelings of dread, fear, insanity and hopelessness combined into a first-person confesion of a simple soldier, that is enrolled into the nazis forces against his will, and forced to take part in numerous crimes against humanity, all for the sake of the illusions of a rotten form of government.
Even though there are plenty of fighting scenes that deliver the utmost vivid images of the grey muddy war zone, soaked in human blood and innards, this book has some great passages that underline the post-war effects this event had on the survivors. The times the characters get to spend with their beloved ones, or their families, only to later be sent again into the hellish depths of a new front.
The overall tone of the book leaves close to no room for optimistic views, left for some scarce moments of humanitarian behavior between the soldiers from opposite sides.
The author's point of view is clear, war is meaningless, born only from the ambition of devious people, that put too little, or no value on the human life they have to sacrifice in order to achieve their goal. Not only this, but the survivors are left in such a state, that reintegration in the society is so far from them, that suicide seems like a more mercifull choice.
Overall, a great book, I highly recommend it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next ones from this series.
I feel somewhat guilty to say this, but I liked the manner in which the wartime was painted: the uncountable loss of human lives, especially young ones, the feelings of dread, fear, insanity and hopelessness combined into a first-person confesion of a simple soldier, that is enrolled into the nazis forces against his will, and forced to take part in numerous crimes against humanity, all for the sake of the illusions of a rotten form of government.
Even though there are plenty of fighting scenes that deliver the utmost vivid images of the grey muddy war zone, soaked in human blood and innards, this book has some great passages that underline the post-war effects this event had on the survivors. The times the characters get to spend with their beloved ones, or their families, only to later be sent again into the hellish depths of a new front.
The overall tone of the book leaves close to no room for optimistic views, left for some scarce moments of humanitarian behavior between the soldiers from opposite sides.
The author's point of view is clear, war is meaningless, born only from the ambition of devious people, that put too little, or no value on the human life they have to sacrifice in order to achieve their goal. Not only this, but the survivors are left in such a state, that reintegration in the society is so far from them, that suicide seems like a more mercifull choice.
Overall, a great book, I highly recommend it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next ones from this series.
tom42's review against another edition
3.0
Very similar to All quiet on the western front but obviously set in World War 2 rather than World War 1. Does drag in places and is relentlessly brutal and pessimistic. Is a bit heavy handed with its message at times. Over all its an OK read.
frahorus's review against another edition
4.0
Un doloroso ritratto biografico della Seconda Guerra Mondiale vissuta dal soldato Sven Hassel, assieme ai suoi compagni. Magistrale narrazione dell'inferno della guerra, evento che distrugge persone e cose, cuore e anima di tutti i popoli. Preferisco non aggiungere altro, ma solo alcune frasi dello stesso autore sulla guerra: " Preferirei poter essere umano. Preferirei poter dire di non nutrire nessun istinto sanguinario; ma ancora oggi vedo rosso quando penso, o peggio incontro, coloro che incitano alla guerra, tutti quegli idioti che apertamente, o con infide insinuazioni, spingono ai conflitti i popoli e coltivano gli istinti bellicosi dei singoli individui. Conosco i risultati delle attività mostruose di questi propagandisti, commentatori, fanatici, freddi affaristi e avidi politicanti. Razza di vipere da distruggere, facciamoli uscire dai loro nascondigli, dalle loro tane, e che sia finita con loro."
saj_81's review against another edition
4.0
I can't quite decide if I should label this one fiction or non-fiction... The author clearly says that he is describing personal experiences, but I do believe he has taken some artistic liberties. As a compromise I'm labeling it as historical, but not non-fictional.
The story is a bit of a blur since I read the first two books in the series in a row (and am using this same review for both), but I guess it suffices to say that war is hell indeed and there's no shiny heroics to be found in these books.
The story is a bit of a blur since I read the first two books in the series in a row (and am using this same review for both), but I guess it suffices to say that war is hell indeed and there's no shiny heroics to be found in these books.
karabadzhakova's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
books_with_tess's review against another edition
4.0
How can one even rate a book like this....! It’s intense, grotesque, full of gallows humor and completely devoid of glossing over the horrific nature of WW2.
It’s worth a read, for sure.
“De var frontsvin, de som vi, og selv om vi hadde ligget og skutt på hverandre fordi makthaverne hadde bestemt at vi skulle være fiender, så var følelsen av solidaritet og kameratskap av langt større betydning enn dekreter som ikke hadde noe med virkeligheten å gjøre.»
It’s worth a read, for sure.
“De var frontsvin, de som vi, og selv om vi hadde ligget og skutt på hverandre fordi makthaverne hadde bestemt at vi skulle være fiender, så var følelsen av solidaritet og kameratskap av langt større betydning enn dekreter som ikke hadde noe med virkeligheten å gjøre.»
niniblaga's review against another edition
5.0
I loved every word. Old Man, Sven, Porta, Little...my boys. <333