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sams84's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say about All Quiet on the Western Front? It has left me feeling emotionally confused yet numb and weighed down by an immense mourning that I can't explain, nor would I want to. Remarque's work is vivid yet simple, taking the reader on a journey into the bowels of Hell itself (and no I don't think that is an exaggeration, far from it actually) as Paul Baumer and his schoolfriends move from the innocence of the classroom to the grim, gritty reality of the 1914-1918 Western Front. As the shells and bullets rain down, their innocence is stripped away leaving behind their raw, experienced yet still young souls behind.
Remarque obviously draws on his own experiences at the Front in telling this heart-rending tale of the young men on both sides of the War who sacrificed not just their lives, but their souls to fight, whether they agreed or even understood why they were there (after all how can countries declare war as one mountain cannot insult another, nor a stream, nor a wood, nor a field).
Say what you will about this book , the author's intentions or war itself, reading this book will leave you a more forgiving, respectful and understanding person than before. This is the tale of everyone of the lost generation who fought, bled and died in the trenches and Remarque does them and their sacrifices justice and honours them well, as should we all.
Remarque obviously draws on his own experiences at the Front in telling this heart-rending tale of the young men on both sides of the War who sacrificed not just their lives, but their souls to fight, whether they agreed or even understood why they were there (after all how can countries declare war as one mountain cannot insult another, nor a stream, nor a wood, nor a field).
Say what you will about this book , the author's intentions or war itself, reading this book will leave you a more forgiving, respectful and understanding person than before. This is the tale of everyone of the lost generation who fought, bled and died in the trenches and Remarque does them and their sacrifices justice and honours them well, as should we all.
kweb6's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
eulix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
luxile's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
norelie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alexandra_allert's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
lottie_c's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
rosalindpoet's review against another edition
3.0
i understood the point of this all quiet on the western front: the pointlessness and futility of war, the endless, meaningless cycle of death with no real resolution... the way to the soldiers, war benefits no one. i get that and everything, and it made its point very well. unfortunately, it felt pretty endless and futile to keep reading this book. not that i fought a war against it to finish... but i kind of did, a little bit.
it just dragged on... and on... and on... and on. they went to the front. they were shelled. maybe there was some poison gas. the new people died because they were inexperienced. one of paul's friends died. they went back to camp. they killed an animal. they went to the front. they were shelled. the new people died. they went to a hospital. they went back to camp. they went to the trenches. one of paul's friends died. these aren't spoilers, because this cycle literally happens over and over for 300 pages. bo-ring.
so, yeah, i would feel bad giving it less than three stars, because it was well written, and it did illustrate the point it was trying to make. but unfortunately, it did so in the most boring way possible. i liked the movie better.
it just dragged on... and on... and on... and on. they went to the front. they were shelled. maybe there was some poison gas. the new people died because they were inexperienced. one of paul's friends died. they went back to camp. they killed an animal. they went to the front. they were shelled. the new people died. they went to a hospital. they went back to camp. they went to the trenches. one of paul's friends died. these aren't spoilers, because this cycle literally happens over and over for 300 pages. bo-ring.
so, yeah, i would feel bad giving it less than three stars, because it was well written, and it did illustrate the point it was trying to make. but unfortunately, it did so in the most boring way possible. i liked the movie better.
mattyd2468's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This was really good. And especially so to read it on remembrance day. What an absolute waste war is. It really makes you realise how unfair it is that the consequences of the actions of a few were drastically felt by so many especially the very young people on the front line.
tee207's review against another edition
I need to reread this. It took me a while to get use to the kind of writing, just the dairy like, jumping around it does. Its not hard to follow but I found myself not enjoying the story in the beginning becuase it lacked that "story" aspect. But I think it is good and deserves a second read through. Rating pending.