Peace Breaks Out

until the last quarter or so of this, i liked it better than a separate peace, which i'm sure is a minority opinion. this story and these characters were easier for me to read about and relate to. i thought the contrast between the kids who reached military age just as ww2 ended, and so who didn't serve, and pete, the teacher who had just come back from the war after both serving and being captured by the enemy, was a poignant one. the impression the kids had that war was an adventure and that they missed a chance at something exciting, versus the trauma that pete was trying to forget was powerful.

overall, though, this isn't particularly well written, and once we get toward the end he starts to repeat himself, even in the arc of the show more story, which was really disappointing. i still find it a stronger and more thoughtful book than the first, but the ending brought this down half a star. show less

After World War II, Pete Hallam returns to his alma mater, the Devon School, to teach American History and Physical Education. The story follows his reintroduction into civilian life after the war and the lives of several boys in their senior year at the Devon School, including two boys at odd with each other and most of the school, Wexford and Hochschwender.

The book was slightly less flat than A Separate Peace, perhaps, because there seemed to be a bit more depth to the characters and story but not by much. The exposition contained more details but there was overall too much exposition. I felt like I was being told what to think.

It seemed that several of the boys at the Devon School felt left out and guilty for missing war. They show more talking and thought about the war as some grand adventure and a way to make their marks. Pete Hallam offered the counter balance as to the realities of war. I wonder with less media available at the time and only certain people telling the stories, if the war was idealized to the youth at home in the US.

I also wonder about the purpose of Pete Hallam's ex-wife and chapter about Wexford's weekend in Boston. They seemed like out of the main story inclusions used just to make a point about the characters. show less

2645 Peace Breaks Out, by John Knowles (read 5 Sep 1994) On Mar 14, 1970, I read the author's masterful A Separate Peace. In 1981 this book was written, also about Devon, and laid in the years 1945-1946. It is not as good, but is an obvious attempt to repeat his prior success. It tells of Wexford and Hochschwender. Wexford is antagonistic and he succeeds in getting Hochswender killed. Devon is a great place for murder, or at least involuntary manslaughter. I am not sure this book was worth reading.

Not nearly as good as A Separate Peace, but still a worthy read for anyone who enjoyed the first one.