Book 64: Finished.

I have very mixed feelings about this novel. A large part of me remembers the first time I read this a few summers ago. I was working in the concession stand at the park, and it was one of those hot lazy days, so I spent almost my entire shift parked in front of the AC unit reading this novel. I remember loving it, and I am not sure why.

Now, after reading it for the second time, I am not sure how I feel. I suppose, on one hand, that this book was a big deal, and can be a big deal if you think about it in a certain way. I'm just not sure that the message and power of this book compares to the other 63 books I've read off my list so far (if that makes sense).

For those unfamiliar with the story, Gene and his roommate Phineas are in a New England boarding school for boys during WWII. Gene is a lonely, intellectual kind of boy. He studies and takes things far more seriously than Phineas. Phineas is an athlete and joker. Rooming together, they become friends.

Eventually Gene feels like there is competition between them and begins to pull away. A semi-tragic event happens and Gene must make amends with Phineas. It all spirals from there into eventual tragedy.

I get it. That whole boy rivalry thing. I don't understand it on some level, so I asked Matt about whether he competed with his friends. He said that its normal for men-folk to feel competitive, like a "look how macho I can be" kind of thing, but I don't get it. I don't think I was ever really like that.

But on another hand, I can see where the tragedy of this story is what drives it. A healthy young male in the prime of his life is hurt and will never what he once was. You can take it farther and compare it to the time period the story is set in. During all wars, not just WWII, young men were sent away and didn't come back the same. Something changed them, their lives were different and they were never the same person they once were. In that case you could almost view Gene and Phineas' story as an anti-war story.

"The war was and is a reality for me. I still instinctively live and think in its atmosphere," (40).

"When you are sixteen, adults are slightly impressed and almost intimidated by you. This is a puzzle, finally solved by the realization that they foresee your military future, fighting for them. You do not foresee it," (41).

I think that it is instead a story of change and growth. We all must go through significant moments of change and trial in our lives to become new, and hopefully better, individuals. We cannot contribute to society unless we adapt and change to the circumstances we find ourselves in. In the cases of Gene and Phineas, they suffer from more trials in a smaller period of time. Its just life and why this novel is often labeled as a "coming-of-age" novel.

I hope that all made sense. Since my feelings are mixed about how I felt about this, I'm not sure how to approach writing about them. I will say that if you haven't read this, it is worth a read. Even knowing what was going to happen in the end, I still found myself hooked.

Book 64: A Separate Peace and Book Stats.

Title: A Separate Peace

Author: John Knowles (1926-2001)

First Published: 1959

My Edition: Scribner (Seen at left)

Pages: 204

Other Works Include: Morning in Antibes (1962), Indian Summer (1966), The Paragon (1971), Spreading Fires (1974)

I read this for the first time a few summers ago. I think I was 19 or 20 and beginning to realize that I needed more classics in my life. That was a summer I was working at the other big park in my city and spent many shifts sitting in the booth selling permits, or wasting away in the concessions stand. Since I was spending so much time read at work, I had a rule that summer that for every 3 fun reads, I had to read 1 classic.

It worked out rather well, and I even got other employees to pick up some novels (I believe it was the same summer we started a book club and all the female employees read The Bell Jar). For me, it was a great way to read some classic literature on my own.

This novel, in particular, stood out from the rest that summer. I knew nothing about it going in, except that it was often taught in schools and was about boys. The rest was for me to discover, and I vividly remember reading it in the heat of the concession stand. I was absorbed in it and groaned inwardly whenever someone came to buy something.

It has been a few years since then, but I am hoping it packs the same punch. I thought about it for days afterwards when I first read it. Let's see if a second read feels the same.

*I should note that this is a backlogged review.*