Sama-Sama Book Club - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

About the book

Set in WWI Germany, this classic war novel tells the story from the perspective of a young soldier, Paul Bäumer. The author writes through Bäumer's eyes, showing how young men were taught to romanticise notions of patriotism, only to come face to face with the daily horrors of the trenches. This book mainly depicts the struggles the young soldier faced, both physically and emotionally, on the French border, as well as the deeper sentiment of being part of the “lost generation” and the dehumanising experience of the battlefield.

Themes and topics for discussion

• The brutality, futility, and romanticisation of war

• Desensitisation to violence

• The disconnect between soldiers and civilians

• Camaraderie in difficult times

& more!

About the author

Erich Maria Remarque was a German novelist best known for  All Quiet on the Western Front, inspired by his World War I service. His anti-war views drew condemnation from the Nazi regime, forcing him into exile. He fled to Switzerland and later the United States, where he became a naturalised citizen and continued writing.

About Sama-Sama book club

Sama-Sama Book Club aims to bring together individuals from different backgrounds to read various books from a Singaporean or Southeast Asian lens. Whether the text is secular or set in an unfamiliar culture, there is always something within a book that we can resonate (or disagree) with and connect us.

About Maktaba Books

We run regular book clubs and host a peer-to-peer community library where people can share and borrow books for free. We love the idea of making knowledge more accessible and fostering the reading culture here in Singapore. Follow us on Instagram! @maktaba_books

Registration and Attendance

• Registration is required for this programme. Please register one ticket per person.

• Attendance will be taken using the NLB Mobile app. Please download the app ( https://go.gov.sg/nlbmobile-attendance ) or update it to the latest version.…