Eric Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front

A very long time since I have read a book that as been so simple and powerful. The evocation of thoughts and feelings in Paul is remarkable, not least because of the simplicity of the language and the avoidance of extreme descriptions about the grim and bloody reality of WW1 trench fighting although the visceral horror at and behind the front line is still extraordinarily grim, powerful and unvarnished. The worst scenes, for me, were in the hospitals...

The awareness and thoughtful sensitivity of the narrator were wholly convincing and one never felt that he was a particularly thoughtful and subtle individual; yes, in one important sense he was but I felt that there were/could have been many others just like him. He was( just) the unique mouthpiece in this particular story. And the story is both completely individual AND universal which I think is a difficult feat of writing and thought to bring off.

Some of the richest and most vivid writing occurs in the passages where he is aware of beauty in his surroundings, particularly, and particularly poignantly, towards the end. The description of nature and light playing on trees bringing out multi colours was particularly fine and powerful.

It remains a source of astonishment and disbelief that anyone could, survive, in any way, through this hell.

And the ending...