ŷ

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Shadows in Paradise

Rate this book
After years of hiding and surviving near-death in a concentration camp, Ross is finally safe. Now living in New York City among old friends, far from Europe's chilling atrocities, Ross soon meets Natasha, a beautiful model and fellow migre, a warm heart to help him forget his cold memories.

Yet even as the war draws to its violent close, Ross cannot find peace. Demons still pursue him. Whether they are ghosts from the past or the guilt of surviving, he does not know. For he is only beginning to understand that freedom is far from easy--and that paradise, however perfect, has a price. . . .

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

263 people are currently reading
3,827 people want to read

About the author

Erich Maria Remarque

221books5,773followers
Erich Maria Remarque was a German novelist best known for All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), a landmark anti-war novel based on his experiences in World War I. The book became an international bestseller, defining a new genre of veterans� literature and inspiring multiple film adaptations. Its strong anti-war themes led to condemnation by the Nazi regime, which banned and burned his works.
Born Erich Paul Remark in 1898, he adopted the surname Remarque to honor his French ancestry. He served on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded, and later pursued various jobs, including teaching, editing, and technical writing. After the massive success of All Quiet on the Western Front, he wrote several other novels addressing war and exile, such as The Road Back, Three Comrades, and Arch of Triumph. His outspoken opposition to the Nazi regime forced him into exile in Switzerland and later the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1947.
Remarque’s personal life included high-profile relationships with actresses Marlene Dietrich and Paulette Goddard, the latter of whom he married in 1958. In 1943, his youngest sister, Elfriede, was executed by the Nazis for anti-regime remarks, an event that deeply affected him. He spent his later years in Switzerland, where he continued writing. His final completed novel, The Night in Lisbon (1962), was another bestseller.
He died in 1970 at the age of 72, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape discussions on war and its consequences.

AKA:
Эрих Мария Ремарк (Russian)

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,238 (41%)
4 stars
2,039 (37%)
3 stars
936 (17%)
2 stars
167 (3%)
1 star
35 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
Profile Image for Gala.
123 reviews39 followers
September 14, 2012
Умело описание на тъгата, тъгата на всеки човек, съзнаващ, че всичко е преходно а той е единственото същество, което го знае....
Разтърси ме. Човешките чувства са описани толкова реално, че на места се стрясках. Накара ме да се замисля над въпроса с емигрантството, какво точно е то и каква е моята гледна точка по въпроса. Изключително реален роман. Роман за същността на човек, нравите му, първосигналните емоции, но и оталожилите се такива.
Profile Image for Olaf Gütte.
213 reviews75 followers
August 10, 2022
Remarques letzter Roman basiert auf des Autors
eigenem Weg in die Emigration und zurück nach Deutschland.
Der Protagonist wird in den USA nicht glücklich,
doch auch die Rückkehr nach Deutschland
wird eine Rückkehr in ein fremdes Land.
Profile Image for Rakib Hasan.
421 reviews74 followers
October 19, 2023
কিছু কিছু বই আছ� যেগুলো মনের মধ্য� অনেক দা� কেটে যায়� আম� সাধারণ� বেশিরভাগ বইগুলো পড়া� সময় একটানা পড়ে যা�, চিন্তাভাবন� যা করার পড়ত� পড়তেই কর� কিন্তু এই বইটি পড়া� সময় বে� কয়ে� জায়গায় পড়া থামিয়� অনেক ভেবেছি� করোনার জন্য আমাদের জীবনের অনেক কিছু থেমে গেছে, এরপর� আমাদের মধ্য� অনেকেই বে� ভা� আছ�, সুস্� আছ�, পরিবারের সাথে থাকত� পারছি। নিজেদে� থাকা, খাওয়া� ব্যবস্থা হয়ে যাচ্ছে� এরপরেও আমরা সৃষ্টিকর্তার নিকট কৃতজ্ঞতা স্বীকা� না কর� অভিযোগ করেই যা� ছোটখাট� কিছু সাময়ি� বিষয� নিয়� যা� জন্য আমরা ভা� নেই।

এরিক মারিয়� রেমার্� এর বইগুলো পড়ল� বুঝা যায় যুদ্ধে উদ্বাস্ত� হওয়� মানুষদের কষ্ট� সবাই নিজেদে� দে� থেকে বিতারিত। নিজে� দেশে অনেক অত্যাচারের চাক্ষু� সাক্ষী হবার পর ভাগ্যজোর� অন্য দেশে আসতে পেরেছে যেখানে যুদ্ধে� হাঙামা নে� কিন্তু আছ� কচুরিপানার মত� ভাসমান জীবন� যুদ্ধে� কারন� না যেতে পারছ� নিজে� দেশে, না অন্য দেশগুলোতেও শান্তিমত� স্থায়ীভাবে থাকত� পারছে। দেশে ফেলে আস� পরিবার কিংব� পরিচিত কারো সাথে যোগাযো� করতে পারেনা, তারা বেঁচ� আছ� কিনা সে খব� � নিতে পারেনা� এর� মাঝে বেঁচ� থাকা� প্রচেষ্ট�, যেখানে যুদ্� নে� কিন্তু সেখানে অতী� তাড়� কর� বেড়ায� যে অতী� মন� কর� কে� ভালো থাকত� পারেনা�

