classics

John Knowles' 'A Separate Peace' is often taught in sophmore high school english classes as a comparison piece to Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye.' Why any reasonably well read english teacher should choose to do this is beyond me. 'A Separate Peace' has to be by far the most annoying story I've ever read.
Knowles tried to portray the horrible character of Gene as some kind of hero. He took his protagonist, had him do commit terrible acts, think depraved thoughts, and generally be an all around nasty guy. Then Knowles took that creation and attempted to make his readers like him, even pity him.
Dear lord...does not anyone else think this wrong?
Ever since I was first forced to read this work, I've wanted to gag on the words. The most interesting characters of the story were given the least amount of page time. The few aspects of the story that actually grabbed me were left to loose ties. By any and all means, this book of all books should NEVER be compared to Salinger's work.

Ranting aside, Knowles did show a masterful command of the language. His descriptions were all clear and engaging. He actually had two round characters, which pleased me greatly as I was barely even expecting one from him. Knowles also did an excellent job of paralleling WWII and these boys' lives. Yea Knowles!
On the whole though, I would not recommend this book. I don't see how it's considered a modern classic.

John Knowles captures the loss of innocense in his "A Separate Peace." Set on the eve of a larger conflict overseas in World War II, the book is a stream of consciousness writing, as the narrator reflects after the war the incidents at Devon that were a sort of rites of passage for him into adulthood.

But 'A Separate Peace' also reveals the deep twists of an unusual friendship between a scholar and an athlete. Their bond and the betrayal that follows. It is a moving drama on a human scale, the climax and conclusion being most unexpected, but reminicent of the tragedy of war, not the resoluution of Peace.

For looking at the youth that will fight the war, rather than the war itself, the author details the peace found between friends that will have to recreated on the battlefield. An agonizing book, it will live in your heart long after you have read the last page.

This book is a good book. in the beggining it starts slow but then it picks up the pace, it starts getting personal with the characters, and all the action happens after the introduction of the characters, when Finny and Gene become real good friends.
i like this book, and i think you will enjoy it too. and also watch the movie, but they act kind of gay but they are not, so dont take it the wrong way.
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