Peace Breaks Out

Rating:
Summary: Knowles Style Keeps It Up, But...
Review: 'A Seperate Peace', Knowle's best known novel, is hailed not only for its absolute perception of the adolescent mind but also for its highly memorable and beautifully crafted style. His ability to move from this eloquent language into dialogue is another one of his greatest achievements in the novel. 'Peace Breaks Out', set again at Devon and referring to the characters of his earlier novel only fleetingly, lacks the storyline that appealed to so many young people- mysel included. His characters are far less intruiging- there is the tainted war hero, the bitter genius, the naive brother. ALthough they are all important, they simply do not resonate the way the protagonaists of his earlier novel do. However, whatever the novel lacks in character it more than makes up for in style. His language is so perfectly crafted, and his dialogue so vibrant, that reading it from a writer's point of view is truly inspiring. His language truly builds, and falls, and is absolutely melodic. His perceptions, handed to us so brilliantly, are stunning. John Knowles created a little-known phenomenon with 'peace Breaks Out' that is, unfortunately, better appreciated by lovers of language than by lovers of story itself.

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat a disappointment
Review: After reading John Knowles' A Separate Peace, I anticipated great things from Peace Breaks Out. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Although Knowles talent at creating vivid characters and imagery survived, the intriguing and touching plot did not. The book did not leave me feeling like a changed person in the way that A Separate Peace did. I would recommend you read it, but don't expect too much.

Rating:
Summary: Definately Not a Separate Peace
Review: Going in, I knew this book had to be different than Separate Peace, it of course can not be a clone of it. But to be blunt, it wasn't as good as a separate peace. the plot was simple, like a separate peace, but that book had a much more emotional impact on me. i halfwished the story was about Gene and what he did after he left Devon. There were two small references to Phineas, that I enjoyed. It's a decent read and we get to visit Devon one more time.

Rating:
Summary: How can you not love this book?
Review: Granted, reading this book was required in my 10th grade English class, but there's no way I would call reading it a waste of time as many assigned books are. This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's an allegory that explores the human spirit in a way few books do. It's funny, sad, touching, terrible. What more could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: A beautifully written book
Review: I have not stopped thinking about this book since I have read it - what wonderful writing!

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Written in this Generation of Literature
Review: I think that " A Separate Piece" is the best book ever- I read it for the first time in 8th grade and loved it, it has been my favorite book since then. I do not understand how anyone can say that this book is borning. Another comment that I found awful was that anyone that has to read it was unlucky. For all of you that did not like the book, that said they could hardly finish reading the first chapter, well all can say is that maybe the words were to big for you. Before you jugde the book maybe you should finish reading it!!

Rating:
Summary: A nice addition.
Review: In John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" the reader is taken on a visit to the Devon School, a college preparatory school in New Hampshire. Through marvelously descriptive narration and telling dialogue, Knowles dissects the adolescent mind of the boys who were faced with the horrors of World War II. In his follow-up novel, John Knowles again takes the reader to Devon, and explores the psyche of similar boys at the time just after the War. Though the story is a bit more confined than that in the first book, I think that it has to be. This new batch of characters must look to themselves for a reason for the way they are, rather than to the oppressive state of the world. Knowles gives a brilliant depiction of the aggression that still remains in all of us, even in times of Peace. If you loved "A Separate Peace" as so many others do, myself included, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. It IS different, but it should be.

Rating:
Summary: A nice addition.
Review: In John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" the reader is taken on a visit to the Devon School, a college preparatory school in New Hampshire. Through marvelously descriptive narration and telling dialogue, Knowles dissects the adolescent mind of the boys who were faced with the horrors of World War II. In his follow-up novel, John Knowles again takes the reader to Devon, and explores the psyche of similar boys at the time just after the War. Though the story is a bit more confined than that in the first book, I think that it has to be. This new batch of characters must look to themselves for a reason for the way they are, rather than to the oppressive state of the world. Knowles gives a brilliant depiction of the aggression that still remains in all of us, even in times of Peace. If you loved "A Separate Peace" as so many others do, myself included, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. It IS different, but it should be.

Rating:
Summary: A nice addition.
Review: In John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" the reader is taken on a visit to the Devon School, a college preparatory school in New Hampshire. Through marvelously descriptive narration and telling dialogue, Knowles dissects the adolescent mind of the boys who were faced with the horrors of World War II. In his follow-up novel, John Knowles again takes the reader to Devon, and explores the psyche of similar boys at the time just after the War. Though the story is a bit more confined than that in the first book, I think that it has to be. This new batch of characters must look to themselves for a reason for the way they are, rather than to the oppressive state of the world. Knowles gives a brilliant depiction of the aggression that still remains in all of us, even in times of Peace. If you loved "A Separate Peace" as so many others do, myself included, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. It IS different, but it should be.

Rating:
Summary: Peace Breaks Out
Review: Peace Breaks Out begins with Pete, a man coming home
from war, coming to Devon. He wants to become a teacher there
because he was once a student there, and loved the peacefulness
of it. He felt that it was untouched by war. In his first class
he encounters three boys that particularly stand out from the
rest of the class. Their names are Wexford, Nick Blackburn, and
Hochschwender. Each of them with their own characteristics and
opinions. However, all of the boys have a certain image of war
because they were in the year of 1945. In class Wexford and
Hochschwender developed a gut-hatred for each other. This begins
to develop into something very serious as the story progresses.
They begin a newspaper rivalry because Wexford is the editor of
the school newspaper. Hochschwender begins sending in "Letters
to the Editor" challenging many of Wexford's thoughts. Pete,
being in search for peace, doesn't quite find it while he is at
Devon. Because of such disagreements on war the boys became
restless and argumentative. Throughout the story American
history is mentioned, and because of this topic enemies begin to
form. Pete ends up being in for a lot more than he bargained
for, when peace breaks out.