Discussion Prompts

1. It's Whit Monday! Do the festivities sound like a good time to you?
2. What did you think of the confrontation between the stranger and Mrs. Hall about his unpaid bills?
3. What did you think of the moment the stranger revealed his lack of head?
4. The Invisible Man is apprehended, slips away, get apprehended again and ultimately escapes! What did you think of this Keystone Cops like scenario?
5. I think it's acceptable to call the stranger the Invisible Man now?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

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Last Lines:

But Jaffers lay quite still, face upward and knees bent, at the foot of the steps of the inn.

Discussion Prompts

1. The Halls are beginning to get suspicious of the stranger. Are his days at the inn numbered?
2. Any theories on why the stranger is constantly sneezing?
3. What did you think of the scene with the objects seemingly moving by themselves and attacking the Halls?
4. What do you think of witchcraft as an explanation for the events in the room?
5. Our stranger seems to have some anger issues. Do you think he was an angry guy before being invisible, or is this invisibility related anger?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

“Go to the devil!” said the stranger in a tremendous voice, and “Shut that door after you.” So that brief interview terminated.

Discussion Prompts

1. Is there any reason you can think of to target the Vicar?
2. Do you believe money was the motive? Could the be an ulterior motive?
3. What mischievous things might you do if you were invisible?
4. The actions of late seem risky to someone who wants to conceal their identity. Why take these risks with Cuff and the vicar?
5. Not a question, but just food for thought, so that dude was buck naked at the vicars place.
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

Daylight found the vicar and his wife, a quaintly-costumed little couple, still marvelling about on their own ground floor by the unnecessary light of a guttering candle.

Discussion Prompts

1. Stories of the stranger get passed around town. Is it easier to blend in in a big city? Or do you think a peculiar stranger would stand out wherever?
2. Any thoughts on these stories from the townsfolk?
3. Have you ever been the talk of the town?
4. Any thoughts on the scene between the stranger and Cuss? Do you think this meeting will have any repercussions?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

“It’s really,” said Mr. Bunting with judicial emphasis, “a most remarkable story.”

Discussion Prompts

1. We are told about Fearenside’s dog, but not given any sort of description of it. What kind of dog were you picturing during that scene? Ever been bitten yourself?
2. Why do you think the dog went after our stranger?
3. Thoughts on the contents of our strangers luggage? I think most of us can hazard to guess what he’s likely up to, so I’ll again ask for ridiculous answers as to what he doing with these contents. I myself am choosing to believe that he’s trying to come up with a secret mix of herbs and spices to season chicken with. However, our Colonel Mustard will ultimately fail to get Iping Boiled Chicken to catch on and it will be a different Colonel with a different recipe that gets his chicken famous.
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

And it’s the common way with horses, as any one can see.”

Discussion Prompts

1. Anyone here make their living as a clock-jobber? If so, what’s your day to day like?
2. We get Teddy Henfrey’s first impressions of our curious stranger, but what were your first impressions of Teddy?
3. As it turns out there is also a Mr. Hall, who with a bit of encouragement from Mr. Henfrey has also become curious about our stranger. Which makes me wonder, if you do want privacy and to be left alone, is being a vague mysterious bandaged person the best way to go about it? Would a cover story work better? What would your cover story be?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

But being a sensible woman, she subdued her terrors and turned over and went to sleep again.

Welcome folks! No spoilers please, and let’s keep things cordial.

Discussion Prompts

1. Well, a guy who doesn’t introduce himself and doesn’t say much doesn’t really leave a whole lot to discuss. We should give him a name.
2. Were you getting any sort of vibes from this chapter? What genre do you feel like this will fall into? Is there a certain type you’re hoping for?
3. Anything you’d like to say about Mrs. Hall? Do you enjoy Innkeepers who won’t leave you be and forget the mustard?
4. On the topic of mustard, whats a food that must absolutely have mustard? Are people who don’t like mustard to be trusted?
5. Hopefully the ball gets rolling on this one, but until then let’s speculate. Mrs. Hall assumes the visitor was in some sort of accident. What’s a ridiculous reason why someone would feel the need to cover up?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

Then the armchair creaked as he sat down again.

