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stacyculler 's review for:
A Separate Peace
by John Knowles
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.