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All Quiet On The Western Front / Job
Both of these classic novels were written during the Weimar period in Germany, 1919-1933. All Quiet on the Western Front is the story of Paul Baumer, a young soldier who enlisted in the German army with youthful enthusiasm just before World War I, only to find himself destroyed by the brutality of trench warfare. His poingnant tale is not a treatise on the inhumane nature of combat, but rather the story of one ordinary young man's life-changing experience. As Remarque opens his "This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it." Joseph Roth is a writer who, in the words of Joan Acocella in The New Yorker, is being rediscovered. Job, the Story of a Simple Man tells the tale of Mendel Singer, a Russian emigre on his way to New York. He is confronted by a series of devastating misfortunes that challenge his faith in God. Roth parallels the biblical books of Job in the style of a Yiddish his ordinary protagonist survives the worst before experiencing a miracle that restores his faith. Both authors served during World War I, Remarque with the German army and Roth with the Austrians. The shared thread of hope and endurance through these stories serves as a reflection of their here are two versions of the young World War I soldier's experience-one a vivid depiction of the reality of combat, the other a parable of faith through life's trials.
261 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1929
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 14, 2008
I've read this book a couple times and think its just stunning. My grandfather served in World War I on the German side and I know its irrational, but this book makes me feel a little closer to him. He died long before I was born and no one knows the details of his service, at this time. He was injured at least once that we know of and I have a photo of him in a hospital gown with his uniform hat on. He also was drafted to serve in WWII. I think its a testament to the power of this book that it is still considered one of the most profound anti-war novels and it remains on summer reading lists for high schoolers. The Marine Corps also includes it on their professional development reading lists for Marines. I served in the Marines but they didn't have a professional reading list back in the 80s!
January 11, 2011
This book is often called "The greatest war novel of all time" (it says so on the front cover of my copy, actually, printed directly below the title). It certainly is this.
Most other war books that I have read--here I am thinking specifically of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls--war is merely the setting for the story of love or whatever. In this book, on the other hand, the war itself is the story. You relive the horror and alienation of WW1, from the point of view of a German soldier.
The only downside is that this style of warfare no longer exists. I suspect that the soldiers currently at war cannot relate to this book. It is a taste of war, yes, but it is a taste of our grandfathers' wars.
Most other war books that I have read--here I am thinking specifically of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls--war is merely the setting for the story of love or whatever. In this book, on the other hand, the war itself is the story. You relive the horror and alienation of WW1, from the point of view of a German soldier.
The only downside is that this style of warfare no longer exists. I suspect that the soldiers currently at war cannot relate to this book. It is a taste of war, yes, but it is a taste of our grandfathers' wars.
February 29, 2008
After reading All Quiet on the Western Front (written by Erich Maria Remarque), I feel very differently towards World War One particularly, but also to war in general. Prior to reading this book, I had no desire to know of the horrors that take place in a time of war. However, this book, though very graphic at times, has shown me many new insights on war. I always imagined the horrors of war to be things visible to the eye; physical wounds. But by the end of this book, I see that the horrors that take place in the minds of the soldiers that fight in the war are so much more terrifying. War not only has the capability to destroy bodies, countries and populations but also to destroy hope, ways of thinking and purpose in life.
All Quiet on the Western Front follows the story of Paul, a German soldier. His journey in the war as a 20 year old healthy young man starts off strong, with a very brave and nationalistic mindset. Friends on every side and plenty of rations add to his excitement of being on the front line fighting for his country. However, this sort of thinking is very short-lived. By the end of the first chapter, and after the death of one of his friends, Paul insightfully reflects “Youth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk” (18). The amount of sorrow these young men must endure shows in this quote. A common understanding about “old folk” is that they have seen and experienced many things, including much hardship. By likening themselves to “old folk”, Paul gives readers an understanding of how hard life on the front lines is. There is another quote that is probably the most telling of all of how distorted a soldier’s view of life can become because of war. Paul says,
“I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another. I see that the keenest of brains in the world invent weapons and words to make it yet more refined and enduring. And all men of my age, here and over there, throughout the whole world see these things; all my generation is experiencing them with me…Our knowledge of life is limited to death” (173).
Paul’s view of life is entirely without purpose or hope. He has seen so much in the short time he has been in the war, so much so that he has forgotten everything of life before the war. His life has become nothing “but despair, death [and] fear…” I had not realized before I read this book the lasting affects of war on not only a soldier’s body, but in their minds. All Quiet on the Western Front is very eye-opening, fantastically written, and although gory at parts, an overall incredible and gripping read.
Paul also makes a very interesting thought when he says, “And men will not understand us…now it will return to its old occupations, and the war will be forgotten…” (190). This is one of Paul’s closing remarks in this book. It seems that the author is alluding to Remembrance/Veteran’s Day. That is a step that society has taken to ensure that this sacrifice will not be forgotten. I know that the next time Remembrance Day comes around, I will think of it differently. Now that I understand a little bit better what the soldiers really and truly endured by going to war, and how terrible it was for them to do so, I’m sure I will be more grateful for their sacrifice.