যুদ্ধবিরোধী এরিক মারিয়� রেমার্� এর সর্বশে� বই শ্যাডো� ইন প্যারাডাইস� উনার অল্প কয়েকট� বই পড়া হলেও সবগুলো বই মনের মধ্য� দা� কেটে যায়, এই বইটি� কোনদিক দিয়� তা� ব্যতিক্র� নয়। উনার প্রতিট� বই অনেক ভাবায়,মন খারা� করায� আবার হাজারো নিরাশা� মাঝে চেষ্টা কর� শেখায়�

বইটা পড়া� পর প্রশ্নটা আমার মাথায় অনপেক্ষণ খুঁচিয়েছে,'আমরা বেঁচ� আছ� কিসে� জন্য?' যদিও আম� উত্ত� পাইনি।

সায়েম সোলায়মা� ভাইক� অনেক ধন্যবা� বইটি এত সুন্দরভাবে রূপান্তর করার জন্য� বইটাতে বে� কিছু সুন্দর সুন্দর উক্ত� আছ� যা মনের মধ্য� দা� কেটে যায়� উক্তিগুল� অনেকদি� মনের মধ্য� থেকে যাবে�
.
বইয়ের নামঃ শ্যাডো� ইন প্যারাডাইস
লেখক : এরিখ মারিয়� রেমার্�
রূপান্তর� সায়েম সোলায়মা�
মূল্যঃ ১৫� টাকা
সেবা প্রকাশনী

'নি� ইয়র্ক� এসেছ� দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ� উদ্বাস্ত� হওয়া। জার্মা� যুবক রবার্ট রস�
যুদ্ধে� দামামা নে� স্বর্গের মত এই শহরে, জীবন এখান� ভােগবিলাসে� ডালা সাজিয়� রেখেছে যেন। তব� সেটা রবার্টের জন্য নয়।
সব নতুন কর� শুরু করতে চেয়েও পারছ� না সে তাই। বীভৎ� এক ছায়� হয়ে ওক� সবসময় তাড়� করছে ওর অতীত। এক রাশা� মেয়ের সঙ্গ� পরিচয় হলাে ওর� প্রে� হলাে ওদের দুজনের মধ্যে।
তারপরও মেয়েটার সঙ্গ� দূরত্ব রয়ে� যাচ্ছে রবার্টের ওদিক� প্রতিদিন কমছে ওর রেসিডেন্�-পারমিটের মেয়াদ�
রবার্টের জানা ছি� না, স্বর্গ� থাকত� গেলে কখনও কখনও মূল্� দিতে হয� কোনও কোনও মানুষক�... যুদ্ধবিরোধী রেমার্কে� শে�-প্রকাশিত উপন্যাস।
শরনার্থী জীবন� প্রে� � বঞ্চনা� গল্প'
Profile Image for Vanya Hrynkiv.
215 reviews6 followers
February 25, 2023
Оцінка: 3.5
Найслабша з книг Ремарка, які я прочитав. Єдина яка не отримала 5 зірок. У цьому творі герої не викликають жодного співчуття, через свої вчинки. Сам сюжет твору розгортається повільно і не цікаво. Перед цим прочитав «Іскра Життя» Ремарка, це був справжній шедевр, тим паче на фоні «Тіней в раю».
У «Тінях в раю» творі головний герой це німецький емігрант в США, який весь час просто живе, тусується і п‘� горілку з іншими емігрантами в тому числі євреями.

Це ніби зараз під час нашої війни утекти закордон і жити та веселитись там з росіянами 🥲

Хоча на початку твір здавався продрвженням твору «Ніч у Лісабоні» (він отримав від мене 5 зірок), тому якщо надумаєте читати «Тіні в раю», зверніть увагу спочатку на «Ніч у Лісабоні».
Там люди прагнуть утекти з Європи в США, щоб стати емігрантами, а тут історія йде про того, хто таки став цим емігрантом.

Profile Image for Радост.
121 reviews8 followers
March 26, 2022
Поредното чудо на Ремарк.
Утрото е по-мъдро от вечерта. :) Утре ще пиша повече за тази тъй тъжна и красива книга, след която ти иде да си сипеш една чаша вино и просто да умреш.

