Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Im Westen nichts Neues

This is probably the most graphic and depressing novel I have ever read. While originally written in German, none of the effectiveness and pain in Remarque's writing is lost through its English translation. Remarque's novel demonstrates the stupidity of war - how young, poor men (who are really only children) are forced to sacrifice their lives only to profit their government and military leaders.

Throughout the novel, the main character, Paul Bäumer, and his fellow soldiers become lost and dissociated as they attempt to navigate through the horrific reality of war. The soldiers in themselves embody a complex role - they are victims to their government's greed but they are also aggressors to the enemies, who are men and boys just like themselves.

I see many similarities and differences to Tim O'Brien's biography "If I Die in a Combat Zone" which delves into O'Brien's experience as an American foot soldier in the Vietnam War. While Remarque and O'Brien's accounts are separated by 50 years of technological and tactical development, there are multiple similarities, such as toxic and incompetent military leadership, trench warfare, the grief of losing one's comrades, and the unwillingness to even use the word "death" - for O'Brien, death called getting "wasted" and for Remarque death is called "rot". Therefore, while the technology in warfare will change, the similarities of military leadership exploiting the young and poor and leaving generations of men dissociated and traumatized is a constant.

I highly recommend everyone to read All Quiet on the Western Front - however, note that this is a very distressing read and can be especially distressing for those who have served. Please consider viewing content warnings about this book before reading.

Content Warnings

thegreatbigben's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Recommended by Lydia.

Was a really good read. Starts off nice and just gets sadder as the book goes on. I saw the Netflix movie a while ago and thought it was really good, but this book was on a different level in comparison.

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pbraue13's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

There is a reason this book is considered the best war novel of all time. Rather, the greatest ANTI-War novel of all time. I remember watching the film adaptation of this book from the 30s in my history class and the image of Paul reaching for the butterfly lingers forever in my memory. Ever since then I have always wanted to read this book. Now I can say I have, both reading it physically in my little battered second-hand paperback copy and listening to it on audio (and let me say the narrator is the kind of person you want to read you a horrific war novel as he has such a great, soothing voice that eases you into the horrors of the book).
Written post-WW1, Remarque wrote this as a way to talk about how he felt the war destroyed his generation, not just in the trenches, but mentally and spiritually as well. He, a German man conscripted to the trenches of WW1 at the age of 18, had come out of it disillusioned with power structures, patriotism, and how he experienced pain. The book follows a young boy named Paul Baumer after he joins the army in a patriotic frenzy and the horrors he faces. I cannot convey just how angry this book is (and rightfully so). There are almost journalistic passages where the author describes bombs being dropped, gruesome injuries, and fighting off hoards of rats thoroughly and without emotion. These literal traumas of war are sandwiched between contemplations of the psychological state of the soldiers and their powerlessness in their situation. Something that clearly many identified with as the book was super popular upon its publication around the world.
Another interesting aspect of this novel and its film adaptation is its life post fame and as the world entered WW2. The book does not glorify the war or Germany. In fact, while the author is German and the main character fights in the German army, the book does not play sides and does not really mention who is fighting who very often. This did not go over well with Hitler who believed the book and film were American propaganda that insulted the "Fatherland", believing it painted Germans as cowards. Nazi's threw stink bombs in and attacked the premiere of the film in Germany and both the film and all of Remarque's books were banned/burned by the nazis. It was banned because it dared to say the controversial opinion that "War is bad" and that was dangerous to those in power who wanted a war. If that is not an endorsement as to why you should read this book (especially in todays climate) I don't know what is.
The book leaves you in a cold sweat and your eyes teary after you've finished it. I sank into my seat on the bus ride home from work after finishing it feeling emotionally spent. It's a stark depiction of the gruesome realities of war and one everyone should and must read.

5/5 stars

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