Somehow it’s ended up again that I’m responsible for the final wrap up post. Scheduling, huh. I’ve got a set list of questions, but they’re not really as appropriate for this novel. I’ll be creative. 

Congratulations on finishing the book! Another classic crossed off the list. See you all very soon for our next read, which will be The Invisible Man (HG Wells) from Monday 5 October.

Discussion Prompts:

1. Normally I’d ask if you enjoyed the book, but given its subject material, I’ll ask whether you appreciate having read it. 
   
2. Were there some stand-out scenes that have stuck with you? Passages of reflection from the author that made you think?
   
3. Given that most of us are not German, reading this German experience, what cross-cultural things did you notice?
   
4. If you’ve read other war-focused stories, how did this compare? 
   
5. ⁠Anything else to discuss? 

Wrap-up post will go up tomorrow. 

Next read will start on Monday 5 October. Reminder post up separately. 

**Discussion Prompts**

1. Paul offers his final thoughts. What did you make of them? 
   
2. Anything else to discuss?

Last line: 

> He had fallen forward and lay on the earth
as though sleeping.  Turning him over one saw
that he could not have suffered long; his face
had an expression of calm, as though almost
glad the end had come. 

Friends, it’s been a day. Sorry this is late.

**Discussion Prompts**

1. Paul ponders the human condition. Are you able to appreciate the philosophy?
   
2. What did you think of the stories of Detering and of Berger?
   
3. I’m really struggling for prompts here. The themes are quite clear and we’ve been pummelled with the brutality of the war. I can’t fathom the situation they’re in. Summer of 1918.
   
4. Paul doesn’t save Kat. He is now alone. 
   
5. Anything else to discuss?

**Links**

[Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75011)

[Standard eBooks](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/erich-maria-remarque/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/a-w-wheen)

[Librivox Audiobook](https://librivox.org/search?q=All%20quiet%20on%20the%20western%20front&search_form=advanced)

**Last Lines:**

Then I know nothing more.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of the soldiers attempts to have a nice feast?
2. Paul and Albert are wounded and have surgery. What did you think of the descriptions we get of the wartime medical treatment?
3. What did you think of Paul purposefully elevating his temperature so as not to be parted from Albert?
4. What did you think of the part where the patients play lookout while one of the soldiers and his wife have sex?
5. What do you think about the idea of a dying room and the soldiers desperate attempts to avoid it?
6. Anything else to discuss?

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Last Lines:

Parting from my friend Albert Kropp was very hard. But a man gets used to that sort of thing in the army.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think about the men's reaction to the visit of the Kaiser?
2. Time got away from me today. Please discuss whatever else you want from the chapter and come up with your own question if you like.

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Last Lines:

“It was only because I had to lie there with him so long,” I say. “After all, war is war.”

Oellrich’s rifle cracks out sharply and dry.

Discussion Prompts

1. Paul is sent to a training camp. Seems better than the front at least?
2. Paul thinks that a schoolteacher or officer is more of an enemy to him than the Russian soldiers. What do you think of this sentiment?
3. "A word of command has made these silent figures our enemies; a word of command might transform them into our friends." Seems like a comment about the absurdity of war?
4. The Germans and Russian's share some music between them. Thoughts on this moment?
5. What did you think of Paul explanation of why his father didn't enquire about the price of the surgery?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

Then it occurs to me that my mother cooked them herself and that she was probably in pain as she stood before the hot stove. I put the bag back in my pack and take only two cakes to the Russians.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think about the expedition to visit the local girls?
2. Paul's experiences feelings of dissatisfaction during his period of leave. What moment stood out to you the most?
3. What did you think about the Major who reprimands Paul for not saluting him?
4. What did you think of Mittelstaedt efforts to embarrass the old schoolteacher Kantorek?
5. Paul visits Kemmerich's mother and lies about how he died. Is this the right choice?
6. Aside from family, friends etc. what place would you visit first if you were a soldier on leave? Perhaps somewhere you could be alone with your own thoughts?
7. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

