Customer Reviews

The Paragon; a Novel

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Paragon is an in-depth look at the life of Yale student Lou Colfax as he travels throuh his sophomore year. Lou is a complex young man who is battling with love and his desire to make chanes in the world. You will become more -tune to the human character and you'll find yourself pondering the ideas of Lou -- most of which ou've probably never considered before! The book also provides valuable insights into the life and times of fifties North Eastern USA.

Its a solid story that makes you want to keep reading. One problem is that it has some chronology problems. HIppy beatnicks in the wrong era. But if you want something to read, pick it up.

John Knowles does a good job of developing Lou Colfax' character, only to waste it with a rushed, so-so resolution of this man's troubles in the end. He does present good insights about war, life in New England, and early 20's angst. The various characters around Lou are also very interesting. It was only at the end that I felt let down.

This story is about Lou Colfax, a paragon of potential who squanders it by simply not knowing what he wants. Lou is shown to be extremely intelligent yet unmotivated, more interested in rabble rousing than planning ahead.

'Paragon' attempted to follow the same themes an Knowles earlier work, 'A Separate Peace,' but generally failed. As a college man, Lou is past his adolescence, and the antics he embraces lead into consequences he is not prepared for. He does not know how to take responsibility for those consequences, or have an adult relationship. He's a man-child in his world, full of curiosity and drive, but without any goals.

In short, the novel meanders and goes nowhere. Themes include drugs, the class divide between rich and poor, fatherhood, and war. I can't say 'coming of age' because Lou never really learns anything, and he is already an adult.

Overall, I didn't find much enjoyable inside this novel. Though the quality of settings and characters were high, the pacing and (especially) plotting left me disappointed.

From the author of a Separate Peace follows a little tale of Yale, New Haven, and romance, with classic scenes including polo horses in dorm rooms. A must read for anyone who has an interest in Yale or John Knowles, but perhaps a little too light for serious novel-goers.

It is fairly obvious that John Knowles tried to capture the same success of "A Separate Peace" with this novel: New England, war time conditions,adolescent boys, maturity, and school life. But "The Paragon" falls far short of "A Separate Peace." The same emotion is never quite there. Instead, I felt like I was reading the script to a Sunday night made for TV movie. The thoughts of the main character,Lou Colfax,are overstretched and unintentionally humerous. I almost felt sorry for Knowles at one point in the book. He describes a character as being a worn out writer who only had one successful work attributed to his name. I'll give you a little pity John--2 stars.