All Quiet on the Western Front follows the story of Paul, a German soldier. His journey in the war as a 20 year old healthy young man starts off strong, with a very brave and nationalistic mindset. Friends on every side and plenty of rations add to his excitement of being on the front line fighting for his country. However, this sort of thinking is very short-lived. By the end of the first chapter, and after the death of one of his friends, Paul insightfully reflects “Youth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk” (18). The amount of sorrow these young men must endure shows in this quote. A common understanding about “old folk” is that they have seen and experienced many things, including much hardship. By likening themselves to “old folk”, Paul gives readers an understanding of how hard life on the front lines is. There is another quote that is probably the most telling of all of how distorted a soldier’s view of life can become because of war. Paul says,
“I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another. I see that the keenest of brains in the world invent weapons and words to make it yet more refined and enduring. And all men of my age, here and over there, throughout the whole world see these things; all my generation is experiencing them with me…Our knowledge of life is limited to death” (173).
Paul’s view of life is entirely without purpose or hope. He has seen so much in the short time he has been in the war, so much so that he has forgotten everything of life before the war. His life has become nothing “but despair, death [and] fear…” I had not realized before I read this book the lasting affects of war on not only a soldier’s body, but in their minds. All Quiet on the Western Front is very eye-opening, fantastically written, and although gory at parts, an overall incredible and gripping read.
Paul also makes a very interesting thought when he says, “And men will not understand us…now it will return to its old occupations, and the war will be forgotten…” (190). This is one of Paul’s closing remarks in this book. It seems that the author is alluding to Remembrance/Veteran’s Day. That is a step that society has taken to ensure that this sacrifice will not be forgotten. I know that the next time Remembrance Day comes around, I will think of it differently. Now that I understand a little bit better what the soldiers really and truly endured by going to war, and how terrible it was for them to do so, I’m sure I will be more grateful for their sacrifice.
June 12, 2009
Another book I read for English. It's about a young man in Germany who joins the war during WWI. Interestingly enough, it was his priest who told him and all of his friends they had to join the war for God and country. You sort of read the 'enemies' point of view in a way but really you could have swapped out the main character for an American boy and it would have been the same story. A young man who joins a senseless war and has to live through years of trench warfare. I think by the end of the war he was fighting with 14 and 15 year-olds b/c the German's were losing. It was a good book, kind of opens your eyes that the real scars of war are mental not physical.
April 22, 2010
All Quiet On The Western Front was pretty depressing. There wasn't too much happy or anything in it, and it dragged sometimes. If I didn't have to read it for school and had chosen it of my own volition, I think I probably would have enjoyed it more, though it did get pretty horrific at some points. I didn't really enjoy the rather graphic (though weirdly, but accurately described) detail so much, but to each his own style of writing.
February 23, 2008
This was a very sad but matter-of-fact type book. It paints war in its harsh detail. I found it fascinating what people did/didn't do to survive the mental struggles of being a soldier. It makes me so grateful for the many soldiers who even today do what they do so that we don't have too. War is a sad sad thing.
April 16, 2008
I read this book about ten years ago. I think it is a must read for every young person who is contemplating a military career. I think it is one of the most beautifully written and devasting novels I have ever read.
January 19, 2013
Anyone who thinks going to war is a fun adventure, read this. Think again. When people start shooting at you, trying to kill you, it is no fun. And never did you do anything to that person that is trying to kill you. You are both innocent.
February 26, 2017
Read from the perspective of German soldiers in WWI, this was a very interesting book that helps to show that on either side of a conflict, there are good people. None of that, I'm good and my enemies are bad nonsense.
February 23, 2008
Again I'm getting sentimental, another book all children and adults should be forced to read and digest.
WAR, what is it good for, a real look into life on the front in WW1
WAR, what is it good for, a real look into life on the front in WW1
February 24, 2008
The description of the mustard gas really freaked me out.
February 27, 2008
Had a lasting impact on me.
February 27, 2008
This was a real page-turner. The hardships the soldiers endured during WWI were unbelievable. The author does a remarkable job of portraying the mentality of a soldier on the front.
December 19, 2019
read this in high school, massively enjoyed it then, which means i will probably enjoy it a lot if i read it now
Read
March 2, 2008WOW, what a great book. It really makes one wonder why war is so wonderful. Very deep!!
April 11, 2008
Banned in countries going to war for decades afterwards, this book takes a stunning look at the human cost of warfare, especially trench warfare.
April 11, 2008
First read this in high school. Love it!
April 11, 2008
The only book ever to have made me cry.
January 6, 2009
Interesting journey into the mind of a Ist world war soldier. I was surprised(positevely) by the violent descriptions from behind enemy lines.
Read
June 2, 2009Should have read it in high school. Holds up beautifully in its passionately dispassionate description of war and all its horrors. A classic indeed.
Read
August 1, 2009I'm a TR fan but this book changed my attitudes towards war. I'm sure it changed his too after losing his son to it.
June 20, 2010
This book brought much new understanding of WWI and Germany mentality. It discusses the woes of war on the body and the mind of individuals and society.
November 18, 2011
I walked away from this book struck by how terrible and senseless war is. And how much it changes people. Really quick, haunting read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews