Title of Book: All Quiet on the Western Front
Author: Erich Maria Remarque
# of Pages 295
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Why This Book has Value:

Cameron Denney

L.Long

Jeffco Virtual Academy

6-22-16

A book worth reading is hard, especially with how busy everyone is now. All Quiet on the

Western Front is definitely worth the time. It captures a very unique perspective; it’s from world

war one but it’s not from the side you would expect. It’s actually from the perspective of a 19

year old German soldier, Paul Baümer and his experiences in the war. It shows the not so

clean side of war, all the dirt, the grime, and the blood. In a truly elegant statement the author portrays the intent of the book “it will simply try to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war.”(Remarque Preface) The reason it's worth a read, is because it shows a piece of history that is seen very little, especially as we get farther away from the world wars. As time goes by the people who have experienced this in person will no longer be around to tell us about the events that happened. Remarque conveys the horridness of war to those who have never been nor ever will be there. One excellent example from the book is “So I crawl away to the farthest corner and stay there, my eyes glued on him, my hand grasping the knife--ready, if he stirs, to spring at him again.”(Remarque 216) When these events are recorded in an artful way, it is important to learn from our past. This is very cliche but we are doomed to repeat the past if we don't learn from it. As expressed by the main character Paul ““Comrade”, I say to the dead man, but I say it calmly, ”today you, tomorrow me. But if I come out of it, comrade, I will fight against this, that has struck us both down; from you taken life--and from me--? Life also. I promise you, comrade. It shall never happen again.”(Remarque 226)