Farmgirl70 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I am planning a WW1 unit and want to require 1 piece of literature to go with it. I've narrowed it to either "Farewell to Arms" or "All Quiet on the Western Front". My ds's are 16 and 15 and I am wondering which they would most enjoy--I haven't read either in so long. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) All Quiet is not an enjoyable book, but I highly recommend it. War is not pretty. Farewell to Arms is a romance set against a commentary on the futility of war. I am probably one of the few posters who actually likes Hemingway but I think I would recommend All Quiet on the Western Front if your objective is a study of WWI. Edited February 15, 2012 by Jane in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Second vote for All Quiet. Fantastic book. Hard to read but moving. It was the saddest book that I couldn't put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmgirl70 Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 We'll be reading lots of other things, so I just want their literature component to go with the time period. They read "The Red Badge of Courage" for the Civil War and WW2 is coming up. All this war is a bit tiresome to me :tongue_smilie:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I would choose All Quiet as well. I read it in high school, and while I can't say I enjoyed it, I think it helped me understand the reality of WWI better than any history text I read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I would choose All Quiet as well. I read it in high school, and while I can't say I enjoyed it, I think it helped me understand the reality of WWI better than any history text I read. :iagree: I also assigned it to my ds for highschool. Memorable. Readable. Sad. The fact that Hitler banned it in Germany makes it even more interesting for study. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmgirl70 Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 Thanks for the input. I also asked my guys and they voted for "All Quiet on the Western Front." Perhaps we'll make it a read aloud--we haven't done that for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I am planning a WW1 unit and want to require 1 piece of literature to go with it. I've narrowed it to either "Farewell to Arms" or "All Quiet on the Western Front". My ds's are 16 and 15 and I am wondering which they would most enjoy--I haven't read either in so long. What do you think? In Love and War is a period romance set during WWI with the romance between Hemingway and an Army Nurse as the center of the plot. I came away convinced that the ending to Farewell to Arms is what it is because he still was trying to strike out at the woman he couldn't keep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Farewell to Arms is a romance set against a commentary on the futility of war. I am probably one of the few posters who actually likes Hemingway but I think I would recommend All Quiet on the Western Front if your objective is a study of WWI. I disliked Hemingway intensely when I read him, but I will admit that I probably read him too early and complicated it by reading him on my own with no input. So if I wanted to read him again what work would you suggest (I am open to a collection of short stories or novels). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I disliked Hemingway intensely when I read him, but I will admit that I probably read him too early and complicated it by reading him on my own with no input. So if I wanted to read him again what work would you suggest (I am open to a collection of short stories or novels). In my opinion, For Whom The Bell Tolls is Hem's best novel. I really like the Nick Adams short stories and the memoir A Moveable Feast. About the last: a re-edited version came out a few years ago. I have not read it but your post reminds me that I should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 All Quiet on the Western Front has been one of ds' favorite books all year... So I certainly think it's a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 All Quiet is not an enjoyable book, but I highly recommend it. War is not pretty. Farewell to Arms is a romance set against a commentary on the futility of war. I am probably one of the few posters who actually likes Hemingway but I think I would recommend All Quiet on the Western Front if your objective is a study of WWI. :iagree: Though I love A Farewell to Arms (I love Hemmingway), yep, it's a romance and for a study All Quiet is what you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Another vote for All Quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmgirl70 Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 "All Quiet on the Western Front" it is then! Thank you everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Ironically enough our book club met tonight and we are reading All Quiet for our book this month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 In my opinion, For Whom The Bell Tolls is Hem's best novel. I really like the Nick Adams short stories and the memoir A Moveable Feast. About the last: a re-edited version came out a few years ago. I have not read it but your post reminds me that I should. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 We have our kids read "All Quiet" for WW1. It is esp. good regarding the realities of trench warfare. Also Richard Thomas (Walton's John Boy) starred in a TV movie adaption from 1979. Apparently there is another adaption due out in 2012. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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