Скромните три книги на Достоевски, които прочетох, ме научиха да не се задълбавам в имената на героите. Снощи завърших ,,Сенки в рая", но днес вече изпитвам лека трудност да се сетя за всички имена. Образът на продавача на картини ме накара да се замисля и ние колко ,,продавачи на картини" имаме в тая страна под гръмкото прозвище ,,шеф" и ,,бизнесмен" и заради колко такива ,,продавачи" много хора, които имат семейства, са принудени да търпят някакви неща. Срещу малодушието няма лек. Други хора отговарят само за себе си, защото семейството изисква разни работи, и е по-лесно да пратят ,,Продавача" на паша. Имат избор.
При героите на Ремарк или няма избор, или той е труден - защото в основата винаги има война.

Но пък любовта. Ех, тази любов... Неговите любовни истории на пръв прочит са елементарни - ядене, пиене, нови и рокли и нови костюми, а всъщност има толкова много тъга, великодушие, философия, умение да надскочиш някои чисто човешки усещания. Никога няма да срещнем: ,,Ожениха се и живяха дълго и щастливо." Чувствата винаги са деликатни, силни, но ненатрапчиви. Винаги чувстващите се обичат тук и сега, далеч от тежките перипетии на семейния живот, но близо до влюбените и копнеещите; далеч от плановете за бъдеще, но близо до мечтите и надеждите; далеч от обещанията и близо до сигурността; далеч от войната и близо до смъртта.

Ремарк може да навлезе така дълбоко в душата на читателите си, че човек, гледайки собственото си семейство, да се замисли дали правилно оценя щастието в живота си. Дали въобще си дава сметка какво има и какво няма, дали се бори за правилните неща, да мисли изобщо за ,,правилните" неща.

Изключително ми е тъжно, че ми останаха много малко негови непрочетени книги.
Тази беше по-обрана от другите, след като съм ги чела. Всяко изречение ми се струваше като: ,,Казвам малко, но всъщност мисля много и вече трябва да си разбрал за себе си какво точно искам да кажа".

Страхотен, а приживе цял живот се е страхувал дали ще успее да надмине успеха на ,,На западния фронт нищо ново". Всяка негова книга е като парченце от пъзела на живота. С всичките му несгоди.
Profile Image for Marysya.
349 reviews36 followers
March 22, 2022
Ремарк - це дуже глибока і густа меланхолія, читання більше на ніч, у тиші та без метушні.
Наклалось "ідеально" на війну 😔
Нічого нового у світі, одні нацисти змінюються іншими...
"Німці - не нація революціонерів. Це народ слухняних виконавців наказів. Наказ заміняв їм совість. То б��ла їхня найулюбленіша відмовка. Хто виконував наказ, той не ніс жодної відповідальності".
Profile Image for Edita.
1,550 reviews568 followers
January 13, 2017
But I also knew that there was no going back. One can never go back; nothing and no oneis ever the same. All that remained was an occasional evening of sadness, the sadness that we all feel because everything passes and because man is the only animal who knows it.
Profile Image for Lora Grigorova.
407 reviews49 followers
June 25, 2013
Shadows in Paradise:

Remarque is comparable to no one when it comes to the immigrant’s soul. Being himself an immigrant from Germany and having been persecuted numerous times for his writings, he understands the immigrant’s dilemma � a longing towards your country, whose people have turned into murderers, and a clear understanding that in order to live you have to flee this country.

Shadows in Paradise follows the life of several German immigrants in the US, who are trying to balance between the American dream and the German nightmare. They are Jews and Germans; they have been persecuted or they voluntarily left Germany; they love and hate their own country; they dream of coming back and they use every resource to blend in the US. They are Americans (or trying to become) and yet they are still Germans. They are in the US and in the same time their past haunts them and obstructs any chance of starting a normal life.

Among these shadows arrives Ros, a German who escaped the persecutions and travelled all around Europe to find a shelter in the US. His real name is unknown or long forgotten. In fact, names are among the few things that escape time, war, and the Nazis. They are like a legacy, a saving will making death look like a rescue � for the dead and for the living.

Read more:
Profile Image for Digdem Absin.
87 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2024
İnsanları Sevmelisin ile başlayan ve başta Alman ve Yahudi olmak üzere Avrupalı mültecilerin trajedisinin anlatıldığı dörtlemenin son kitabı Cennetteki Gölgeler. Önce Almanya sonra da diğer Avrupa ülkelerinden, pasaportları hatta kimlikleri olmadığı için sürekli sınır dışı edilen, hapse ve toplama kamplarına atılan mültecilerin en büyük hayali kıta değiştirmekti. Fakat çok azı bunu başarabilmişti.

