History YMMV / ASeparatePeace

* DiagnosedByTheAudience : Gene Forrester is a [[TheCynic cynical]], neurotic [[ThePerfectionist perfectionist]] who is a ConsummateLiar and [[UnreliableNarrator more emotionally unstable than his dispassionate narration might make you think]]. This alone isn't necessarily anything unusual, but his behavior becomes extreme in certain situations, especially whenever he's around Finny. Though it's an AmbiguousSituation, he supposedly [[spoiler:causes Finny's fall from the tree--and thus his death, however indirectly--[[DisproportionateRetribution because he was distracting him from his schoolwork]]]]. In addition, he physically attacks Quackenbush (throwing him into the river), Leper (knocking him off his chair), and Brinker (choking him with a jug of hard cider) with little to no provocation. There are also some rather subtle clues in the text that something may be wrong with Gene: Finny implies he's a NervousWreck who [[CigaretteOfAnxiety smokes all the time to keep his anxiety in check]], and Gene himself makes a strange, offhanded comment about only loving "deadly" things. Finally, his breakdown near the end of the book is extremely unsettling: he [[spoiler:laughs hysterically while simultaneously crying and biting his fist (described suspiciously like self-harm)]], followed by visiting Finny in the [[spoiler:infirmary to insist he's going to fix his broken leg--[[LampshadeHanging while internally noting he sounds like he's gone crazy]]]]. He then has a period of [[spoiler:intense dissociation before falling asleep on the outside bleachers]].

* RelationshipWritingFumble: It's ''extremely'' common for readers to interpret Gene and Finny as gay. It's not surprising, since the two are incredibly close and seem to love each other beyond what typically makes up a platonic friendship. However, when asked about this, John Knowles gave what seemed to be WordOfStraight (see the trivia page).

* FanPreferredCouple:
** Gene/Finny, by a ''landslide.''
** Coming in second--albeit not a ''close'' second--would be Brinker/Leper.

* PeripheryDemographic: Since the book is about teenagers in an all-boys boarding school, the TargetAudience is, unexpectedly, teenage boys. However, [[WordOfGod John Knowles]] has stated that interestingly, he has received more fan letters from girls than boys.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Some people view the book's aesop as [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop "hurting other people is okay so long as you become a better person for it afterwards."]] It should be noted that this is the exact opposite of the aesop as it is generally interpreted, which is that there are no true enemies in the world, and we create enemies for ourselves due to ignorance. Thus, we hurt others only because of a flaw within ourselves, and we should promote pacifism rather than violence. [[WordOfGod John Knowles]] clarifies this in an interview:

** Gene. His supporters see him as a troubled boy who is inwardly kind but doesn't know how to express his emotions, thus resorting to the extreme repression that results in a violent outburst. Those who don't support him see him as a whiny, obsessive borderline [[TheSociopath sociopath.]]
** Brinker as well. His supporters say he was just trying to do the right thing during the "trial," pointing out that he couldn't have possibly known the consequences of holding it. On the contrary, those who don't support him say his nosiness essentially [[spoiler:killed Finny]].

* AudienceAwarenessAdvantage: Some readers denounce Finny as stupid to trust Gene, as by this point most readers are aware Gene is an UnreliableNarrator who also constantly lies to other characters. But though Finny is certainly naive, it's important to remember that Gene may possibly be a ConsummateLiar in-story, and the two of them are [[LivingEmotionalCrutch living emotional crutches.]]

** The most common one: Is Gene and Finny's relationship just [[HeterosexualLifePartners a strong bond created by two dedicated best friends,]] or is it [[HoYay charged with homosexuality/homoeroticism?]]

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Some people will criticize the book by saying its aesop is that hurting other people is okay so long as you become a better person for it afterwards, having killed your bad feelings along with the person. This is...the exact opposite of the aesop as it is generally interpreted, which is that there are no true enemies in the world, and we create enemies for ourselves due to ignorance--thus saying we hurt others only because of a flaw within ourselves and promoting pacifism rather than violence. [[WordOfGod John Knowles]] clarifies this in an interview:

* HardToAdaptWork: The book centers around the presence of emotions that are largely implied or repressed, which does not bode well for a film adaptation. There have actually been two film adaptations, but both received mixed to poor reviews. Since it's incredibly difficult for a movie to capture the underlying tensions in character relationships and atmosphere here, the rather mundane plot becomes almost banal.

* AccidentalInnuendo: Devon, a boys-only boarding school, has a specific location in which students are permitted to smoke--called the Butt Room. This is referring to ''cigarette'' butts, of course, but in a book rife with HomoeroticSubtext, one would be forgiven for thinking it's referring to [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything something else]]. The fact that Gene, the character implied to be the most sexually confused, is noted to spend a lot of time there doesn't help anything.

* AccidentalInnuendo: Devon, a boys-only boarding school, includes a specific location in which students are permitted to smoke--called the Butt Room. This is referring to ''cigarette'' butts, of course, but in a book rife with HomoeroticSubtext, one would be forgiven for thinking it's referring to [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything something else]]. The fact that Gene, the character implied to be the most sexually confused, is noted to spend a lot of time there doesn't help anything.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Some people will criticize the book by saying its aesop is that [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop hurting other people is okay so long as you become a better person for it afterwards, having killed your bad feelings along with the person.]] This is...the exact opposite of the aesop as it is generally interpreted, which is that there are no true enemies in the world, and we create enemies for ourselves due to ignorance--thus saying we hurt others only because of a flaw within ourselves and promoting pacifism rather than violence. [[WordOfGod John Knowles]] clarifies this in an interview:

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Gene. His supporters see him as a troubled boy who is inwardly kind but doesn't know how to express his emotions, thus resorting to the extreme repression that results in a violent outburst. Those who don't support him see him as a whiny, obsessive borderline [[TheSociopath sociopath.]]

* FanPreferredCouple: Gene/Finny, by a ''landslide.''

* AngstWhatAngst: Finny is still his optimistic, humorous self after he [[spoiler:breaks his leg and becomes unable to play sports ever again]], even though sports are his passion. However, this is most likely a [[StepfordSmiler facade]], considering his ''serious'' [[spoiler:denial about Gene causing the incident]] and [[spoiler:mental breakdown]] near the end of the book.

** Finny is either a good guy, a normal kid seen through the eyes of [[UnreliableNarrator Gene]], or a bad guy who was just CrazyAwesome.

* SignatureScene: The scene in which Gene [[spoiler:jounces the branch, knocking Finny out of the tree]].

* AudienceAwarenessAdvantage: Some readers denounce Finny as stupid once he declares Gene to be [[spoiler:TheOnlyOneITrust the only one he trusts]], as by this point most readers are aware Gene is an UnreliableNarrator who also constantly lies to other characters. Although Finny is certainly naive, it's important to remember that Gene may possibly be a ConsummateLiar in-story, and the two of them are [[LivingEmotionalCrutch living emotional crutches.]]