I thought this book was both beautiful and devastating. The prose was poetic and although it could be difficult for me to read at times, I loved the realistic imagery and that it did not glorify war. I was shocked to find out that the author had written this in his mid twenties without having ever been a soldier. 

The only thing that makes this 4 stars for me instead of 5 stars is that while Crane showcased the complexity of the MC's thoughts and his internal battle, the change of heart he had about halfway or 3/4 through the book seemingly came from nowhere. I think it was a plausible development, but maybe not as quickly as it seemed to have happened. I wonder if the book would have been slightly more impactful if he had died in a meaningful way instead of making it out unscathed.