Arch of Triumph / Triumfal'naya arka
by Erich Maria Remarque
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 158)
Read in March, 2008
This was a nice departure from Remarque's previous works; though romantic interests were involved, overtones of the onset of international conflict were more pronounced. Still, he remains the "Last Romantic".
As always there were beautifully crafted descriptions and great character development. Prepare to be caught in a whirlwind of French language, medical jargon (comprehendible if you took anatomy) and historical references that I personally found necessary for dialog to function ...more
As always there were beautifully crafted descriptions and great character development. Prepare to be caught in a whirlwind of French language, medical jargon (comprehendible if you took anatomy) and historical references that I personally found necessary for dialog to function ...more
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I was blown away by this book. It is very old and still it touches on some things that are universal and beyond restraints such as time.
It's set in the illegal refugee community in Paris during the second world war, and the protagonist is a not too sympathetic doctor, who practises illegally for pittances, drinks himself down more or less every night because of his insomnia, has casual relationships when he doesn't play chess with a Russian refugee friend of his, has countless political dis...more
It's set in the illegal refugee community in Paris during the second world war, and the protagonist is a not too sympathetic doctor, who practises illegally for pittances, drinks himself down more or less every night because of his insomnia, has casual relationships when he doesn't play chess with a Russian refugee friend of his, has countless political dis...more
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I read this after seeing the movie made of the story. The movie is great, but the book is better. The sense of what life was like for 'unacceptable' people during the years leading up to WWII is heartwrenching. The thing I came away with is how horrible it is not to feel that you belong anywhere. Even if the only feeling of belonging you have is loving another person, that can be enough to save you and keep you going. Remarque writes beautifully of people living at the fringes of society, the on...more
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I don't know why Remarque isn't more widely read today. This book in particular makes me think he's the German F. Scott Fitzgerald, with a little Hemingway and added Weltsmerz thrown in.
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great book..its a book of love and suffering...a jewish doctor who works in Paris with an illegal status and his love story with a beautiful woman...its a very suspensful novel
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highly recommended for anyone who likes to read about heavy subjects in a light tone. like a literary bacon cheeseburger with no fat - i loved it.
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Read in January, 1989
About German anti-Nazi refugees in France, how poorly they were treated, how they survived
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