The reason they call it the black obelisk of Shalmaneser III, is because it commemorates the deeds of one King Shalmaneser III. ", A Remarqueable book. Germany in the 1930's is not an easy topic but the delicacy with which Remarque handles it, the power in his language and the judgments he makes of the country, its people and of all mankind are faultless. I thought this book would be more about Hitler and I was waiting for it all along, because I would definitely enjoy it in his style of writing. It meant German workers were paid twice a day with a break in the morning so they could rush out with suitcases or wheelbarrows full of cash and try to buy a loaf of bread or anot. The 1998 Emir Kusturica movie Black Cat, White Cat contains a scene where a lady nicknamed Black Obelisk pulls a nail from a wooden beam using her behind — a direct reference to the Remarque novel where a certain Frau Beckmann is said to pull off the same feat. We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. Many of the characters are involved in funeral monuments, casket making, and grave digging. Picked as my book group read by one of the members I was looking forward to something great from this book The copy I got from the library was a lovely Hardback First Edition from 1957 and the only copy of the book in the Montgomery County Library system I couldn't find the correct photo of it so the one above from will suffice It was originally written in German so I am always nervous about translated books A poor translation can kill a great book In this case I thought the translation was superb and the writing flowed very well Despite a dark topic Hyperinflation in Germany between the two world wars a ruined generation coming out of the First World war and the business of tombstones it was actually uite humorous in places The characters were very well described and most of them came to... (Sign in to see more), Gennadyi Very, very enjoyable and worth it as a read. Ludwig is the main character. Can you really stay sane in a society gone crazy? The best description of this book is the one that the author himself gave: The story of a belated youth. Yes, for what am I alive? The story is told with a dark humor as if the situation is so pathetic it is funny. This books has everything you need for a mesmerizing story: death, love, passion, madness, inflation, a bordello, Nazis get beaten up...what more can you ask for in a book? This book covers the same eternal questions, absurdity, hardships and people, who seek to remain just people, they eat, they drink, they celebrate, they contemplate, they doubt in the light of tragic events. Read Books 2020, Kindle , Hardcover , Paperback , Audiobook &, Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fiction and Illusions. Picked as my book group read by one of the members, I was looking forward to something great from this book. I was attending an event at the Royal College of Physicians of London in early March 2016, and I had a plenty of time to spare. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. However, the author manages to balance out the existential crisis, wh. A tale of survival and loss, a damaged youth and a hopeless future. It is as gory and bloodcurdling a history as we know. I will still try Remarque after this one as he d. The plot is clear and the writing style flows nicely, therefore, the book can easily be read in just one large sitting, however, the lack of emphasis on the point in the story is quite an distraction. It's ok, the book is great. The best description of this book is the one that the author himself gave The story of a belated youth For me it is a novel about youth understood in the most poetic sense of the word and told in the most unpretentious manner possible It's a sincere story, Lora Grigorova Ludwig gets more and more attached to her, feeling a "pure" love for her because she sees the world so differently. The economical strain on the country is well represented, as is the social environment of a small town dealing with its small people. Irony, humor, relatable characters, and words in every line which make a profound impact on the reader. The Black Obelisk Assyrian national history, as it has been preserved for us in inscriptions and pictures, consists almost solely of military campaigns and battles. This is historical-fiction that puts a small German town (60,000) under a microscope for the last 9 months of 1923. Only when reading Remarque one gets an irresistible urge to google "How to stop being afraid of death?". Genevieve is the only one able to create a seemingly collected new life, leaving Ludwig behind, assembling his broken pieces. Death? Remarque with his uniquely melancholic v. A tale of survival and loss, a damaged youth and a hopeless future. Despair? One of his girlfriends is in the asylum. It's apocalyptic but there's no wailing or gnashing of teeth, this is real (in the same way All Quiet on The Western Front is real), people continue to struggle through their lives from day to day. A lot of events are connected to women. The apocalyptic feeling is only heightened by the protagonist working at a tombstone company, hence the title. It is a good example of narrative that couldn't have been more simple and descriptive. Even now I'm astonished with his words, words which break through my tiny ironic skull and lied down everywhere. Well... Hitler does make an appearance in two sentences at the end of the book. Some are subtle, others represent all immoral, yet common behaviour. It's one of the most important secrets of living.”, “I want to think and at the same time that's the last thing in the world I want to do.”. I read Remarque, when I feel a need to stay all day in bed and do nothing else, but read. Isabelle and Ludwig have lost a part of themselves their innocence and dreams and they hold onto their core self without finding a place of their own in the “new modern world” Genevieve is the only one able to create a seemingly collected new life leaving Ludwig behind assembling his broken pieces Remarue with his uniuely melancholic voice has shaped my teen years creating space in my own mind for paradoxes and uncertainty, Hazel I will still try Remarque after this one as he describes the landscapes in a great, detailed and superbly entertaining manner, just after some break. The story of Germany after the war, the inflation, the forgotten veterans, the rise of the nazi party. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Although aspiring to be a poet, he works for a friend, Georg, managing the office of a small tombstone company. The writing is poetic, the philosophy is fantastic, and the characters are unique and delightful. Two years ago, Jan van der Crabben (founder and CEO of the Ancient Happiness? Remarque had a gift, an ability to write the mundane better than any other. Isabelle and Ludwig have lost a part of themselves, their innocence and dreams, and they hold onto their core self without finding a place of their own in the “new modern world”. Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? It meant German workers were paid twice a day with a break in the morning so they could rush out with suitcases or wheelbarrows full of cash and try to buy a loaf of bread or another necessity. She is there for being schizophrenic and considers herself to be "Isabelle" most of the time. The inversely proportional relationship between happiness and profoundness makes us feel powerless. I felt that he needed to get to a stronger conclusion by the end or that he could have split the book up into several smaller books with each of the separate story lines standing on their own. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. In this book, the author explains better than anyone else, the mechanism of the hyperinflation of the 1920's. From the author of the masterpiece All Quiet on the Western Front, The Black Obelisk is a classic novel of the troubling aftermath of World War I in Germany. Black Obelisk is a refreshing book, honest and with very good humor. A Remarqueable book. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough but I realize it won't be for everyone. This book really impressed me with its original ideas about life and death, "crazy" and "normal" people, atheism and faith and with its ironic views about everything.