A review by perenian
A Separate Peace by John Knowles

challenging emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

homoerotic and emotionally distressing!
i knew, even before the first chapter ended, that finny'd died—would die. and when it happened i felt it like a punch in the gut, like something that lasted only a second in reality but left you hurting like an exposed wound. even now, as i write, i feel my hands shaking and my throat clogging with words i don't know how to say.

it is a tale of delusions, of hurts and aches and lies. it is a tale of two boys: one who bares his heart to the other, the other who runs and aims at the heart because he is afraid. he cracks the heart, betrays it, twists the blade into it and watches, horrified, as it bleeds. but not once does he loosen his grip.
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