Rating: Summary: A Very Interesting and Realistic Book Review: I enjoyed the novel A Separate Peace by John KNowles. He presents the main characters Phineas or Finny and Gene togethor in an all boys senior class. Their final year of childhood is upon them as the mystery and fear of WWII looms ever present beyond their 18th birthday. Knowles creates realistic characters in Finny and Gene, because of the way he allows the reader to glance into the the mind of GEne. Finny seems realistic because of the emotions, actions, and dialogue we see or hear from him through Gene's interpretations. I took delight in this style of writing. I also took pleasure from the surplus of conflicts readily available in the book. These seem to imitate true human life and give the book it's special tint of authenticity. Also, the backdrop of WWII gave a keen tinge to the story, which added both more stress among the boys and knowledge of the times to the reader. Although I won't reveal it presently, I also relished the ending, as it was clear and definite. I particularly enjoy endings of that nature. To heighten the lifelike qualities already present, Knowles adds characters such as Brinker who is smart and social, or Leper, who is more of a weak person but a good friend. Knowles adds these people as frioends because they bpoth rely on Gene and Finny as friends, increasing Gene's and Finny's importance. Overall, the style and content were quite enjoyable. Although not a thriller, A Seperate Peace was in its own subtle way enthralling.
Rating: Summary: A story about the conflicts and illusions about friendship Review: The novel A Seperate Peace, an involved book, tells a story about the conflicts and illusions about friendship. Personally I hated the characters and the plot and by association I have come to hate john Knowles as well. If I set out to write a book I would at least try to make it interesting. Please send me e-mail if you agree with me or disagree. I want to know everyone else's opinion and if I maybe read a different book.
Rating: Summary: An interesting Novel that has a good moral. Review: My review of John Knowles', A Seperate Peace, is a fairly favorable one. I rate this book as one of the best I have ever read. This book was good because it deals with many events and situtations that many kids in high school have and will encounter. I myself have gotten in fights with my best friends and have made up with them. This book hits many of lifes occurences. I liked how Knowles involved the war in this story. The war is a symbol to me of what might happen later in the book, foreshadowing maybe. There were many symbols besides the war, such as: The tree Finny and Gene jumped off of, Leper Lepellier's "crackup", and the two rivers. I also enjoyed Brinker's role in this novel. It was a minor one, but an important one. He was the class leader and representative and felt partly responsible for Leper's little episode. He also felt the need to investigate the Finny/Gene incident. Overall, this book was enjoyable. On a scale of 1-5 I give it a 4.
Rating: Summary: personally I did not enjoy this book Review: A Seperate Peace is supposed to be a story about friendship, betrayal, and conflict. The Story is written with a sense of irony and sadness in the tone. I personally found the book depressing and pointless. The story really shows a dark side of human nature that most people don't like to see or even acknowledge. The story is about boys in a private New England school at the time of World War 2. Gene, the protagonist seems life-like and well-defined, but in a way that makes hima whining idiot. He is impossible to sympathize with, and the only thing that keeps the other characters from being the same is that they have no sense of realism at all. Conflict develops in many different times, and different levels throughout the novel. The conflicts are mostly well-defined, but since the story has no plot, it is hard to see their connection or point. I found the authors tone harsh and cold. The author probably could have defined the other characters better. The book also presents many conflicting views that are darn near impossible to figure out and relate to the story. If you do read this book (and for most students it is mandatory), I certainly hope that you enjoy it and get a lot out of it.
Rating: Summary: A child trying to decide who his real enemy is if it exists! Review: It is an action book.You see every action and sympathy with the characters and even feel hatred towards them.The relationship between Finny and Gene is what the author describes.The setting he chose and all other details are superb.It personally is the best book I have EVER read.If you are emotional and love emotional books take a look at this review.If you love happy endings let me tell you something don't read this book.However if you want to see your tears runing thru your cheeks with such a fiction book you know what you have to do.It is very effecting and I infact think everybody should read it...Well i will be looking forward for your opinions.
Rating: Summary: Great Book! Review: A seperate peace is a great book. It's a story about one man's struggle for attention and what he goes through to get it. This book is a great example of the harm envy can do.Ashkan Yekrangi
Rating: Summary: delves deep into the teenage mind Review: This may not be the greatest book that anyone will ever read, but among ones that deal with a troubled mind there is no better. I plainly think that the dark and evil thoughts Gene had are not uncommon, because we all have these thoughts at some point in our lives but tend to suppress them. Well done Knowles.
Rating: Summary: Worst book I ever read (and that's saying something) Review: I still can't believe I managed to slump through this travesty of the world of literature. There was nothing redeeming whatsoever about this book. The plot is terribly implausible (a branch, strong enough to hold up two adolescent boys, can be "jounced"?) It made my head hurt. The wispy, long-winded language alienates the reader, making it even more impossible to read. By the end, I wanted to slug all the characters, the author, and maybe my English teacher for making me read it! If I could give this "book" negative stars, I would!
Rating: Summary: WOW!!!! I KNOW THAT GUY!! Review: I first read this book my freshman year in an advanced placement class. When I saw it I had apsolutely no intention of reading it. Every night we had reading assignments, and every night I wouldn't even think about reading it. Finally when I did want to get F's on the quizes any more I started to read. I did read the entire book then, but I started to see the books potential. I picked it up again my senoir year because my AP teacher made us do literary annylisise. It was wonderful. The book worked on so many levels. It tide all the characters emotions and relationships toghther beautifully. I know not a lot of people liked this book, but I could really relate to it. I read it at a time in my life when every page was a page out of my life. I think it truely captures the immage of the changes, and trials that all teenagers must under go. I recomend this book to anyone who has ever loved a friend, and has had that love be the down fall of the friendship.
Rating: Summary: My favorite book of all-time. Review: John Knowles has done all of us who wish to read great literature, a great service. This book was entertaining while at the same time conveying the deepest of lessons. As a new middle school teacher I can appreciate the tremendous job that Knowles did in capturing the contents of the hearts and minds of two complex youths.
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