Romanın kahramanı Robert Ross da pasaportu olmayan ve başka birinin pasaportuyla Avrupa’da yaşamaya çalışan, toplama kampından kurtulmuş, öncesinde gazeteci olan bir Alman mültecisi. Belçika işgal altındayken Brüksel’de bir müzenin mahzeninde, müze müdürü tarafından saklanmış, gün yüzü görmemiş Ross, geceleri karanlıkta müzeyi dolaşarak resim konusunda uzmanlaşmıştır. Amerika’ya gelince aldığı kısa süreli oturma izni onun çalışmasına müsaade etmez. Brüksel’de kazandığı beceri ile önce bir antikacıda kaçak çalışır sonrasında ise bir orijinal resim simsarının yanında. ABD’deki diğer mültecilerle iletişime geçer. Fakat cennet umuduyla geldikleri ülke mülteciler için yaşaması zor bir yer haline gelmiştir. Her ne kadar savaştan kurtulmuş olsalar da önlerindeki belirsizlik yaşama tutunmalarını önler. Başta dil olmak üzere bir çok bariyer vardır önlerinde Amerika’ya uyum sağlamalarını engelleyen. Geçmişten getirdikleri yükleri ve ne yapacaklarını bilmez halleriyle ‘Cennette� dolaşan gölgelere benzetirler kendilerini. ABD’de, Yahudilere daha sempatik bir gözle bakılmaktadır, savaşın mağduru olarak görülürler. Çok önceleri gelmiş ve Amerika’da yaşam kurmuş Almanlar, Nazi sempatizanı olsalar da ülkedeki demokratik gelenek sebebiyle göz ardı edilirler. Ross gibi yeni gelmiş bir Alman mültecisi ise Nazi olarak damgalanır zaman zaman. Sanat simsarlığı macerası Ross’u Hollywood’a da götürür. Orada, Nazi’lerle ilgili filmlerde küçük rolleri olan Almanlarla karşılaşır. Toplama kampı geçmişi sebebiyle, çevrilen bir filme danışmanlık yapması istenir. Anlattıkları, romantik Hollywood için ağır bulunur; kimse inanmak istemez. Savaş sonuna gelindiğinde ise her şeyin unutulacağı ve iş adamlarının yeniden kuracağı Almanya düşüncesi tüm mültecilerde hayal kırıklığı ve arafta kalma durumu yaratır.

Kısacası Cennetteki Gölgeler, mültecilerin hayatta kalanlarının Abd’de yeni bir hayata başlama ya da geri dönme arasında sıkışıp kalmış çaresizliklerinin anlatıldığı bir hikaye. En sevdiğim Remarque kahramanlarından biri olan Ravic’le tekrar karşılaştım Cennetteki Gölgeler’de ve hikayesinin devamını öğrendim. Remarque maceram şimdilik sona erdi. Diğer kitapları çevrildiği takdirde tereddütsüz alıp okurum.
Profile Image for á.
87 reviews3 followers
November 5, 2021
Finishing the last bits of this book in McDonalds was not the best idea. Digesting a BigMac while reading about morbid passages and suicidal narrative made me exhale in a heavy fashion, multiple times. But that's war combined with American fast-food. It is exactly the life of a migrant escaping the WW2 into the US, which was well-captured in a thoughtful manner and presented through the mindset that had been prevalent in those times. Somewhere I once read, that if you only read books from the present (that everyone is reading) you can only think like everyone else is thinking. Reading Shadows in Paradise made me drift away from my first world problems, where we take peace and freedom for granted, and self-realize ourselves with minimum preoccupation that our lives might be anytime in danger.
Profile Image for Elen Tkacheva.
14 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2016
I love women portraits in Remark's books. As if they know something special that allow them to survive and cope more efficient than men do.
Profile Image for Anna Marija Reidzāne.
85 reviews11 followers
August 14, 2020
Vodku dzēra viņi, bet noreibu es. Šoreiz gan reibums liek domāt par smagām tēmām un saskumdina.
Profile Image for ܲė.
430 reviews138 followers
December 29, 2022
remarkas niujorke

Kiekvienas susitikimas su Remarku vis kitoks. ‘Šešėliai rojuje� melancholiškas, natūralus, tarsi neišbaigtas, nusivylimo kupinas darbas, kur Europos sostines pakeičia Niujorkas, kur trumpas, taiklias, ironiškas sentencijas pakeičia ilgi, įdomių palyginimų kupini apmąstymai. Bet nors jis čia ir kitoks, tai vis vien Remarkas.

