Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

In January we will be reading All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque for our War & Travel category - who's in?

Yes I’m in!

I'm in. Just cracked it open today

I'm in.

I've read it many times, and I'm curious to hear from first-time readers.

I just finished it a couple months ago and gave it 5 stars. I look forward to the discussion.

One of the saddest and truest novels I have ever read.

I placed holds on all formats of this book but don't seem to be gaining any ground. The only thing I can figure is that it's in the local school district curriculum for this month.

A new film version also just got nominated for a slew of Oscars so the book could be getting a lot of attention it hasn't had for a long time.

Kimberley. Try Open Library. I think the original English translation is out of copyright, so you can borrow an online copy there.

Okay, my review.

*****

I agonised over the rating I gave this book. For its historical importance and impact and for the visceral punch, it's a definite 5, but for the writing and pacing and occasional languorous section, then it's really just a high 3 for me. I've ended up on a 4, and still feel bad about it.

It definitely reflects its newspaper serial origins, which is I think the crux of the problem I have. Each chapter feels separate and disjointed. The format of vignettes, would be reused in many other books about war, prison etc - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, or The Things They Carried use a similar plotless form to give the feeling of a journalistic reportage. And it works, but it can also mean that when there's no impetus within the action, it falls a bit flat.

However, this book hits home to me, from a British perspective, because it shows that the German youth were tricked in the same way as the British youth - patriotic older generation who don't have to fight, sending them to die in horrific, industrial ways that had never been encountered before, to fight a battle that isn't theirs, that they don't understand and that they won't benefit from. And in this book, those youths are being killed by British bullets, British bombs, British gas.

In my country, we're used to the German army being the bad guys. Here, we're the bad guys.

*****

it is a tribute to this book that I almost never see anybody rate it at other than 4 or 5 stars!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...

I've finally read this, and I'm glad I did. The descriptions of Paul's inner turmoil were so real and raw, they could only have been written by someone who actually fought in the war. Paul tried to protect himself by suppressing his emotions and concerning himself only with the superficial, but after the visit home all he had been trying to suppress came to the surface more and more.

Phil wrote: "Okay, my review.

*****

I agonised over the rating I gave this book. For its historical importance and impact and for the visceral punch, it's a definite 5, but for the writing and pacing and occ..."

"However, this book hits home to me, from a British perspective, because it shows that the German youth were tricked in the same way as the British youth - patriotic older generation who don't have to fight, sending them to die in horrific, industrial ways that had never been encountered before, to fight a battle that isn't theirs, that they don't understand and that they won't benefit from. "

I had tried to let this go. Yes we all hate war peace is good and the young fight the wars and so forth. At some point the historic facts just get washed away . The real history matters.

The causes of WWI are as easy to muddy as any, but among other things
It was WILDY popular. With all ages and classes. Governments were more likely to fall than to stand if they resisted popular demand.

As a percentage there were far more older folks trying to stop it then the older generation in any war ever seems to get credit.

If you have to go deeper-
One side was determined to reduce the other to colony status. That side did not want to be a colony,

Colonies were supposed to be established far from Europe. Europe was past the age of being available for colonization. Europe knew what it meant to be colonized and was not going to let it happen to them.

The actual plans, one side had for the other was a subordinate status where no one, young or old was likely to be happy It would at some point get very violent, including violent with the backing of industry to get rid of colonial masters.

The other side, wanted colonies. There was very little " allowable" space for colonies. Like many another colonizer, they sincerely believed that anyone rendered into their colonial status was to consider themselves lucky.

WWI was an especially stupid war. Failure to fight it by the time shots were fired in that August, would have been a huge blunder , in one word stupid.

The real problem was that the issue was forced, among the old and young and the balance was in the hands of those who passionately wanted it.

Phrodrick wrote: "Phil wrote: "Okay, my review.

*****

I agonised over the rating I gave this book. For its historical importance and impact and for the visceral punch, it's a definite 5, but for the writing and p..."

Thanks for the great response. Food for thought.