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karen_unabridged's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't really a book to "like". It's brutal and dark and heartbreaking. In other words, it's everything a book about war probably ought to be.
dyingst's review against another edition
4.0
I should go back to rating/reviewing books
This one was good, I think it'd be an interesting counterpoint to Junger's Storm of Steel. Weird that the back cover description is almost wholly inaccurate, makes it seem like the book will be about Dartemont's adjustment to the war behind the front lines: "After he is wounded, he returns from the front to discover a world where no one knows or wants to know any of this. Both the public and the authorities go on talking about heroes—and sending more men to their graves. But Jean refuses to keep silent. He will speak the forbidden word. He will tell them about fear." But this aspect of the story takes up only a chapter or so. Odd.
This one was good, I think it'd be an interesting counterpoint to Junger's Storm of Steel. Weird that the back cover description is almost wholly inaccurate, makes it seem like the book will be about Dartemont's adjustment to the war behind the front lines: "After he is wounded, he returns from the front to discover a world where no one knows or wants to know any of this. Both the public and the authorities go on talking about heroes—and sending more men to their graves. But Jean refuses to keep silent. He will speak the forbidden word. He will tell them about fear." But this aspect of the story takes up only a chapter or so. Odd.
fictionjunky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
eddynephew's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Surely an intentional slog, but a slog nonetheless.
soopmcdoop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bumpyandfriend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
amiboughter's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent WWI novel which quickly turns into an anti-war story, from the perspective of a Frenchman for a change of pace.
"Back in 1914 I embarked on a future that I wanted to be full and rich and in fact, I've got nothing at all. I am spending my best years here, wasting my youth on mindless tasks, in stupid subservience; the life I'm living goes against everything that is dear to me, it doesn't offer me any goal but burdens me with privations and constraints, and may well finish with my death... I've had enough! I am the centre of the world, as each of us is for himself the centre of the world. I am not responsible for others' mistakes, I have nothing to do with their ambitions and their appetites, and I have better things to do than pay for their glory and their profits with my blood. Let those who love war make it, I want nothing more to do with it."
"Back in 1914 I embarked on a future that I wanted to be full and rich and in fact, I've got nothing at all. I am spending my best years here, wasting my youth on mindless tasks, in stupid subservience; the life I'm living goes against everything that is dear to me, it doesn't offer me any goal but burdens me with privations and constraints, and may well finish with my death... I've had enough! I am the centre of the world, as each of us is for himself the centre of the world. I am not responsible for others' mistakes, I have nothing to do with their ambitions and their appetites, and I have better things to do than pay for their glory and their profits with my blood. Let those who love war make it, I want nothing more to do with it."
grouchomarxist's review against another edition
5.0
Placeholder review
A pretty brutal and essential read. Lots of great historical information without much of a story. But war is like that.
A pretty brutal and essential read. Lots of great historical information without much of a story. But war is like that.