A review by jentang
A Separate Peace by John Knowles

4.25

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.