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A Separate Peace by John Knowles: The teacher's companion
A teaching guide to accompany the study of the novel A separate peace by John Knowles.
- GenresFiction
46 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 12, 2015
I was surprised on the effort that must of been expelled by the author, I mean, It takes true energy to make something so monotone and boring, that every second I lived with this book in my general vicinity, I felt like jumping off of a forty foot building into fire. This book was so monotone in fact, that instead of leaving a ringing in my ears, I couldn’t hear anything for 48 hours after reading this book. Imagine, the worst possible thing on the planet, and then imagine not experiencing it, but never experiencing joy again. that’s how monotone, boring, and devoid of any sense of joy that this poor waste of paper truly is.
This book has some good uses too it as well. If you're planning on becoming a Buddhist monk, or some sort of spiritual guru, this book will make you feel so empty, that you will never need to clear your mind again. If you're ever having a good day, just remember this book, and you can feel nothing so fast, it's almost as quick as it must of been for the author to form such ill-riveting non-descriptive sentences. In fact, this works best on bad days, although you will probably have trouble remembering the passages due to the fact that after reading the book you feel no change in your life at all, and can't even remember reading it. I can’t even remember what I’m talking about, it left that little of an impression on my brain.
I found that this book did have a message. A message that all of us could use on a daily basis. If you don’t have anything good to say, write a book with an abstract title that has nothing to do with the god damn thing.
Thanks Goodbye.
This book has some good uses too it as well. If you're planning on becoming a Buddhist monk, or some sort of spiritual guru, this book will make you feel so empty, that you will never need to clear your mind again. If you're ever having a good day, just remember this book, and you can feel nothing so fast, it's almost as quick as it must of been for the author to form such ill-riveting non-descriptive sentences. In fact, this works best on bad days, although you will probably have trouble remembering the passages due to the fact that after reading the book you feel no change in your life at all, and can't even remember reading it. I can’t even remember what I’m talking about, it left that little of an impression on my brain.
I found that this book did have a message. A message that all of us could use on a daily basis. If you don’t have anything good to say, write a book with an abstract title that has nothing to do with the god damn thing.
Thanks Goodbye.
November 8, 2013
A Separate Peace is a novel written by John Knowles, and takes place in New Hampshire during the summer of 1942, and during World War II.The characters attend the Devon boarding school which is strict and very structured during the winter months, but more lax in the summer. Gene Forrester is the narrator and protagonist of the story, who comes back to Devon in his thirties to revisit his high school years. He was very smart with a superior academic record.His best friend at Devon was Phineas, also known as Finny. Finny was mischievous, likable, energetic, self-confident, and the best athlete in school.Finny had a carefree self-absorbed attitude and could talk his way out of any situation. Not only did Finny inspire loyalty, but he also inspired jealousy in Gene, who was filled with fears and insecurities.The two boys spent hours of the summer engaged in dangerous tree jumps into a river which Finny had encouraged.One day Gene’s love-hate relationship with Finny caused him to do the unthinkable.Gene shook the tree branch and Finny suffered a terrible accident which shattered his leg and ended his athletic and Olympic dreams.Finny became crippled and Gene felt so guilty he caused this pain to the friend he had loved most.Gene eventually confessed and was forgiven by Finny, however Finny had fallen and broken his leg for a second time and this time he died during the surgery as a blood clot broke away and entered his bloodstream.
Gene had two other friends Leper and Brinker.Leper loved nature and was a quiet boy without many friends.He surprised his classmates when he was the first to enlist in the army because he couldn’t stand the wait, then not long after was deserted.He called Gene having terrifying hallucinations and a breakdown from the stress. Brinker Hadley is the opposite of Finny in many ways. He is conservative, devoted to rules, and believes in law and order.The fall from the tree set in motion the events that made this novel a tragedy and changed the lives of all of the characters forever.These kids were growing up with a world war hanging over their heads and at the same time trying to figure out what kind of men they wanted to be.
What I liked most of all was the relationships between the characters.This novel portrays similar problems that exist today with several teen friendships.Gene doesn’t realize he loves him until after, when it’s too late.Finny, as wonderful as he was, forgave Gene and doesn’t want to see any negative traits in Gene .I think this book was well written and captured my interest to the very end.
What I disliked most about this novel is that Gene never does become comfortable with his own personality.He continues to live as a part of Finny starting to play sports even though it wasn’t his strength, and wearing his clothes.I found it disturbing that Gene would do anything to be like his friend.He needed to find himself and forgive himself for the mistakes he made when he was young.I wish that Gene had grown more through the novel.Gene continued to experience feelings of shame and guilt. Sometimes I also wish that Finny didn’t die.I wish he could have survived so that Gene would not use what he did to Finny as a crutch for the rest of his life.
