A Separate Peace

By: John Knowles

Narrated by: Scott Snively

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a modern classic, this story of two boys' friendship at an exclusive New Hampshire prep school as it parallels the inescapable and escalating atmosphere of World War II, is intense and engaging to the last word.

©2003 John Knowles (P)2002 Audio Bookshelf

Critic reviews

"Snively does an excellent job conveying emotions in scenes of conflict...This is an excellent treatment of a modern classic." ( AudioFile)

Highkey Bomb (awesome)

the narrator had me gripped the whole time with his amazing rendition of the characters. I couldn't stop listening too it and was incredibly invested

not for me

The story didn't connect for me. It seemed overly simple compared to most books I read and enjoy.

Classic

One of my favorite classic books of all time. I loved the narration in this version.

Amazing

I loved this book so much! It makes you wonder about the war and how it affected people.

Thoughtful; great character development.

If you're looking for an exciting adventure story--this isn't it. But if you enjoy listening to a slower story that deals with adolescence, peace and war, and the relationships of different personalities, this is a great read. It is well written, thought-provoking, and does a great job drawing emotions that most of us experience but rarely think about.

A good classic

This is quite good, even made me chuckle a number of times. The narrator was quite excellent. I very much enjoyed all the voices of all the characters. This helps to bring them alive as I watch the story in my mind.

Excellent story!

Brilliant writing. First Knowles book I have read, and I was very enthralled with the story.

Excellent Story

I remember really liking the book in high school. It has a very different look in my middle years.

I understand more of Phineas’ frustration about the war and being left behind with Leper who was discharged with a section 8.

We all knew friends like Gene, who were the followers, but could of be there own leader. Very frustrating to read it this time.

John Knowles still writes an excellent book worth all his awards. I hope students are still reading this book in high school.

Give it time to all come together

Would you consider the audio edition of A Separate Peace to be better than the print version?

I only read the audio version so can't answer this question

What did you like best about this story?

It moves like a wheel inside a wheel inside a wheel, you just don't see it at first: Devon the school, over the course of a year in which so much happens, evocatively described in a certain era; the impending influence of World War 2 and what it meant to be going into the maw of imminent battle and to be, in hindsight, part of the Greatest Generation; and most importantly, the interactions of a constellation of boys as the cusp of adulthood, grappling mostly with the impacts of one fateful moment.

Have you listened to any of Scott Snively’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance was excellent, so many different voices and characterizations, all of which seemed to suit the characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Cause and consequence

Any additional comments?

At first the characters are difficult to relate to. It might be the stiff and prickly competitiveness of an elite, all boys New England boarding school of the 1940s that is described here, or the coldness of unadulterated Yankee culture. Also, the interactions and characterizations of that first Act of the book - a relatively carefree summer school atmosphere - are almost annoyingly whimsical. However, as the scene shifts to the regular term of the Boarding school, and as the emotional consequences of Gene's actions begin to feel their effects, the first Act becomes better appreciated in hindsight for its lost innocence. Furthermore, some traits of the main characters which at first seem annoying - Phineas' insistence that the War is a ploy made up by fat old men to exploit the boys, or Leper's psychosis - are eventually brought to bear in key scenes or revealed as masks for more relevant and emotionally powerful issues. Everything for me came to a head in chapter 11, after which all the characterizations become unified and every prior detail becomes acceptable and important. Just get through to that point and then you will see, hopefully, why this is called great literature.

amazing

beautiful well written story. reccomend as a choice novel for school or for a relaxation.