Kaip visuomet, romanas kupinas įvairiausių įstabiausių istorijų apie karo paliestus žmones, o šį kartą paliestus dar ir emigracijos į tolimą šalį. Spalvingiausia ir labiausiai mane sužavėjusi asmenybė buvo Kanas � žmogus, kuris buvo tiek praradęs viltį, kad įžūliai kasdieną žaidė su naciais Prancūzijoje ir apsimesdamas Ispanijos pasiuntinybe gelbėjo žmones iš stovyklų, skleidė pasipriešinimo žinias, platino pogrindžio spaudą ir pats prisipažino, kad jam pavyko tik dėl to, jog jam niekas neberūpėjo. Tarp jo išgelbėtų žmonių buvo ir Ravikas, kurį tokia skaudančia širdimi teko palikti ‘Triumfo arkoje�. Buvo tiesiog stebuklas kitoje knygoje vėl išgirsti apie jį, sužinoti jo likimą ir netgi per pagrindinį šios knygos herojų su juo pabendrauti. Buvau pripratusi, kad Remarkas leidžia savo herojams pasireikšti tik vienoje knygoje. Nepaprastai džiaugiuosi, kad būtent taip sutapo, ir ‘Triumfo arką� jau buvau skaičiusi ir dar kaip tik prieš šį.

Bet buvo ir daug kitų įdomių žmonių � moteris, laikoma emigrantų motina, kurios didžiausia svajonė buvo grįžti į Vokietiją, kad ir kaip žiauriai toji su ta elgėsi, ir paskutiniais mėnesiai sunkiai sirgdama ji laikėsi tik minties, kad karas visgi baigsis, kaip koks surambėjęs britas net statė karo veiksmų figūrėles ant žemėlapio. Verslininkas, kuris ne visai laiku spėjo pasitraukti iš Vokietijos su savo pinigais, bet visgi pasitraukė, Amerikoje vėl suklestėjo, gavo pilietybę ir mirtinai stengėsi tapti tikru amerikiečiu, o jo dukters vedybos karo pabaigoje lyg ir žymėjo visai naują jo gyvenimo etapą. Buvo ir žydas vaidinęs esesininkus Holivude.

Holivudas buvo įdomus knygos tarpsnis. Keista buvo visa ta Kalifornijos saulė Remarko romane, bet net ir per Holivudą jis sugebėjo skleisti savo idėjas ir smerkti karą. Tik dar nematytas rakursas buvo žiūrėti į visa tai iš toli, matyti kaip amerikiečių režisieriai nesuvokia karo, kuriame ir patys dalyvauja, nesuvokia, kas vyksta nacių okupacijoje ir girdėti, kad Amerikos žiūrovai tikrąja padėtimi niekaip nepatikės. O kur dar savo pagrindinius naktinių košmarų veikėjus vaidinantys patys emigrantai!

Moterų paveikslai Remarko romanuose būna itin išskirtiniai. Pamenu, kad Žoana tai tikrai buvo neeilinė asmenybė, apie šizofrenikę iš ‘Juodojo obelisko� net neverta ir kalbėti. Tai štai šį kartą Natašos, pagrindinės moteriškos figūros romane, paveikslas buvo kažkoks� kreivas. Ji buvo įdomi, tikrai. Bet aš nei jos, nei jų santykių niekaip nesupratau, būta ten tikrai labai keistų scenų. Greičiausiai dėl viso to sumišimo man šitas romanas nepatiko taip, kaip galėjo, ar taip kaip kiti Remarko romanai.

Bet kaip jau minėjau � šis romanas visgi skyrėsi nuo kitų. Remarkas čia nebe toks tikslus ir aštrus. Pagrindinis veikėjas, rodos, melancholiškai vaikšto po miestą, susitinka visus tuos įdomius žmones, su jais pasikalba, kartais grįžta mintimis į savo praeitį, nors bendrai apie ją taip nieko ir nesužinome, tik blankias slapstymosi nuotrupas, jį kankina košmarai. Pokalbiai, žinoma, žeria visą tą nusivylimą esama padėti, bet kartu ir meilę gyvenimui, tą su niekuo nesumaišomą šlykštėjimąsi karu, bet tai daro nebe taip akivaizdžiai, daugiau ne aštriais tiesiais pasakymais, bet per aplinkui, per palyginimus, išplaukiančius iš bendros visumos, ir, žinoma, veikėjų istorijas. Visa tai aišku labai susiję su tuo, kad šį kartą atsiranda pabėgusio vokiečio apmąstymai � jis ilgisi tėvynės, kaltina save dėl tėvynainių, svarsto, gal visgi geriau būtų pasilikti, jis bando pabėgti nuo praeities šešėlių.