I would definitely recommend this novel to others.It’s a great conflict between a well liked athlete, and his jealous friend This book portrays one of life’s many lessons and shows consequences to one’s actions.Many emotions contribute to the outcome of A Separate Peace, and the author does a very nice job of making the characters believable.The book was written with much detail and never seemed dull. It also gave some insight into what it was like growing up during war time and putting your life on hold anticipating the draft. It showed the conflict between wanting to serve your country and the dread of war. There are adolescent conflicts which lead to disastrous consequences. Even at a young age you have to be responsible for your own actions and keep your fears and insecurities in check.
Gene had two other friends Leper and Brinker.Leper loved nature and was a quiet boy without many friends.He surprised his classmates when he was the first to enlist in the army because he couldn’t stand the wait, then not long after was deserted.He called Gene having terrifying hallucinations and a breakdown from the stress. Brinker Hadley is the opposite of Finny in many ways. He is conservative, devoted to rules, and believes in law and order.The fall from the tree set in motion the events that made this novel a tragedy and changed the lives of all of the characters forever.These kids were growing up with a world war hanging over their heads and at the same time trying to figure out what kind of men they wanted to be.
What I liked most of all was the relationships between the characters.This novel portrays similar problems that exist today with several teen friendships.Gene doesn’t realize he loves him until after, when it’s too late.Finny, as wonderful as he was, forgave Gene and doesn’t want to see any negative traits in Gene .I think this book was well written and captured my interest to the very end.
What I disliked most about this novel is that Gene never does become comfortable with his own personality.He continues to live as a part of Finny starting to play sports even though it wasn’t his strength, and wearing his clothes.I found it disturbing that Gene would do anything to be like his friend.He needed to find himself and forgive himself for the mistakes he made when he was young.I wish that Gene had grown more through the novel.Gene continued to experience feelings of shame and guilt. Sometimes I also wish that Finny didn’t die.I wish he could have survived so that Gene would not use what he did to Finny as a crutch for the rest of his life.
I would definitely recommend this novel to others.It’s a great conflict between a well liked athlete, and his jealous friend This book portrays one of life’s many lessons and shows consequences to one’s actions.Many emotions contribute to the outcome of A Separate Peace, and the author does a very nice job of making the characters believable.The book was written with much detail and never seemed dull. It also gave some insight into what it was like growing up during war time and putting your life on hold anticipating the draft. It showed the conflict between wanting to serve your country and the dread of war. There are adolescent conflicts which lead to disastrous consequences. Even at a young age you have to be responsible for your own actions and keep your fears and insecurities in check.
February 28, 2016
I loved this book. It was amazing and it killed my favorite character which tends to happen in books I like. Finny died and Gene blames himself. I don't think Gene ever meant for it to go that far and certainly isn't evil. Evil doesn't feel regret.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 25, 2013ASP Book Review
Over the past couple of weeks, our 7th grade class has been reading A Separate Peace by John Knowles. The booking was about a boy coming into an all boys boarding school in New England. Along the way of the school year, and the summer session at the Devon school, Gene (the main character) faces many hard times and troubles along the way. In my opinion, one of the reasons that Gean makes the decisions that he makes is inspired by the fact that he knows that he will be going to war within the next year. It was going to happen within that year, it was just a matter if he enlisted or if he got drafted.
Gene’s roommate, Phineas or Finny, was the most athletic kid in the whole school. It is weird how Finny and Gene get along so well since they do not have much in common. One day Finny and Gene went to a tree that they often go to jump off of into the river. When Gene and Finny get up there Gene decides the shake the tree making Finny fall. Finny breaks his leg which causes Finny’s athletic career to be over. The book doesn’t directly say that Gene meant for Finny to fall but it basically implies that Gene did this so that he could become the valedictorian and leave his legacy at Devon school and be remembered as that perfect student. But Finny refuses to believe this since he is friends with Gene and blames himself.
At the end of the book, Gene and Finny find themselves in the middle of the night being taken to a classroom by a bunch of members in the senior class wearing black robes, led by one of Finny and Gene’s best friends, Brinker. At first Gene and Finny think that this is some senior prank, but it is not. It is a trial to see if Gene actually pushed Finny off of the tree. As the trial goes on Finny gets angry because he did not want to hear this. Finny then runs out of the room with his cast on his leg. He then fell on the stairs and broke the same leg. He then later died in surgery. Gene feels that he made Finny die, and that his legacy at this school will be remembered as a bad thing. I think the reason why Brinker had this trial was because he wanted to be remembered by the school for putting away the biggest crime in school history. Gene talks about how he never killed an enemy in war, but it was at Devon where he killed his enemy. So Gene really feels that he did this on purpose.
