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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
What an interesting peek into the mind of a young man. It was a better read than I was expecting. I'll be teaching this book in a few weeks.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was obsessed with this book when I had to read it for school when I was 15. I feel like it was paced like a longish short story despite being a full novel. Characters were interesting and the writing style was unreliable, suspenseful, and rich. Idk if I'd return to this tho just bc the boy's boarding school vibes aren't rlly for me anymore.
Welp, saw that coming.
I’m not sure what was so profound...maybe it’s generational.
I’m not sure what was so profound...maybe it’s generational.
It would have been better if they had kissed
Rereading since high school. I did not like the book in high school, but I think it was because I was too young, and too much influenced by my own high school existence to appreciate it.
if this had been a piece of literature assigned to me in school, i don't think i would've appreciated it in the least. however, as a book i read of my own free will, i found something familiar and comforting - as unlikely as that is - within it that made reading pleasant. the characters were enthralling and their relationships easygoing. there was nothing implemented to prevent a reader from feeling like they understood finny the way everyone at dover did. he was an entirely authentic character; i would say gene was, as well. the developments in their relationship as we followed through gene's narration made perfect sense to me, although this isn't the type of book where understandable actions can be taken as dully predictable. it's a book immersed in the life of its characters, rather than the life of the world. despite the backdrop of war and its semi-frequent visitations to dover's otherwise settled environment, the dynamics between gene and finny held the greatest significance throughout the novel. it is true that there is nothing to be gained from reading this - there's no extraordinary plot (although there is one beyond developing following lives), no profound analogy for life, no collection of easter eggs - but it provides a well fleshed out world to plunge into, one that is open for possible connection even if you are a reader like me, completely unlike the characters of the book. many discuss whether or not there are any legitimate homoerotic relationships in this story, even despite knowles's rebutting the existence of such. the way it read to me, there was clearly love that existed between gene and finny, but in my opinion, it was the kind of love that comes with true kinship and loyalty. finny was a character written as more alert and sensitive than most men, carefree and breezy, so much so that i understand why many think he may have romantically loved his dear friend gene in a way that might've been masked by easygoing yet strongly present friendship. however, overall, this book would have truly accomplished nothing in a more negative way if you choose to view it as a love story; thus, i see the male connection that exists here as deep and platonic.
I have wanted to read this book again for many years. I remembered the push and tragic fall from the tree but nothing else. The theme of war strong and what affects it had on that generation of boys knowing they were heading into the thick of it. A perfect backdrop to the war inside Gene Forrester and the betrayal he committed. You want to like Gene even though you hate what he did to such a beautiful outgoing innocent charming boy like Finny. Knowles wrote this masterfully. I was also taken with the character of Leper.
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Maybe I couldn't appreciate it in high school, but I wasn't particularly fond of this book. Perhaps I wasn't ready to deal with teenagers and extreme jealousy...