Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully written
Review: A separate peace, written by John Knowles, is set in a boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II. This book is a remarkable novel mainly about a unique friendship between the two main characters, Gene and Phineas. Gene is a shy, reserved intellectual, while Phineas is an outgoing, lively athlete. However the disparity between their personalities has a mysterious force that pulls them together. The friendship portrayed by Knowles is amazingly real- they waiver between hate and friends as mini-conflicts arise between them.
The campus of this school was situated out of the reaches of the war; most of the students are not bothered by what¡¦s happening in the outside world. However, as the students neared graduation and the truth slowly unveiled itself, it shattered the tranquility within the campus, and the students were suddenly faced with the shocking reality. A seemingly small incident had progressed into a huge conflict that ultimately was entirely comprised of evil. This book is well designed and controlled. At critical times in the story, Knowles is careful not to reveal too much, which leaves the reader in suspense with the urge to read on. In my opinion, there isn¡¦t a definite plot (not saying it¡¦s a flaw of the book). In fact, the novel is written somewhat like a diary. Even so, Knowles¡¦ perspective towards the war is timeless, and his masterpiece would appeal to most people who read this touching story.
Rating:
Summary: a book that excedes all other books
Review: When I first picked up this book I had no idea of how big the book was going to be. The book takes place at a boarding school in New England during the World War 2 time period. Although it is not one of those ordinary war books, it weaves a story of strong friendship between the characters, Gene and Phineas(Finny), and how they act and respond durring the war. The friendship that is portrayed in the book is something that seems lost in our time, the friendship is something that is true and from the heart, with its ocasional ups and downs. The incident that occurs in the story starts out as a small scratch to the friends but later evolves into something soo deep and dark it will change everything. I recommend this book greatly because it will set the bar for you to determine wether the books you read is as good as this one.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: Great characters, great story, and wonderful pacing make this not only a beautifully-written book, but a great read as well. And the two don't always go hand-in-hand. The most striking thing about this novel is its pacing and story line, for Knowles builds his plot from the ground up. The writing is reminicent of McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD or Fitzgerald's GREAT GATSBY, though those books have completely different plots and characters. But all great books have certain things in common, and A SEPARATE PEACE is certainly a great book. Emotional, and yet restrained and subtle, this major work of fiction is a must for anyone interested in good writing. Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN
Rating:
Summary: A Startling Masterpiece
Review: John Knowles's stunning masterpiece, A Separate Peace, is an exercise in youth, war, and the ignorance of the human heart.
This is a painfully beautiful novel set in a 1940s New Hampshire prep school for boys amidst the onslaught of World War II. Gene and Phineas, two complete opposites, yet *magnetically* drawn towards each other, and their beleagured friendship, are the foci of this story.
What starts out as a seemingly small, but startling, incident among the two friends ends with a meditation on evil, in general, and warfare in particular. A Separte Peace is really about the idealistic, nostalgic days of boyhood respite, shattered by the threat of war. In this sense, all the characters are metaphorical victims.
Knowles, however, not content to simply tell one of the most important tales of our time, about the evils of war, and the absconding of all innocence, does so with restraint and care, never becoming preachy or superior in tone. This is the story of the second of the Great Wars, and its first victims. The victims of lost innocence.
Knowles's beloved timely novel first published in 1959, has since remained a best-seller for more than 30 years, and is one of the most widely-read books among high school students. Knowles's vision and message will never be lost or become meaningless. They are lessons for all people, and all generations.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent novel
Review: When I first read "A Seperate Peace", I absolutely hated it. I hated everything about it. Then a few months later I picked it up again (because it was for school) and as I began to reread the novel and see the different metaphors carved into the tragic plot, I really began to truly appreciate it. If you don't like this book on the first read, go back through it later and look for deeper meanings, look into the personalities of the characters and how they conflict, look for the metaphors. This is such a wonderfully crafted novel that I can't recommend it more. While it is wonderful, it is also very depressing at times, so don't read it expecting a really happy story. Expect a perfect tragic American literary classic.
Rating: 
Summary: A Separate Peace, A Separate Vitality
Review: After reading ¡§The Catcher in the Rye,¡¨ I wanted another book with the same powerful stream of consciousness that binds a magnificent novel. ¡§A Separate Peace¡¨ tells a story more moving than a plot with a chain of events. Also, because the stream of consciousness belongs to an adolescent, Gene, I easily relate to his feelings. His circumstances also mirror mine. During World War II at Devon, a boarding school, Gene and Phineas, roommates and best friends, are opposites. Gene is a quiet intellectual, Phineas a daredevil athlete. Gene often feels jealous of Phineas¡¦ athletic skills and charisma. He feels that Phineas is also jealous of his academic achievements. One day, Phineas and Gene attempt to jump out of a tree into a river. However, Gene shakes the limb then Phineas falls and breaks his leg. After this trauma, Gene feels that Phineas¡¦ incapacitation is his fault and he soon loses his hate and jealousy for Phineas. Their friendship starts regularly, simply, and almost perfectly, but soon transforms into betrayal and resentment. Simultaneously, the war is encroaching on their lives. Enlisting has become a popular topic, and one of Gene¡¦s friends, Leper, a quiet, peace-loving boy, enlists first. Here appear the themes of war and peace and loss of innocence. Leper loses both unassuming existence in life as well as sanity after joining the war. The loss of innocence includes war and peace and coming into adulthood. Because Leper¡¦s case was unexpected, using him, a ¡§goody boy¡¨, more effectively captures the drama of profound transformation in a person than Brinker, another schoolmate, a head-honcho, highly political figure, who talks about enlisting but doesn¡¦t. War raging around them metaphorizes Gene¡¦s internal battle. His nature illuminates the nature of human beings. Enmity, jealousy, and competition drive the selfish desire to harm others, which connects to loss of innocence as self-interest develops. Another theme concerns rebellion and conformity, which Phineas and Gene embody respectively. I think adolescents ponder rebellion against others based on their own values. Young people are most volatile during this age and are more prone to be transformed easily. I am also in the mainstream with other adolescents and I too am sifting through my identity. I hope all adolescents can read this book as I believe it is perfect for such an age.
Rating:
Summary: A Separate Peace
Review: This summer i was assigned to read A Separate Peace for outside reading. I have very busy summers and I don't like to read that much. I thought I would just bore my way through this book like I've always done before with other summer reading books. As I started this book though, I got more and more into it and really started to enjoy it. The main character of this book is Gene Forrester. He is telling us the story in his point of view which is first person. He has gone back to the school, Devon, after fifteen years to try to put what happened there behind him so he could go on with his life. Gene shows us that there is evil lurking every where because we see the potential of evil in the human heart through him. Finny is another very important character. Gene and him are best friends though two very different people. Finny has trouble in school but is excellent on any playing field and is almost too perfect. While we see evil and jealousy through Gene, all we see is honesty, innocense, and loyalty from Finny. The story takes place in the school Devon. Devon is an example of a small microcosm, which is a small world contained in itself. The war is going on outside the school while there is a small war going on under the surface at Devon. Gene is jealous of Finny and thinks Finny feels the same way but he finds out that he doesn't and that Finny is too good to be jealous. There is a tree which they jump from. This tree symbolizes the tree of knowledge and Gene's loss of innocense. As Gene and Finny were on the tree about to make the first double jump, Gene made Finny lose his balance and fall to the ground crushing his leg. Finny falls physically while Gene falls mentally and spiritually. Finny will never be able to play sports again or go to the war and he doesn't know that Gene caused the accident. Gene and Finny are still very good friends but there are many things throughout the story that foreshadows a trial that brings out the truth. Brinker sets up the trial and the truth wouldn't have come out except for Leper. Leper was a shy guy that kept mainly to himself. He had to gone to the war and became crazy. Leper was the only one that had seen Gene make Finny fall from the tree. When Leper was testifying Finny ran out of the room and fell down the stairs breaking his leg again. As Finny was in surgery, a piece of bone marrow got into his blood stream and stopped his heart which killed him. Gene feels like it is his funeral when he attends Finny's because he realizes that he caused Finny's death. I thought the author did a very good job writing this book. He shows us the potential of evil in the human heart and many other things. Many people can relate what has happened in this book to something that has happened to them. The author also did a very good job foreshadowing which keeps us reading and interested.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most moving books I have ever read.Bravo..
Review: John Knowles's eloquent and observative style make this novel a complete gem. This touching and beautiful story is set mostly in Devon, an old New England school during World War II. Every character is so well portraited, you'll understand them perfectly if your acute mind makes the effort. Someone who reviewed A Separate Peace here said the friendship between Gene and Phineas 's not realistic. I have to disagree; when you're living with the constant fear Gene's living with, you begin to alienate the world around you. Gene's tormenting insecurities lead him to hurt his best friend even though he loves him more than in any usual friendship, and I wish I could say where exactly in the book this is proved, but I'd spoil it for those who haven't read it. Like in other John Knowles novels, the main character, this time Gene, is extremely complex. Something else you have to understand when reading this book is that Phineas is an extraordinary human being. He is a! ! leader; he has a pure heart and always follows his own path. I could sit here all night discussing the book, but instead I'll just tell you that I'm a very picky reader, but I extremely recommend this novel to anyone in search of a masterpiece. This might as well be my favorite book...
Rating: 
Summary: even lisa simpson thinks this book is lame
Review: i don't understand why they still make high school kids read this.
Rating:
Summary: Just Great!!!
Review: We had to read three "coming of age" books in school recently, and all were extremely good and completely different from each other. "Catcher in the Rye," "The Bark of the Dogwood" and this one, "A Separate Peace," were the books. We voted in class, and "Peace" was our favorite, followed by "Dogwood." Knowles book is so well-written and moving that I don't see how anyone could not like it. Whether you have to read it or not for class, pick up a copy!
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