Over-all I really liked this book. It was really interesting because there was always more then one thing going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery stories.
Over the past couple of weeks, our 7th grade class has been reading A Separate Peace by John Knowles. The booking was about a boy coming into an all boys boarding school in New England. Along the way of the school year, and the summer session at the Devon school, Gene (the main character) faces many hard times and troubles along the way. In my opinion, one of the reasons that Gean makes the decisions that he makes is inspired by the fact that he knows that he will be going to war within the next year. It was going to happen within that year, it was just a matter if he enlisted or if he got drafted.
Gene’s roommate, Phineas or Finny, was the most athletic kid in the whole school. It is weird how Finny and Gene get along so well since they do not have much in common. One day Finny and Gene went to a tree that they often go to jump off of into the river. When Gene and Finny get up there Gene decides the shake the tree making Finny fall. Finny breaks his leg which causes Finny’s athletic career to be over. The book doesn’t directly say that Gene meant for Finny to fall but it basically implies that Gene did this so that he could become the valedictorian and leave his legacy at Devon school and be remembered as that perfect student. But Finny refuses to believe this since he is friends with Gene and blames himself.
At the end of the book, Gene and Finny find themselves in the middle of the night being taken to a classroom by a bunch of members in the senior class wearing black robes, led by one of Finny and Gene’s best friends, Brinker. At first Gene and Finny think that this is some senior prank, but it is not. It is a trial to see if Gene actually pushed Finny off of the tree. As the trial goes on Finny gets angry because he did not want to hear this. Finny then runs out of the room with his cast on his leg. He then fell on the stairs and broke the same leg. He then later died in surgery. Gene feels that he made Finny die, and that his legacy at this school will be remembered as a bad thing. I think the reason why Brinker had this trial was because he wanted to be remembered by the school for putting away the biggest crime in school history. Gene talks about how he never killed an enemy in war, but it was at Devon where he killed his enemy. So Gene really feels that he did this on purpose.
Over-all I really liked this book. It was really interesting because there was always more then one thing going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery stories.
December 3, 2015
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a historical fiction novel that depicts another point of view during World War Two. It is a historical fiction novel because it is about an actual event that took place, but has fictional characters. This book takes place in a New Hampshire boarding school during World War Two. The main characters are Gene, Phinny, the teachers at Devon, and the many students that attend Devon. This book follows Gene as his friends and him prepare for being drafted into the war. Some enlist while others decide to wait it out until drafted. I rated this book three out of five stars because it is very slow during some of it and can be confusing if you do not have a prior knowledge of World War Two.
August 6, 2016
I just finished reading this book this summer and really enjoyed it! It is one that is recommended for many high school students. I loved reading this book while exploring different perspectives of World War II which is the when the story takes place. The setting is a school called "Devon" and the characters are boys (about 15) who attend this all-boys' school. I ordered the movie on Amazon and watched it after reading the book. I enjoyed the movie but there were many differences (of course). I thoroughly enjoyed reading the "Spark Notes" which opened my mind to so many more thoughts about this book. I loved it! Enough to then, listen to the book on CD after I read it!
December 7, 2015
I thought A Separate Peace by John Knowles very good. It took a look at some of the friendships of teenagers in high school. The story develops the dynamic friendship of Finny and Gene, the two main characters. The two are sometimes opposites and they do have differences. It is very relatable to teenagers. I would recommend this story to teens everywhere.
November 6, 2015
Amazing book. A Seperate Peace was such a moving story. I'm grateful to have read it in school, so I could really see it's literary value. I would love to try reading it on my own sometime and see how it's different.
August 22, 2013
Very well written and moving novel..
August 7, 2014
It certainly demonstrated the dark side of coming of age with a war taking place, the future in doubt and the friendships of adolescence confusing the issues of youth.
August 22, 2015
Though the subject matter is interesting and gives insight into a dark time in world history, I personally found the author's writing style and slow pace difficult to handle.
September 9, 2015
It was okay... I got why it was so popular after I was forced to read it for a grade. I just thought the writing was boring and the story line and des tails were lacking.
November 11, 2015
I really enjoyed the book, because of its deep symbolism, and its great story.
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November 14, 2015I think this will be a good book
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November 20, 2015it was an okay book. that is just my opinion, mainly because i'm not that into southern literature. if you like southern literature, you should definitely read this book.
January 8, 2016
Very good coming of age tale.
September 26, 2015
High School required reading
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews