A Separate Peace

A SEPARATE PEACE
by John Knowles

Nomination: National Book Finalist 1961

Date Read: September 21, 1999

I randomly picked up a copy of this novel in a bookstore one day and it was one of those novels that you stumble upon and cherish. This coming of age novel finds Gene Forrester visiting his old prep school to confront two experiences that have haunted him for 15 years.

Gene and his best friend Finny are roommates at Devon, vying to outdo each other in every facet of their lives. In a moment of teenage stupidity, Gene shakes a tree branch as Finny is about to jump into a river, thereby shattering his leg, causing him a permanent limp and ending his ability to play meaningfully in any sports, which are Finny's ultimate passion.

Later, at a gathering of their secret club, Finny leaves during a mock trial meant to indict Gene for his actions. The two friends are able to face each other and confront what really happened: a childish prank, not an act of anger. They are able to forgive each other and move on. Upon leaving this meeting, however, Finny falls down the stairs, shattering the same leg again and subsequently dies during the surgery to repair the new injury.

Gene proceeds with his life, getting caught up in WWII, and lashes out at those around him in order to protect himself from his own insecurities. If you alienate those around you, they never get close enough to hurt you. What makes Gene a memorable character is his self awareness of what he's doing, why he's doing it and only these inner conversations can ever help you to grow. After all these years, this book still stands out to me and, in a small way, actually helped to shape who I am today.

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