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seraphjewel 's review for:
A Separate Peace
by John Knowles
Surprising but true: I was never assigned this book in school. Or if it was assigned, it was an optional read. So this is my first time reading it, and I wonder how I would've viewed the book back then. As an adult I can appreciate the imagery and the simplicity of the story, as well as the underlying themes that the author is trying to convey within the story.
One of the things I found particularly profound is the constant emphasis on what is real versus what is imagined. Phineas in particular has that sort of imagination that can bring anything to life, and the charismatic personality to get out of any situation. While Leper is away the boys imagine him as a hero, and when he returns he tells Gene of his own horrific visions. Then of course there is the reality of what Gene did to Phineas, and how they were both at last forced to face it.
This story takes place during the events of World War II, but I wonder if it could be just as relevant in any war. If you're removed from it or only hear about it on the news, it's easy to believe the war doesn't exist or doesn't involve you in some way. Gene struggled with his own personal war and sometimes failed to acknowledge it for what it was, which to me seemed like a reflection of the attitude of the bigger war around him.
So overall I found this to be an excellent story that has more to offer than what can be seen on the surface. If only you let yourself be taken down into the trenches.
One of the things I found particularly profound is the constant emphasis on what is real versus what is imagined. Phineas in particular has that sort of imagination that can bring anything to life, and the charismatic personality to get out of any situation. While Leper is away the boys imagine him as a hero, and when he returns he tells Gene of his own horrific visions. Then of course there is the reality of what Gene did to Phineas, and how they were both at last forced to face it.
This story takes place during the events of World War II, but I wonder if it could be just as relevant in any war. If you're removed from it or only hear about it on the news, it's easy to believe the war doesn't exist or doesn't involve you in some way. Gene struggled with his own personal war and sometimes failed to acknowledge it for what it was, which to me seemed like a reflection of the attitude of the bigger war around him.
So overall I found this to be an excellent story that has more to offer than what can be seen on the surface. If only you let yourself be taken down into the trenches.