A Separate Peace

Rating:
Summary: A waste of time
Review: Of all the books that were inflicted on me in high school English class, this was definitely the worse. Pretentious and stilted, "A Separate Peace" has the reputation of being a soul searing exploration of adolescent turmoil and the evil lurking behind the facade of everyday life, but in truth never offers any truthful insight into either of these weighty topics. The deepest conclusion it reaches is that people are capable of bad things. And it's a miracle if you can feel any sympathy whatsoever for the whiny, self-pitying narrator. It's hard to identify with anybody who is such an ass. A bore.

Rating:
Summary: A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a very well written book
Review: A Separate Peace by John Knowles is very well written and I'd recommend it to a person of any age. We had to read this book in my English class, at first I didn't think I'd like it. But as the saying goes, don't judge a book by it's cover. I read it and it was great! John Knowles is a very talented writer.

Rating:
Summary: This is one book I will read again and again!!
Review: I thought that this book was no less than sublime. Set during WWII in a 'Dead-Poet-Society-like' boys' prep school, the reader is introduced to friends, Gene and Phineas and chronicles their relationship. It is no less than a psychological examination of adolescent jealousy resulting in dismal self knowledge, but also a statement about war itself. War and actual battles often times can seem distant, intangible, and irrelevant, but Knowles captures the irony by creating a microcosm of the war within Gene. His enemy was himself. I read this book in high school about 10 years ago and I still think of it often. I usually don't read books a second time, but this is definitely an exception!!

Rating:
Summary: A Charming Book for Young Adults
Review: A Seperate Peace is certainly a book worth reading, but it must be matched with the appropiate audience. It is perfect for young adults who are just beginning to appreciate the subtleties of narrative writing. Surely there will be those students who are forced to read the novel and react with distaste, but if the work is given a chance and is fully explored with both the cool dispassion of the critical mind and the earnest heart, I think it can offer a great deal to young readers. Of course, it must be noted that I have stressed the age of the readership as this book is not the complicated tour-de-force that adult readers require.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it; my students reactions were mixed.
Review: This is a little gem of a book that perhaps is experientially a bit beyond 8th graders. Our classes read it for a Pentathlon event; some of them loved it and many of them loathed it. It could be because we live in a very poor area and a number of the students had trouble identifiying with the characters. I hope and I'm fairly confident that in a few years many of them will come back to this book and appreciate it even if it was too difficult for them at this time.

Rating:
Summary: Great, but not for everyone.
Review: Without a doubt, A Separate Peace is the best book I have ever read. The characters in the story painted almost a mirror image of myself and many of my friends. However, the most important reason to read a book is to learn something about yourself or the people around you. For people who can't identify in ANY way with Phineas or Gene, this book is most likely a waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: A true classic. Deffinitely worth reading.
Review: A Separate Peace was truly an inspiring novel. It is my belief that everyone should have a chance to experience the truly moving story of the true meanings of friendship and war. As a highschool english student, I was given the opportunity to partake in reading this book. Gene's character emitted a truly emotional and almost tangible role. Phineas and Gene's rara avis friendship erupted into many objective and subjective wars, divulging a prodigious plot and conflict. The novel created a copious amount of unanswered questions. For instance, did Gene purposely jounce the limb? Did Finny condone him for possibly destroying his life? What did the tree symbolize? Overall, this book is a vehement expression of Knowle's life. It summarized the maturation process of two adolescents, and revealed the true meaning of friendship. This book is definitely worth reading!

Rating:
Summary: The Difinitive American Novel !
Review: Knowles proves his sagacity by writing this masterpiece. His many uses of symbolism depict well the relationships between good and evil, friend and foe, and peace and war. The way Gene vacillated complemented Phineas' audacity. They proved their friendship to each other through the worst possible conditions: injury and death. I fully enjoyed this book and recomend it to any bibliophile.

Rating:
Summary: A Separate Peace the worlds greatest novel
Review: A Seperate Peace , the greatest novel ever , displays American literature at its best. I loved the way John Knowles demonstrates his aptitude for writing. John Knowles's Phineas depicts his literary genius. Gene, a ordinary person, reflects Knowles ability to create a realistic character. The manner in which Knowles brought them together illustrates why this book has recieved so many awards.

Rating:
Summary: Ha Ha
Review: I found this book boring at times but never exciting. I would not recomend it to any further english classes. This book started losing me when Finny fell out of the tree.