All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
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Book Reviews of All Quiet on the Western Front
Book Review: One of the Best Novels of All Time
Summary: 5 Stars
I never suspected that when I began reading All Quiet for my 10th grade History class, it would completely revolutionize my perspective on war. This novel flawlessly captures the confusion, bitterness, futility, and hopeless loss of human life on the battlefield. At the same time Remarque eliminates the false perception that war is glorious and honorable. The way in which the author accomplishes this is, in my opinion, without a single flaw. Written through the narrative of a young German soldier, Paul Baumer, this book succeeds in revealing an entirely new perspective to the reader. To an American reader, Baumer is "the enemy" since he is a German soldier in WWI. But through the expression of Baumer's thoughts and emotions, one quickly realizes the harsh commonality between soldiers of both sides, and the inevitable futility of war, with scores of men dying for a few inches of dirt. The images are intense and painful- choking in poison gas, trembling with fear of being shelled, and the eternal loss of faith in life itself once one has been forced to kill and be killed namelessly, facelessly, and heartlessly. The impact it has on the reader is beyond words- one has to read this book to understand the reasons why war is not all what we have been led to believe. I have never been a fan of war novels, but this book goes beyond being just another war novel. Besides offering a revolutionary new perspective on the grim truth about war, it taught me much about the sanctity of saftey, peace, freedom, and life. Although I could never truly feel what soldiers undergo physically and emotionally in war, this book is as close as one can get. All Quiet on the Western Front is a truly phenomenal novel, and I feel that everyone should read this book. It will change the way you think.Book Review: Classic , exquisitely written war novel
Summary: 5 Stars
All Quiet on the Western Front presents the perspective of WWI as told by Paul, a frontline German soldier. Within a few pages of the book, I recognized the writing as being worthy of the "classic" label and as one of the best war novels of all time. It is spectacularly written in English, though a translation from German. The novel captures the action of WWI along the frontlines, including the horror of consequences of the battles.
Within the larger picture of war, the novel tells the story of Paul and his fellow classmates who were encouraged by an enthusiastic teacher to join the war effort. Readers learn how the war is seen by them and how it effects them.
The novel shows the conflicts between the frontline soldiers and the military leaders commanding from afar. Remarque reveals how these soldiers, often fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy, see the war as useless and hope only to survive and for peace.
The narrator describes the battles and his feelings and thoughts about the war. The soldiers discuss the incoherence of their mission in the war and why the French and others are their enemies. They acknowledge a lack of enmity with their enemies and a desire to continue their pre-war lives.
As one after one of the soldiers in his company are killed and wounded, Paul becomes less optimistic about the final outcome of his battles.
This is a powerful novel that should continue to influence readers' views of war. The lessons taught in it have proved as relevant today as when they were written. It is also a well-written, intriguing book that I fully recommend for study or pleasure.
Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays
Book Review: All Quiet On The Western Front
Summary: 5 Stars
The book All Quiet on the Western Front is about Paul Baumer and a few of his classmates enlisting in the German Army. The only problem with this is that the country of Germany is in the middle on the First World War. Throughout the book, the author tries to teach the reader about the horrors of war, values of friendship, and many life lessons. As Paul is traveling throughout Germany and Russia with his friends, he experiences war in the deepest sense. Killing and watching killing as he loses friends as well as the enemy. The book is so detailed it is almost real. One night when Paul was sneaking around behind enemy line he gets stuck in a raid. He ends up spending the night in the bottom grenade hole with a dead Russian solider on top of him. It happens to be one of the solider that he shot. Nothing like shooting a man and then being forced to watch him die. He has been in the war so long that he does not even remember civilian life. He once got the chance to go back to visit his sick and dying mother and he did not know how to act. The war had changed him so much that he did not know what to do off the battlefield. He did not however, tell his mom what war was really like. "It is not as bad as everybody says mom", is al he would ever tell her for the far of her worrying about him. Then the day came when a mortar shell hit both Paul and a close friend and they began their journey home. They moved from hospital to hospital on their way home. That was almost as bad as the war. The hospitals were full of dying people that had very little chance to live. When Paul recovers from his mortar shell wound, he is not sent home like he is expecting but instead he is shipped back to the battlefield. This is were he will remain for the remainder of the war.Book Review: Absolutely Thrilling
Summary: 5 Stars
Though I'm only fifteen, I deem myself to be quite well-read. I absolutely love reading, and my haven is found in them. Hence, having read so many books, it's always been hard for me to find the several books that I think are my ABSOLUTE favorite; it's humanly impossible to choose between the myriad titles out there!
However, upon picking up this book, "All Quiet on the Western Front," which was an English assignment, I found myself captivated from the very first page. Even before reading this first page, I knew this book would be quite fascinating despite it being a school assignment, for it's written by an author who had participated on the German side of World War I, or the enemy side. All war books I've read are always from the perspective of the "good" side, but this book offers another point of view. Because of that, one gets a sense that even the enemy were human, with families that they left behind who awaited their return with sweaty palms and taut nerves.
Never had this book failed to enthrall me, not on one single page. In fact, it just got better and better with each passing line! The horrors of war, no matter from which side of the battlefield you fight, are just that: HORRORS of war; they are described "beautifully" in this fantastic piece of historical fiction.
Thus said, I recommend "All Quiet on the Western Front" to any individual who is looking for a good read. I know that most people would rather not pick up a historical war book on a rainy day for some light reading, but once this book is started, the insight just keeps you mezmerized...If I could, I would give this book ten stars, but though I can't do that, this book has become one of my favorite books ever, possibly the top three.
Book Review: All Quiet on the Western Front
Summary: 5 Stars
The greatest war novel All Quiet on the Western Front takes place during the late World War I (1917- 1918). It was taking place on the German and French front. The main character is Paul Baumer who enrolls with his companions in the German army of World War I. He is a young German soldier who is fighting in the war. He is the protagonist and the narrator of this novel. He is a kind, compassionate and sensitive man, but the brutal and bloody war teaches him to isolate himself from his feelings.
The main point of this war novel is based on how Paul Baumer and his war friends have innocently entered a bloody and terrible war, and each of them hoping for survival. After one by one each of Paul friends die, he wonders about his own life. He thinks if he will survive, and also thinks what it will be like without the war. His friends and him are dishonored by their own knowledge that they have been mentally scared beyond recovery. Paul overcame this by encountering hand-to-hand combat. Paul's sorrow at killing Duval hardens the novel's total elimination of the war and the separatist's government.
My opinion of this war novel written by Erich Maria Remarque is a sad and well-written book that leads the reader on a tough and horrible expedition through the examination of war and sadness. I felt that I was a German soldier living a terrifying life trying to survive and end the war. This book brought me into a world during World War I. I had never felt this sad ever. I really enjoyed this book and really felt what it was like during this time. I recommend this book to any person who loves to read about war novels or people who wants to experience different people's lives.