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soris 's review for:
The Forgotten Soldier
by Guy Sajer
This was ... interesting. I'm sure by now most people know that despite the book's claims, this is not a war memorial. It may be based in part on Sajer's (real name Guy Mouminoux) own experiences during World War II, but is ultimately a fictional novel. That's not really a problem for me. The book feels accurate for the most part, and with the exception of a couple of literally-two-pages-long patriotic speeches recited word for word two decades after the fact doesn't really strain credibility that much.
So the content is largely fine. My problems with the book are linguistic. The original book was written in French and then translated into English, and the translation isn't amazing. Sometimes sentences read strangely, probably because they weren't really localized into English but rather just translated almost word for word. Sometimes it seems like the book is actually trying to say the literal opposite of what is on the page, and I had to read some paragraphs several times as I tried to decide what meaning the book was actually conveying.
The book also doesn't seem to have a great grasp on military terminology. Sometimes, especially when using German terms, Sajer (or the translator) has provided a brief explanation, which isn't necessary for anyone who knows their Stukas from their Spandaus, but seeing as the book's content warrants attention outside military enthusiast, is a good inclusion. Sometimes it does not, though, which can get confusing especially when it seems like terms are being misused. For instance, the book often mentions mysterious "geschnautzes, which has prompted a multi-year debate on the true meaning. Some people insist it was a term of affection for Sturmgeschütz assault guns, others say that the usage (the book mentions them being pushed or pulled by crews, or being hitched up to tractors for transport, which would be a bit weird for self-propelled guns) suggests Sajer just got the terms confused and was talking about anti-tank guns or something. He also often calls heavy machine guns "SMGs" (or, again, the Germans had some kind of strange and mysterious half-track vehicle with an "anti-tank SMG" mounted on it) and so on.
Maybe this wouldn't bother someone who isn't as big a stickler for these things as I am, and it didn't ruin the book for me either. But it would have been nice to get a better translation, and also to fact check this strange terminology with Sajer before his death in early 2022. Even now the book is definitely worthwhile because it's a war novel with a lot of self-reflection about the actions of German soldiers during World War II, and their public perception after the war. It's a very French novel about a very German war experience, if that makes any sense, and it deserves the best possible platform it can get.
So the content is largely fine. My problems with the book are linguistic. The original book was written in French and then translated into English, and the translation isn't amazing. Sometimes sentences read strangely, probably because they weren't really localized into English but rather just translated almost word for word. Sometimes it seems like the book is actually trying to say the literal opposite of what is on the page, and I had to read some paragraphs several times as I tried to decide what meaning the book was actually conveying.
The book also doesn't seem to have a great grasp on military terminology. Sometimes, especially when using German terms, Sajer (or the translator) has provided a brief explanation, which isn't necessary for anyone who knows their Stukas from their Spandaus, but seeing as the book's content warrants attention outside military enthusiast, is a good inclusion. Sometimes it does not, though, which can get confusing especially when it seems like terms are being misused. For instance, the book often mentions mysterious "geschnautzes, which has prompted a multi-year debate on the true meaning. Some people insist it was a term of affection for Sturmgeschütz assault guns, others say that the usage (the book mentions them being pushed or pulled by crews, or being hitched up to tractors for transport, which would be a bit weird for self-propelled guns) suggests Sajer just got the terms confused and was talking about anti-tank guns or something. He also often calls heavy machine guns "SMGs" (or, again, the Germans had some kind of strange and mysterious half-track vehicle with an "anti-tank SMG" mounted on it) and so on.
Maybe this wouldn't bother someone who isn't as big a stickler for these things as I am, and it didn't ruin the book for me either. But it would have been nice to get a better translation, and also to fact check this strange terminology with Sajer before his death in early 2022. Even now the book is definitely worthwhile because it's a war novel with a lot of self-reflection about the actions of German soldiers during World War II, and their public perception after the war. It's a very French novel about a very German war experience, if that makes any sense, and it deserves the best possible platform it can get.