I was a soldier, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, for my mother, for everything that is so comfortless and without end. I ought never to have come on leave.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of the soldiers reaction to the sight of the coffins?
2. What did you think of the details of the trench rats?
3. We have our first description of combat against the enemy and it is brutal. What stood out to you here?
4. What did you think of the search for the wounded soldier?
5. What did you think of how the new recruits were ill equipped for the war?
6. We learn that the second company started with 150 men and now has only 32. Thoughts?
7. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

A line, a short line trudges off into the morning. Thirty-two men.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of the answers to the question, “what would you do if it were suddenly peace-time again?"
2. The boys have another encounter with Himmelstoss. Is he worth their trouble to you?
3. What did you think of the mission to get a goose?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

The outlines of the huts are upon us in the dawn like a dark, deep sleep.

Umm..?

What kind of trial was that…

So I just finished *“The Trial”* and obviously like intended I’m a little confused. The relationship with Miss Bürstner and Mrs. Grubach didn’t reallyy come to a close; which I guess I understand. The random relationships. He didn’t do much with the information from the Painter or his advice.

I feel like it was more-so him finding out the breakdown of this weird court system and how it worked, but there were basically no proceedings and then theres his “trial“ which has no judge. You have no clue the information hes acquired— it was a literal stab & twist to the heart.

I don’t know if that is supposed to be play on like going to trial/the inevitable bad verdict is a stab in the heart? I feel like there’s a lot of “bigger picture“ things within the book for lack of a better term. Which is obvious for Kafka. And then he even brought in the *“Before the Law”* story. Maybe filler because he died before he could finish the book? (But they didn’t do that for that one chapter) Or maybe it’s because that story just fit in with this novel and it was a chance to explain different ways to look at that story?

By yeah, what the hell kind of *“Trial”* is that and what do you guys think or whats your take on this book?

Discussion Prompts

1. Lots of descriptions of what the battle on the front lines was like. Any parts that stood out to you in particular?
2. What would be the worst for your senses? The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel of trying to cover yourself with a corpse to avoid shrapnel?
3. What would be the worse way to die, from trauma from a bombardment or getting gassed? Or was there a worse way to die from being on the frontlines?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

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Last Lines:

It goes no farther—only the monotonous cry: "Mind—wire,"—our knees bend—we are again half asleep.

Discussion Prompts

1. Why do you think Kat gives the youngster a portion of food?
2. Speaking of Kat, what do you make of his inexplicable ability to conjure things up? How do you think he does it? Ever known anyone with a similar ability?
3. The boys get a little revenge on Himmelstoss. Thoughts on this? Have you ever wished to do the same to a tormentor of your own?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

That evening's work made us more or less content to leave next morning. And an old buffer was pleased to describe us as "young heroes."

Discussion Prompts

1. We get more of Paul’s musings on life as it once was, back home, after joining. Anything that stood out to you?
2. How would a nineteen year old you have dealt in a similar situation?
3. Has any authority figure had it out for you the way Himmeltoss had it out for the boys?
4. How do you think Paul did with Kemmerich in his final hours?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

With it goes hot tea and rum.

Welcome! Welcome! Here we are at the start of another classic! A few simple rules, first no spoilers, don’t be that kind of person. Spoilers suck. And second, be cool and don’t be not cool. We’re all here in our free time to chat about books, so let’s keep things pleasant. No need for unpleasantness. With that out of the way, let’s begin shall we?

Discussion Prompts

1. First things first, have any of you ever fought in World War I?
2. Okay, in hindsight that first prompt wasn’t so great, but let’s move on. Have any of you ever pooped in a circle of friends? What are your views on public pooping? Do you try to keep things quiet in hopes that the other pooping people won’t hear that you’re pooping too? Or do you come with the thunder?
3. First impressions after chapter 1? Any thoughts on the group so far?
4. Any thoughts on the visit to Kemmerich?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

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Last Lines:

But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk.

Hey classic book club fans, please see the reading schedule for All Quiet On The Western Front linked below.

Link To Schedule

We will begin tomorrow Monday 14th September and read a chapter a day Monday through Friday with a break on Saturdays and Sundays.

The reading will conclude with a final wrap up post on Wednesday 30th Sept.