Truly, in my opinion, one of the greatest books ever written. It has ripped my heart out every time I’ve read it—and you are correct that its message is still hauntingly relevant.
I read this when I was in 5th grade and remember how deeply affected I was by it. I don't think I
had read anything prior which had such an emotional impact on me. One of the things that stuck with me was how this was a story about an "enemy" and how I could easily identify with him. It wasn't an assigned reading, I came across it as a paperback I found that had an interesting cover. I had no idea going in what it would be about.
There are so many books which have influenced and affected me, I read all the time, and I can't imagine who I would be if they had never been read, and yet it seems kids are not reading much at all any more. There will be consequences to that we don't realize yet.
There is an empty internal space I fear is being filled by the likes of Tiktok……. no comparison.
Years ago I was working with juveniles refered from criminal justice system, frequently diagnosed with “indequate personality development”…today that would be Tiktok brain.
They used to call WWI "the war to end all wars"... over a century later, we're still talking about wars to end wars. There's something tragic about how each generation rediscovers the same illusion, that violence can exhaust itself through more violence.
I agree. The 2023 film version was faithful neither to history nor to Remarque's novel, and I was baffled when it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, which ought to have been awarded to the Irish film, "The Quiet Girl".
Truly, in my opinion, one of the greatest books ever written. It has ripped my heart out every time I’ve read it—and you are correct that its message is still hauntingly relevant.
I agree. And proof of how important literature is!
I read this when I was in 5th grade and remember how deeply affected I was by it. I don't think I
had read anything prior which had such an emotional impact on me. One of the things that stuck with me was how this was a story about an "enemy" and how I could easily identify with him. It wasn't an assigned reading, I came across it as a paperback I found that had an interesting cover. I had no idea going in what it would be about.
There are so many books which have influenced and affected me, I read all the time, and I can't imagine who I would be if they had never been read, and yet it seems kids are not reading much at all any more. There will be consequences to that we don't realize yet.
I think about that all the time - how important it is to promote literacy for kids, now more than ever. Kind of thing that keeps me up at night
There is an empty internal space I fear is being filled by the likes of Tiktok……. no comparison.
Years ago I was working with juveniles refered from criminal justice system, frequently diagnosed with “indequate personality development”…today that would be Tiktok brain.
They used to call WWI "the war to end all wars"... over a century later, we're still talking about wars to end wars. There's something tragic about how each generation rediscovers the same illusion, that violence can exhaust itself through more violence.
Absolutely. A never-ending cycle.
I too read the book in my teens, and cried. Never wanted to reread it and go through that again. The 1930s movie is very good also.
Very timely! Thank you for the reminder. It is a great book. Time to find it again.
Thank you! It sounds strange to say that it’s one of my “favorites” given its subject matter, but truly a masterpiece.
Nice work Nicole 🌐✍🏼🕰️
Read the book for the first time in 1977.
The new movie does not do justice to the book.
Yes, I think it’s impossible to reach the level of Remarque’s narration - it’s meant to be a novel.
I agree. The 2023 film version was faithful neither to history nor to Remarque's novel, and I was baffled when it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, which ought to have been awarded to the Irish film, "The Quiet Girl".