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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully written and compelling but not as much of a page turner as books of a similar subject.
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It felt weird reading this without being in a high school class. Everything about it seems designed for Grade 12 English. It felt weird not to have read it then and to have missed out on this pretty commonly known novel, and it felt weird to read it without my Grade 12 teacher at the front of the room trying to evoke educated responses from us that go beyond "So Gene's gay..."
What was weirdest was that it was routinely not me reading it. It was fictional others rotating through. Whether scoffing at it, identifying with it, writing down a clever point for class discussion, it was all these teenage pieces of fiction out of my head that would've had something to say about it. As such my own idea is very confused. There were some beautiful expressions and images--I always love when a winter scene is painted for me with black bare trees and expanses of stark country snow--and a relatable level of nostalgia and of course the thread of darkness running through the human soul (especially the teenaged soul). But somehow my own reader-response was suppressed by these Others who had a lot to say and feel about it.
What was weirdest was that it was routinely not me reading it. It was fictional others rotating through. Whether scoffing at it, identifying with it, writing down a clever point for class discussion, it was all these teenage pieces of fiction out of my head that would've had something to say about it. As such my own idea is very confused. There were some beautiful expressions and images--I always love when a winter scene is painted for me with black bare trees and expanses of stark country snow--and a relatable level of nostalgia and of course the thread of darkness running through the human soul (especially the teenaged soul). But somehow my own reader-response was suppressed by these Others who had a lot to say and feel about it.
2.33
I think the theory that that other character who isn't the narrator is actually in love with the narrator was what made this bearable to read lol
I think the theory that that other character who isn't the narrator is actually in love with the narrator was what made this bearable to read lol
couldn't stand this book. finny was so freaking manipulative it got on my nerves. the main character, can't even remeber his name had no backbone. then he wanted to be finny. the book was so boring and at times no offense to anyone gay or lesbian, etc. but this book was gay i'm sorry. had to read it for english. in class reading days, i was reading a different and more intersting book than this. honestly i almost didn't finish it for class.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story, originally published in the early 1960’s, is the story of two roommates Phinneas and Gene, at a private boarding school during the summer in the 1940s. The 16 year old boys are at a summer session designed to speed their education, with the impending threat of the government lowering the draft age to 17 in order to fuel the war effort.
The boys are determined to make the most of this final, carefree summer, each in his own way. Phinneas, the irrepressible jock, in constant motion, invents ways to bring all of his friends together through fearless and often reckless sports, secret societies, and games of chance. Gene, the more studious, is infatuated with Phinneas even as he attempts to make his mark academically. Somewhere along the way, Gene begins to question whether Phin is his best friend or his rival.
This is really the story of loss of innocence, an American story of wars and impending wars that shaped the country from World War One through the present. It highlights the differences between voluntary service and compulsory service. It examines how the way that we convince boys to become soldiers, and the cost of our “patriotic” demands on our young men.
I loved the “maleness” of this book. The way that it captures the reckless nature of some young boys contrasted against the adult nature of the decisions they are making. It shows how split second emotional decisions can spiral into real and lifelong consequences.
I can see how this book hit a cultural sweet spot when it was written.
The boys are determined to make the most of this final, carefree summer, each in his own way. Phinneas, the irrepressible jock, in constant motion, invents ways to bring all of his friends together through fearless and often reckless sports, secret societies, and games of chance. Gene, the more studious, is infatuated with Phinneas even as he attempts to make his mark academically. Somewhere along the way, Gene begins to question whether Phin is his best friend or his rival.
This is really the story of loss of innocence, an American story of wars and impending wars that shaped the country from World War One through the present. It highlights the differences between voluntary service and compulsory service. It examines how the way that we convince boys to become soldiers, and the cost of our “patriotic” demands on our young men.
I loved the “maleness” of this book. The way that it captures the reckless nature of some young boys contrasted against the adult nature of the decisions they are making. It shows how split second emotional decisions can spiral into real and lifelong consequences.
I can see how this book hit a cultural sweet spot when it was written.
This was one of the books I never really got into but can totally see how someone could relate to this book. Let me let you in on a little secret this book is no fairytale. My favorite person of course this always happens in the books I read.