John Knowles (1) (1926–2001)

This is a frequently studied novel, and I can see its fertile ground. The relationship between Gene and Phineas is a complex one, viewed through a prism from Gene's point of view. Phineas is a rebellious rules flouter; or he's an innocent Pollyanna who doesn't understand the concept of rules; or he's manipulating a deeper game of one-upmanship with Gene, and his entire personality is a subterfuge. The background is World War II, providing a ticking clock as Gene and Phineas approach show more enlistment age. Gene shares in the general experience of the war as simultaneously dangerous and alluring. Phineas has a different kind of response, revelling in the peace they still enjoy in the moment. He is living in the present, while the rest of his classmates are swept up by their future. This becomes a kind of lifeline as Gene struggles with what's approaching.

The novel's primary fault is its blandness. At this all-white prep school there are no girls, no dating, no homosexuality; barely a hint of alcohol or driving; almost no music; no drugs, no gangs, no weapons. Everyone lives with their well-off parents, and the weirdest kid is only a naturalist who collects slugs and enjoys cross-country skiing. I am deeply surprised this book has been banned by anyone, ever (a teacher might want to lead with that mysterious fact, to keep the kids awake). But there's poignancy in scarcely being able to imagine coddled young men less well prepared for the horrors of war than these. show less

I recently re-read this book for the AP class that I'm teaching and I was reminded of what a deceptively simple book this appears to be on the surface. Set in an all boys prep school during WWII, A Separate Peace explores how the encroaching reality of war affects the psychological and social development of all the boys at the school. The poignant irony of providing these young men with a classics based education at a prestigious school just to be sent into war to kill and be killed show more effectively shows how, before they even make it to the battlefield, the war cripples them--for one physically, for the others psychologically. The book focuses on the relationship between Finny, the popular and perfect athlete, and Gene, the intelligent and dangerously introspective one. Gene's all-consuming envy toward Finny causes him to shake the tree limb both are standing in; Finny falls to the ground and breaks his leg. However, this is a metaphor for how Gene's betrayal of the friendship has broken Finny.

Effective use is made of Finny as a Christ figure and we witness as Gene grows psychologically in response to the realization that he has destroyed Finny. Gene comes to realize that the real enemy is the enemy within and, through Finny, Gene finds a form of salvation from his dark, neurotic tendencies.

Knowles does so much with setting and imagery in the book that I pick up on something new every time I read it. show less

This is a terrific book. I'm not used to the boarding school genre (aside from "Harry Potter" and watching "The Emperor's Club"), and the Northeastern elitist culture is foreign to me, but the author did a thorough job painting the setting so that outsiders could understand and appreciate it. Phineas is like that Labrador Retriever everyone knows, a big, happy jock who chooses to see only the best in Gene. Gene, on the other hand, is a quiet, studious type who comes to regard his friend with show more suspicion, as if Phineas is knowingly mocking everyone around him. And in a split-second, Gene makes a decision that cripples Phineas. Only afterward does Gene learn that Phineas has been genuine all along. Eventually, the truth about the incident comes out, putting their friendship to the test.

It's not a long read by any means, and deserves to be reread several times. 5 stars. show less

I think a lot of people read this in high school, but I didn't. I decided to pick it up because I kept seeing it everywhere. My impressions:

1. There are almost no females in it. The lack of girls and the lack of interest in girls among these 16- to 18-year-old guys, made me think that the two main characters were in love with each other, which is probably just because I minored in gender studies. But, really, the total lack of anything sexual was an interesting choice.

2. This is a deep, show more dark book about living in wartime. I was reminded of how little the Iraq war affected my time in college compared to how tremendously WWII affected the boys at the boarding school in the story.

3. Obviously, this is also a story about the psychology of adolescence, particularly among young men, particularly in a competitive and isolated environment. The way they talked was so old-fashioned, though, that I kept picturing them as much younger, like 12 or 13.

4. How reliable of a narrator is Gene? Can Finny really be so perfect? I went back and forth on this. I kind of hated Gene, but I also felt so sorry for him.

5. Overall, a really fascinating book that I'm sorry to read all by myself with no professor to guide a discussion. show less