Saturday, 24 September 2011
Hello again.
I'm not sure if anyone is reading this, but if you are, feel free to comment on my posts. I like hearing other peoples opinions and it's always nice talking to people that like some of the same books, films, etc that I like.
Book: All Quiet on the Western Front.
(Major spoilers ahead, for anyone who didn't bother to read the blog description.)
Although I generally praise most things on this blog (who knows, maybe one day I'll be negative about a film or book) this one definitely stands out as one of my favourite books. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is a German anti-war novel published in 1929. Because of it's anti-war message, the book was amongst those burnt in Nazi Germany.
Although I generally praise most things on this blog (who knows, maybe one day I'll be negative about a film or book) this one definitely stands out as one of my favourite books. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is a German anti-war novel published in 1929. Because of it's anti-war message, the book was amongst those burnt in Nazi Germany.
All Quiet on the Western Front is one of my favourite war books because instead of it portraying the main character as a typical "hero" (strong, muscular, fearless, never goes wrong, etc) and the opposing army as the evil enemy, it simply tells the story of Paul; an ordinary boy sent off to fight in a war he never really wanted in the first place.
Paul is convinced by his teacher to go to war, as are his classmates. In his mind, the teacher feels that by sending these boys off he is doing a good deed for his country. In reality, he is sending them off to be hurt or killed.
At several points in the book it is made apparent that Paul doesn't feel that what he's doing is right, especially when we come to the scene in which he kills a French soldier and spends the time in the trench with him promising that he will write to his family and tell them exactly what happened to him. He also comments several times that there isn't much difference between him and the supposed 'enemy' and he's not honestly sure why they are fighting any more.
Throughout the book we are told of his life during the war, and we slowly watch him change from the optimistic young boy we saw at the beginning of the book to a man who feels that his home town is now "foreign" and now sees his previous interests (and life) as a "distant memory." The war has, essentially, taken away his youth. One by one his friends are killed around him, and eventually, so is Paul himself. The ending lines of the book took my breath away, and so far it is one of the only books I can honestly say has made me cry. I fully expected it because many of the young men sent off to fight didn't get a happy ending but it still broke my heart because not only have you become quite attached to Paul, you also realise that this happened to millions of young men. A whole generation were stripped of their youth and possibly lives due to the first world war (and countless other wars before and after), people just like you and me, and that is what devastates me the most.
The book makes you realise that at the end of the day, regardless of what 'side' you are on, we are all human and we are not so different to one another.
Paul is convinced by his teacher to go to war, as are his classmates. In his mind, the teacher feels that by sending these boys off he is doing a good deed for his country. In reality, he is sending them off to be hurt or killed.
At several points in the book it is made apparent that Paul doesn't feel that what he's doing is right, especially when we come to the scene in which he kills a French soldier and spends the time in the trench with him promising that he will write to his family and tell them exactly what happened to him. He also comments several times that there isn't much difference between him and the supposed 'enemy' and he's not honestly sure why they are fighting any more.
Throughout the book we are told of his life during the war, and we slowly watch him change from the optimistic young boy we saw at the beginning of the book to a man who feels that his home town is now "foreign" and now sees his previous interests (and life) as a "distant memory." The war has, essentially, taken away his youth. One by one his friends are killed around him, and eventually, so is Paul himself. The ending lines of the book took my breath away, and so far it is one of the only books I can honestly say has made me cry. I fully expected it because many of the young men sent off to fight didn't get a happy ending but it still broke my heart because not only have you become quite attached to Paul, you also realise that this happened to millions of young men. A whole generation were stripped of their youth and possibly lives due to the first world war (and countless other wars before and after), people just like you and me, and that is what devastates me the most.
The book makes you realise that at the end of the day, regardless of what 'side' you are on, we are all human and we are not so different to one another.
Hello.
I've changed the theme and I don't like it because it's bright and vile but I will work on changing it soon once I gather up the energy.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Just started reading "The Wasp Factory" by Iain Banks.
Taken from my parents bookshelf, as many books of mine are, after a recommendation from my father. The shelves are huge and cover an entire wall.
So far, so good. I'll post more when I'm further into the book.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Film: Son of Rambow.
This contains slight spoilers, I suppose.
Ah, this film is one of my favourites. I saw this on the first day it came out in cinemas and I remember me and my dad being the only ones in the cinema. I had no idea why, because I absolutely adored the film. Written/directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Nick Goldsmith, Son of Rambow is a film set in England in the 80's about two boys; the religious, sheltered Will and the troublemaking Lee. Will meets Lee after an incident at school, and is shown his first film which happens to be "Rambo: First Blood." Due to his religion, Will has never been allowed to watch television and is instantly drawn in.
Lee, often left at home alone with his older brother, decides to make a film for a young film-makers competition called "Screen test." He gets Will to agree to be his stunt-man, and thus drama and hilarity ensues.
The film itself is a heart-warming tale of the friendship two very different children growing up in the 1980's and certainly leaves a big impression on the viewer. I remember looking everywhere to find it on DVD, and when I did I watched it over and over again. It's definitely one to watch in summer.
I thought the way the different backgrounds affected the children was handled expertly, and the way religion affects Will and an often absent mother affects Lee was portrayed beautifully and realistically. The film is heart-breaking in places, yet also has the viewer snorting with laughter and grinning with happiness. All in all, it's well worth watching and I recommend you do so as soon as possible.
Ah, this film is one of my favourites. I saw this on the first day it came out in cinemas and I remember me and my dad being the only ones in the cinema. I had no idea why, because I absolutely adored the film. Written/directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Nick Goldsmith, Son of Rambow is a film set in England in the 80's about two boys; the religious, sheltered Will and the troublemaking Lee. Will meets Lee after an incident at school, and is shown his first film which happens to be "Rambo: First Blood." Due to his religion, Will has never been allowed to watch television and is instantly drawn in.
Lee, often left at home alone with his older brother, decides to make a film for a young film-makers competition called "Screen test." He gets Will to agree to be his stunt-man, and thus drama and hilarity ensues.
The film itself is a heart-warming tale of the friendship two very different children growing up in the 1980's and certainly leaves a big impression on the viewer. I remember looking everywhere to find it on DVD, and when I did I watched it over and over again. It's definitely one to watch in summer.
I thought the way the different backgrounds affected the children was handled expertly, and the way religion affects Will and an often absent mother affects Lee was portrayed beautifully and realistically. The film is heart-breaking in places, yet also has the viewer snorting with laughter and grinning with happiness. All in all, it's well worth watching and I recommend you do so as soon as possible.
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