How would you describe the style of the novel, and how does this style serve the goals of its author?

The style is spare and wants only to show the way in which war is devastating There is no embellishment here.

The style of the novel has a narrative feel to it. Paul speaks primarily in the first person relaying confessions and details to the reader in a simple manner. At times he lapses into beautiful prose giving us a sense of the destruction and awesome power the war can inflict.