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A review by kelly_e
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Title: A Separate Peace
Author: John Knowles
Genre: Classic
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: 1959
T H R E E • W O R D S
Luminous • Moving • Timeless
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A coming-of-age age classic, set at a boys boarding school in New England, against the backdrop of WWII, A Separate Peace tells the story of Gene, a lonely introvert, and Phineas, a handsome extrovert and an accident that alters each of the boys lives forever. A story of adolescence and friendship, of innocence and loss of innocence, and of human nature and seeking forgiveness.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This is a classic coming-of-age story I wasn't aware of until only recently when it was recommended to me. The writing and flow were easy to follow, and the character depth was well done. It's certainly a timeless tale that can transcend the passage of time. Gene & Phineas were both interesting characters and I enjoyed exploring the powerful nature of their friendship. The book also details the trials and tribulations of adolescence is a very real way - the jealousy, the guilt, the peer pressure - all felt reminiscent of my own teenage years.
The backdrop of the war morphed into the story with ease, and although it took a backseat, it was the perfect parallel to the loss of innocence experienced in adolescence.
My one criticism would be that it all felt a little too simple. Overall, a classic worth reading.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy classics
• fans of The Outsiders
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I could never agree with either of them. It would have been comfortable, but I could not believe it. Because it seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart."
Author: John Knowles
Genre: Classic
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: 1959
T H R E E • W O R D S
Luminous • Moving • Timeless
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A coming-of-age age classic, set at a boys boarding school in New England, against the backdrop of WWII, A Separate Peace tells the story of Gene, a lonely introvert, and Phineas, a handsome extrovert and an accident that alters each of the boys lives forever. A story of adolescence and friendship, of innocence and loss of innocence, and of human nature and seeking forgiveness.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This is a classic coming-of-age story I wasn't aware of until only recently when it was recommended to me. The writing and flow were easy to follow, and the character depth was well done. It's certainly a timeless tale that can transcend the passage of time. Gene & Phineas were both interesting characters and I enjoyed exploring the powerful nature of their friendship. The book also details the trials and tribulations of adolescence is a very real way - the jealousy, the guilt, the peer pressure - all felt reminiscent of my own teenage years.
The backdrop of the war morphed into the story with ease, and although it took a backseat, it was the perfect parallel to the loss of innocence experienced in adolescence.
My one criticism would be that it all felt a little too simple. Overall, a classic worth reading.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy classics
• fans of The Outsiders
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I could never agree with either of them. It would have been comfortable, but I could not believe it. Because it seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Grief
Minor: War and Ableism