Rating: Summary: Over-all a good book, but gets depressing at times. Review: I liked the book very much, and found great symbolism, by Knowles. If you want to read about a struggle of WW2 then this is a must read.
Rating: Summary: EXTRAORDINARY BOOK!!! Review: I have been reading some of the reviews and I have noiced that the people who claim that this book is horrible hardly understand the concept of a really good book!
Rating: Summary: To many extra, unneeded parts!! Review: After I read it, I liked it. I never would have picked it up if I wasn't forced to by a class assignment. It was all around a pretty good book!
Rating: Summary: A Seprate Peace; greet read, as real as life its self. Review: I read this book in class, I thought it would be a dull book but once I got into enjoyed it. I feel that everyone should pick this book up. You can sometimes feel what the characters are feeling, you wont be bored by this book.
Rating: Summary: Fluff Review: Extremely Overrated. The book's writing is clumsy; the characters and the plot twists are fluff; the whole crafting of the novel is horribly unclever. It has no redeeming features whatsoever. I would give it NO stars if I could. I already wrote this review, but I'm writing it again because: A. I forgot my name--which is Nicholas Messitte-Greenberg-- and B. I want to review this as many times as I can so I can bring the three and a half star rating down.
Rating: Summary: Words to live by Review: John Knowles sweeps deep in to the heart and mind of his reader in the classic, "A Separate Peace". The book is not simply a story of friendship, trust or the trials of youth, but a very real representation of society in all it's many faces of evil and good. It plays on the demons in us all, and conjures an almost devine sense of forgivness that has stayed with me for all of the years hence. I will read many books in my life, but I will always somehow come back to this.
Rating: Summary: Unique, but not in a good way Review: This was one of the stories that grabbed me right away. It had a great plot line and good characters. Sadly, as the story progressed, these both disappeared. The characters are bizarre to say the least, not one of them seem realistic. It is okay to have maybe a few characters who seem out of the ordinary, but you can tell there is a serious problem when every single character is this way. My English teacher said you can learn about human nature through this book, but I say this book is more of a guide to psychiatric disorders.As the story moves along, it became more evident to me that the author is mostly winging it. New subplots seem to pop out of nowhere, an example being Leper's "insanity." However, the problem is quickly passed by, and there is little reference to it ever again, making for a kind of pointless waste of pages. In the end, Finny's dead, with Gene shrugging off the whole ordeal. If you ask me, if anything, Finny's death ruined the inevitable confrontation between Gene and Finny. Basically, this is a story of a young boy during the war. No more, no less. The story should be read under the impression that the story may have some good parts, but they won't last. That, and if you have your heart set on reading a story about young adolescent boys during World War II.
Rating: Summary: Loved it! Review: 'A Separate Peace' is among the select few books I call my favorites-- and I never would have discovered it if not for my high school reading list. Lots of people seem to dislike it for the very reason that it IS required, but I'm glad that I got to experience it when I did. (My school removed it from the required reading list the year after I had to read it.) The most remarkable thing about the book is the unique relationship between Gene and Finny. Although one never learns what Finny thinks first hand, we can assume that he felt no jealousy or hatred toward Gene at any time, even after he learns the truth about the accident. Then he *is* badly hurt emotionally, but he still does not hate Gene. I don't think that Gene ever truly hated Finny either. He *was* jealous, but his real panic stemmed from the fact that Finny felt nothing but friendship and love for him. Gene wasn't emotionally ready to cope with a boy who, even though he was only 16, loved him unconditionally and wasn't afraid to admit it; Gene therefore convinced himself that he hated Finny rather than dealing with what he really felt, whatever that might be-- he never tells us. It's been theorized that there were homosexual undertones to this book; from what I noticed, I think it's possible. It would certainly explain Gene's panicked reaction to Finny's devotion. However, the emphasis is less on the *nature* of their relationship than on how they deal with it. I wish the ending hadn't been so sad-- I would have liked to see Gene reconcile with Finny, especially after they are both grown up. But then, it was obvious from the first what the "inevitable outcome" was to be. Gene simply was not emotionally equipped for Finny, and basically, he had to put Finny away from him to cope. He did this in the most permanent way possible-- he ultimately killed the person who cared for him more than anyone else. I'd love to discuss this book more... Feel free to email me!
Rating: Summary: A Beautiful Book Review: I read this book for school this year, and it was probably the most profoundly moving experience I've ever gotten from a book. Gene and Phineas were greatly developed characters, Gene a symbol of the dark side of human nature, Phineas of youthful innocence. The friendship between them is truly touching, and the climax rightfully poignant. It ends on a quiet sad note. A great book, recommended to anyone.
Rating: Summary: One to many stars. Review: This book is the only book I have ever read that is actually dumber than a TV sit-com. I've read short stories that had a more intricate plot. Characters in Saturday morning cartoons have more depth. Intense, only for people get scared watching Disney movies. Symbolism are sure there is any? If you want symbolism read The Old Man and the Sea or The Pearl. While I was reading this I saw a Simpsons episode where Lisa Simpson says this book is at preschool reading level. A preschooler though might find it a bit below their intellectual level.
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