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169th out of 327 books
—
390 voters
Peace Breaks Out
by
John Knowles
With the unforgettable power and simplicity that made A Separate Peace into a modern classic, this masterful companion volume by John Knowles takes us once again on a warmly nostalgic journey through the poignancy of adolescence and gives us another landmark portrayal of the dark side of the human heart.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
March 5th 1997
by Bantam
(first published 1981)
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Overall, the novel is not nearly as compelling and the characters are not nearly as believable as Finny and Gene were from "A Separate Peace." However, I believe that the concepts that the author is asking his readers to consider are not only much overlooked and worth pondering, that the semi-weak backdrop of the novel excuses it. Of all the war novels, none I have ever read contends with the boys who were a year or two young to fight what had been indoctrinated to believe was the good fight. Th...more
Reading others' reviews, it seems that many were hoping for something similar to A Separate Peace. This is probably the wrong mindset to read this novel. True, the two novels are set in the same "universe" - a couple of minor characters are re-used here and there are passing mentions of (view spoiler), but this is a completely different novel.
I thought that the novel was written well. Its themes spoke to me, and I always like complex characters and ambiguous moralit...more
I thought that the novel was written well. Its themes spoke to me, and I always like complex characters and ambiguous moralit...more
Peace Breaks Out follows Knowles' earlier book, A Separate Peace. Pete Hallam, an injured WWII veteran, returns to his prep school in New Hampshire to teach. But, boys are very different for the way they were when Pete was in school.
These students have spent the past five years during the war thinking of how exciting the war would be. They had hoped to participate on an exciting manner. They are consumed by guilt for not having served.
An sooty and then hatred develops between two students in Pet...more
These students have spent the past five years during the war thinking of how exciting the war would be. They had hoped to participate on an exciting manner. They are consumed by guilt for not having served.
An sooty and then hatred develops between two students in Pet...more
They make a reference to Finny in this book!
Not quite as powerful as A Separate Peace, but the ending haunted me. Good book for the summer.
Not quite as powerful as A Separate Peace, but the ending haunted me. Good book for the summer.
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Having long dreamed of attending a prep school like Exeter that Knowles fictionalizes in both A Separate Peace and Peace Breaks Out, I recently re-read A Separate Peace and read Peace Breaks Out for the first time this spring. As an aside, I don't know if it is possible for former Exonians to write about their school without an undercurrent of death. In addition to Knowles, John Irving has written at least two novels, The World According to Garp and A Widow for One Year that are all partially se...more
I read John Knowles book which is A Separate Peace last summer, also this book wrote by John Knowles. This story has some similarity of setting with A Separate Peace therefore I was compare with A Separate Peace and this books when I read a story.
The setting of this story is World War II which is same as A Separate Peace. The main character is Pete Hallam who is the hero of athletic war.
I felt boring when I was reading this book, and I think A Separate Peace is better than this book.
The setting of this story is World War II which is same as A Separate Peace. The main character is Pete Hallam who is the hero of athletic war.
I felt boring when I was reading this book, and I think A Separate Peace is better than this book.
This book is darker than A Separate Peace. For me, it is not as lovable, but it is still as interesting. Peace Breaks Out is the closing bookend to World War II while A Separate Peace is the opening. I love how Knowles addresses the aftermath effects of war: the boys in the book are the senior class just when the war has ended, so they have just missed it. Yet their internal issues are no less significant than those found in A Separate Peace. As always, the writing is excellent.
I don't know why everyone reads a book by an author and expects them to out do every other book they've written or that it be the same book only better. This was an amazing book on its own. It is related to A Separate Peace, but it is not the same story or all the same themes as A Separate Peace. Read it for itself and not to get another Separate Peace.
I loved it. I like how we saw many different points of views and how everything ties together in the end.
I loved it. I like how we saw many different points of views and how everything ties together in the end.
Not really much of a novel--more like several short stories sewn together; and only the long penultimate chapter really seemed like it could stand on its own. Also adding to this impression is the frequent repetitiousness--and I'm afraid the constant harping on Big Issues only tends to underscore the lack of such involvement in the story itself.
Even though this is a sequel, you can fully enjoy this book without ever reading A Separate Peace. The setting and themes are the only things that carry over.