Apačioj kiek tik akis užmato plytėjo Niujorkas, vasaros tvankoje panašus į Afrikos miestą, tik su dangoraižiais. Horizonte buvo galima numanyti esant jūrą. Tai buvo miestas iš akmens ir plieno, ir jis atrodė toks, koks ir buvo: ne pamažu atsiradęs ir organiškai išaugęs, ne pasidengęs šimtmečių patina, o ryžtingai ir greitai pastatytas energingų žmonių, kurių nevaržė tradicijos ir kurių pagrindinis principas buvo ne grožis, o tikslingumas ir kartu jaunas, drąsus, antiromantiškas, antiklasikinis, modernus grožis. Aš pagalvojau, kad į Niujorką reikia žiūrėti iš viršaus, ne iš apačios, užvertu galvą į dangoraižius. Iš viršaus jie atrodė ramūs, lyg būtų neatskiriama tos aplinkos dalis, kaip žirafos zebrų, gazelių ir milžiniškų vėžlių kaimenėje.


Kaip aš glaudžiausi prie to krašto, kuris grimuoja numirėlius, dievina jaunystę ir savo kareivius siunčia mirti į svečias šalis, kurių jie iki tol nebuvo matę ir net nežinojo, kad jos yra, o dabar ten noriai guldo galvas, patys nenutuokdami už ką. Pirmieji pasaulio piliečiai su uniforma.


Ir aišku, Amerika. Ji visam tam liūdesiui ir melancholijai suteikia groteskišką foną � šalis, kuri kariauja, bet kurioje karas yra toks tolimas koks tik gali būti, šalis, kuri kurioje viskas įmanoma, bet ne viskas rožėmis klota. Iš tikrųjų žiauriai keista buvo � Remarkas Niujorke. Ir žiauriai keistas buvo tas Niujorkas. Buvo įdomu pamatyti tą seną puritonišką, drovią, dievobaimingą Ameriką. Retai ją kur nors sutiksi būtent tokią. O čia ji buvo. Pavaizduota svetimšalio vokiečio akimis, ir gali jausti Remarką, kuris pats visą tai patyrė ir galbūt nemažą dalį perkėlė į knygą, kurią rašė pats būdamas Niujorke, netgi tame bute, kuris vaidina vaidmenį ir pačioje knygoje. O dar vietos diskusijoms palieka tas faktas, kad parašyta per karą ši knyga buvo išleista tik rašytojui jau mirus, praėjus daugiau nei dviem dešimtmečiams po parašymo, lyg rašytojas visgi būtų norėjęs tuos išgyvenimus pasilaikyti sau.

Dar vienas karo istorijos žmogaus akimis gabalėlis, kuris pasirodė ne toks, kokio tikėjausi, vietomis keistas ir privertęs sumišti, bet visgi tai dalis visos bendros Remarko pasakotos istorijos ir ją visą verta ir reikia patirti.
Profile Image for Борислава Чотрева.
109 reviews2 followers
April 25, 2022
"По време на война светците първи изпадат в немилост."
За книгите на Ремарк е трудно да се пише поради простата причина, че каквото и да бъде написано ще стои недодялано и грубо до мелодичния му език, безпощадната самоирония и майсторската подигравка с низките човешки страсти.

Войната
- Печелят не само доставчиците на оръжие - продължаваше невъзмутимо Силвърс. - Също така доставчиците на униформи, параходи, хранителни продукти, коли. Целият свят печели от войната!
- Всички, с изключение на войниците!

Войната тук присъства като нещо далечно и необозримо, но и хвърлящо сянка върху безметежното съществуване на американците, които са сравнително слабо засегнати от Втората световна. Ремарк е заклет пацифист и успява категорично да го заяви и в тази си книга, макар войната привидно да не е толкова централно поставена тема.

Изкуството
"Ни��ой не може да вземе със себе си на онзи свят даже и най-малката картинка. Затова е по-добре да ги продаваме на симпатични клиенти тук, на земята."
Романът на Ремарк е енциклопедия на изкуството. Същевременно героите му често разсъждават за смисъла на изкуството, за ролята на твореца и за ролята на търговеца, печелещ повече от твореца. А картините не са нищо повече от средство за парадиране с обществено положение.

Емигрантството
"Понякога наистина ми идва до гуша да бъда емигрант. Днес бях целия ден емигрант. Какво ще кажеш, ако сега бъдем просто хора?"
В това отношение героите напомнят изключително Вазовите хъшове - отритнати от своите, но нежелани и от чуждите, това са хора обречени да се лутат по света без родина и корени. И макар Америка да е мечта за всички преследвани немски граждани, достигайки до нея, те осъзнават, че никога няма да бъдат повече от сенки в рая.
Profile Image for Kamil.
69 reviews5 followers
June 25, 2014
I consider Remarque as one of the leading writers of his period. His style is deep, thoughtful, expressionist. His style is subtle, and gives the reader to figure out his conclusions for himself.
I take great joy in reading Remarque, as I can connect with the characters, resting when reading his books.