A soldier's perspectives of life after the war are juxtaposed with those of the young boys who never fought. It addresses what makes a hero, what makes a villain, and the concept of a war to end all wars. It’s very good, I recommend it.
A soldier's perspectives of life after the war are juxtaposed with those of the young boys who never fought. It addresses what makes a hero, what makes a villain, and the concept of a war to end all wars. It’s very good, I recommend it.
This was a disappointing book after reading John Knowles other book A Separate Peace which was phenomenal. The first 120 pages were basically setting up the conflict which only occurred during the last 30. I read it for a school project and would definitely not read it again.
May 12, 2011
Jacqueline
marked it as to-read
I love John Knowles' novel A Separate Peace, so I guess that I should read the companion novel. Although the ratings and reviews are pretty low, I will continue to hope that when I read this, it will blow me away just as his wonderful novel A Separate Peace did.
I picked this up on a whim, because I loved _A Separate Peace_ so much. Not even in the same ballpark. I couldn't get into any of the characters and the plot was pretty meh. Although I was happy that it made references to _A Separate Peace_.
Not as good as A Seperate Peace, but a worthy sequel. I'd probably have enjoyed it more had i read it witout knowing about the predecessor novel.
A Separate Peace is much better, but this is a moderately interesting psychological look at the generation who just missed being sent to war.
Oct 25, 2009
Joy
marked it as to-read
I didn't know there was a sequel to A Separate Peace (one of my favorite books from high school) so I'm happy to see this.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is my favorite book, so it's hard to have his follow up match that. Still a good book.
I know I read this several years ago, but just re-read it. Interesting decision to use omnicient POV.
The Muse touched Sir John once. and this book was not it. The skiing accident is tragi/comedy
although less subtle and more predictable than "a separate peace," i liked this book just as much if not more. interestingly, knowles' themes of internal war and 'in the absence of an enemy one is created,' are more stirring set in the so-called post-war 'peace.' The fact that the book was published in 1981 also gave the author the useful tool of hindsight and the knowledge of the conflicts that brewed and blew up in the decades after WWII, making the story more resonant for readers born long af...more
Recommend skipping this one in favor of A Separate Peace.
A decent follow-up, but not as classic as the first.
A real disappointment after Finny and Gene.....
Not as good as A Separate Peace. Disappointing
Peace Breaks Out by John Knowles (1997)
Jan 05, 2009
Katlyn
marked it as to-read
Need to reread
This book is the sequel to A Separate Peace which is basically bomb. This book has the same great aspects -- descriptive writing, poignant setting, the inquisition into the human heart -- which is exactly why it was ho-hum. It was a lot like the first book, even down to the climax of an "accidental" death. I got the point of A Separate Peace. Peace Breaks Out had a different point which I didn't get. Also it ended on a down note, a short essay on how the world's really horrible people were once...more
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is one of my favorite books. I read it many years ago and after reading this book by Knowles, I remember why. Set in post world war II at the same private school, Devon, that was in the first book, A graduate of Devon returns from war and takes a teaching position at Devon. In this masterpiece, Mr. Knowles demonstrates the making of a despot. The concept is so astute, so subtle, so well done, and the writing so pristine that I am astounded. Briliant! Brilliant! B...more
i remember 'a separate peace' probably better than this one, having read it years ago. ought to give this another whirl, given time. curious.
May 21, 2010
Nicole
is currently reading it
BORING
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John Knowles (September 16, 1926 - November 29, 2001), b. Fairmont, West Virginia, was an American novelist, best known for his novel A Separate Peace.
A 1945 graduate of the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, Knowles graduated from Yale University as a member of the class of 1949W. A Separate Peace is based upon Knowles' experiences at Exeter during the summer of 1943. The setting f...more
More about John Knowles...
A 1945 graduate of the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, Knowles graduated from Yale University as a member of the class of 1949W. A Separate Peace is based upon Knowles' experiences at Exeter during the summer of 1943. The setting f...more
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2 trivia questions
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“Most of the students there, he said, don't know what they think. You tell 'em, they'll think it. I plan to tell 'em.”
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5 people liked it
“This is a school,' said Pete in his level voice. 'All views can be expressed and considered here. We're not indoctrinating you.'
Yes, well,' Hochschwender replied coolly, 'that's a matter of point of view.”
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4 people liked it
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Yes, well,' Hochschwender replied coolly, 'that's a matter of point of view.”