I would give the book five stars for it's style, if it wasn't for the rape scene mid-book. I hate things like this put into literature, into filmmaking, et cetera, for reasons like cheap catching attention of a reader (similar to screamers or body horror in movies) and for the moral value in itself. I was repulsed and intimidated by it's intrusiveness, which took all my interest for the story and the book itself. For that, I must remove two stars.
Profile Image for Ugnė Butkutė.
194 reviews8 followers
May 24, 2022
Tai paskutinė autoriaus novelė, tačiau tikrai ne pati paskutinė jo skaityta knyga man!

Robertas Rosas - vokietis, kuris slapstydamasis nuo nacistinio rėžimo atklydo iki pat pažadėtosios žemės - Jungtinių Amerikos Valstijų. Sukdamasis su tokiais pat emigrantais jis susipažista su Nataša. Meilė užgimsta ne iš karto, tačiau tai tampa svarbiausiu Roberto gyvenimo įvykių. Visgi, lėtas emigranto gyvenimas neduoda ramybės nei jam, nei daugeliui iš jo draugų. Praeities skausmas vis sugrįžta ir daugelis iš jų laukia karo pabaigos, nors tuomet jų gyvenimas tampa beprasmis.

Knygoje trumpais epizodais pasirodo Ravikas (paskutinės skaitytos Remarko knygos pagrindinis veikėjas). Na, ir žinoma, kaip be specifinio alkoholio. Na, o šį karta tai degtinė ir Moscow Mule kokteilis.
Profile Image for Stoyan Petrov.
50 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2014
"Сенки в рая" не е от най-добрите романи на Ремарк ("Черният обелиск" и "Живот назаем" например са много по-силни като внушения), но въпреки това е приятно четиво. Лично на мен темите, заложени в книгите му (войната, безнадеждността, лутането на човека и силата на окрилящата любов), не ми омръзват, но на моменти диалогичните му сентенции ми идваха в повече. Някак неестествено беше да се прочете това в думите на героите, много не на място, високопарно дори. Иначе очакван тъжен край и все пак се радвам от избора, който героят направи в края на книгата. Сигурно е ужасно да се скиташ като изгнаник, без път и посока.
Profile Image for Georgi Dimitrov.
67 reviews11 followers
January 8, 2016
Подарена ми неочаквано за Коледа, тази книга се превърна в нещо, което ще си спомням дълго време. Дали защото ми е първата книга на Ремарк или защото "романтичната" история, която присъства в почти всяка книга под една или друга форма, тук е леко нетипична (а може би съвсем типична за времето си), но определено книга, която ме накара да се обърна и към други заглавия от автора! ( :
11 reviews
May 3, 2011
I love Remarque's books, even the ones that have somewhat predictable endings or story lines. His writing style and description/development of characters are my biggest attracions. He provides small, particular details about characters and their lives that make you feel that you know these people, that you live during their times, feel their feelings.... A lot of his stories are about WWI or WWII and times in between. In my opinion, they are much better, more informative and definitely much more interesting and engaging reads than Book Thief and such. People in his stories are belivable and stories are not "square" and uselessly tragic, they are dimentional and ironic.
I am surprised that people are raving about Book thief an yet they don't even know Remarque's work aside from All Quiet on the Western Front. He does not just write about pre, post, during war, he writes about people living their lives during those turbulent times.
One thing I noticed in most of his books is how they are somewhat centered around drinks/foods choices of the main characters: it is vodka and gulyash in some, tequila in another, schnapps, scotch, etc. Pretty interesting way to "set the mood" for the story.
Profile Image for Robyn Bauer.
263 reviews19 followers
April 12, 2023
I thought this book was amazing and I can't believe I have overlooked this author my whole life. I had certainly heard of "All Quiet on the Western Front" but haven't read it. Will rectify that soon.
"Shadows In Paradise" didn't feel like a novel. It felt like truth not fiction. Ross was so real he could have been someone I knew. The whole story had such a ring of truth about it. It is a strange sensation to describe and from what I've read this novel is not autobiographical. I have read many books set in the 40's but never one narrated by such a character as Ross. I will be seeking out everything else by Remarque.
Profile Image for Nadia Zhuk.
Author1 book42 followers
April 4, 2021
It was ok, but definitely the weakest Remarque's novel I've read. Too many ideas and characters were reused from his previous novels, and the plot itself wasn't that exciting.
The writing, or rather the good old Soviet translation, was beautiful, as is always the case with Remarque. Tragic, quiet, and heartbreakingly hopeless, the book left me with a heavy heart.
Profile Image for Fabish Caruri.
369 reviews41 followers
February 26, 2020
Tác phẩm vẫn viết v� những b� tắc của những con người (truyện này là dân lưu vong) trong và sau cuộc chiến, như một s� cuốn khác của tác gi� như Ba người bạn. Đáng ra chấm 4 sao nhưng phát hiện bản dịch b� lược đi kha khá nên tr� một sao.
Profile Image for Volodymyr.
126 reviews22 followers
September 22, 2015
I really enjoy the way Remarque writes about love - whether it's Clerfayt and Lillian from "Heaven has no favourites" or Ravic and Joan from "Arch of triumph" - it's always so tense and full of passion that you get a feeling of "living in the book". Maybe it's because love in Remarque's books is always brief, so the only choice that characters have is to enjoy every moment of it ...
"Shadows in paradise" has a love story between Ross and Natasha at it's core, which will later turn out to be the most important event in the life of Ross. Natasha is quite a character herself - perhaps one of Remarque's best. We also get a good glimpse on the community of US immigrants who ran away from the war in Europe, and we see how difficult it is for them to start from scratch. Instead of calvados that we got used to, the main drink of "Shadows in Paradise" is ... vodka. I guess Melikov and Natasha are the ones to blame :)
All in all, this is another great read from Remarque that will put you in the same melancholic mood that most Remarque books do.
Profile Image for Ksusha Tokareva.
33 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2017
Очередная грустная история от Ремарка. Все написано в очень грустных, тяжелых и меланхоличных тонах. Видимо время было такое, а Ремарк мастер историй с невеселым и не очень хорошим концом. Хотя, при всем при этом, автор не забывает и о чувстве юмора. Главный герой (иммигрант Роберт Росс, с чужим именем)пытается найти себя, полон мести, потерян, и не понимает, что ему делать. Вечера у Фрислендеров всегда проходили в очень шутливой и остротной обстановке.

Очень много размышлений на тему смысла жизни, целей человека, потерь и потерянности, свободы, войны и ее конце, жизни иммигранта во время Второй Мировой...

Росс пытается так неистово забыть о том, что с ним произошло за те годы, что он был в бегах и концлагерях, что воспоминания преследуют его в кошмарах и не оставляют в покое... пережитое поглощает его, он не хочет об этом говорить особенно с Наташей... они же ведь "друг друга не понимают"...
Profile Image for Mariia Manko.
Author2 books142 followers
November 21, 2021
I just love Remarque ! Can you find better writer? No! I know that it is wrong to build idols. But for me the writing of Remarque is perfect. Every his novel is a masterpiece for me. It resinates inside me. He is a master of words. He knows the souls of people so well. I wonder how high is the level of his writing. Unbelievable! If you want to know the life, read Remarque. If you want to enjoy every word, read Remarque. He is romantic and realistic, sometimes sad but through sadness he shows the real power of happiness.

And never enough reading !
Profile Image for Ծ.
432 reviews36 followers
July 9, 2014
Remarks paliek remars un "Ēnas" tur tiešām bija ēnas. Jorpojām nesaportu kā var tik skaisti uzburt to atmosfēru. Lai arī notikumu maz, atmosfēra ir ideāla (nu tā drūmā zudusī paaudze).
Liels prieks bija par to, ka Raviks (nu tas no "Triumfa arkas") ir izglābies un pat dabūjis dokumentus praktizēt Amurikā.

Grāmata ir labs atgādinājums par to, ka pēdējais Pasaules karš nemaz tik sen nebija - jau toreiz bija helikopteri un automašīnas!
Profile Image for Zabir Rafy.
217 reviews4 followers
November 19, 2024
অধিকাং� মানব অভ্যাসের ব্যতিক্রমী হওয়ার একটা শুরু থাকে� আমার রোমান্টি� বই না পড়া� ব্যতিক্রমী এটা।

লুতুপুতু ন্যাকামিমার্কা প্রে� এড়িয়� রেমার্কে� এই উপন্যা� হয়ে উঠলো বাস্তবিক মানব জীবনের টানপোড়ে� আর প্রেমে� মিথস্ক্রিয়া� এই কারণেই বোধহয় পড়ত� পারলাম বইটা�

এখান� বাস্তবিক মানবজীবনের সাথে আরেকটু এড হব�, যুদ্ধে বিধবস্� মানব মানবী� জীবনের টানপোড়ে� � প্রেমে� রসায়ন� যুদ্� বিরোধী রেমার্� যুদ্ধে� প্রকোপ ফুটিয়� তুলত� ওস্তাদ� মূলত এই কারণেই এই উপন্যাসট� এত ভালো লেগেছে�
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.