5672. Indian Summer, by John Knowles (read 26 Jan 2020) This is the third novel I have read by Knowles. I read his famed first novel, A Separate Peace, on 14 Mar 1970, and was suitably impressed. I read his Peace Breaks Out on 5 Sep 1994 with much less admiration. I noticed I had a copy of this book, Indian Summer, which I don't remember ever hearing of, and decided, since it a mere 200 pages, that I would give the author another chance to impress me. The book did not impress. It tells of a fictional guy just after World War II who meets a rich man who has been a life-long friend and talks him into coming to work for him, I found no admirable character in the book, at least among the principal characters. The rich guy is domineering but that is no excuse for what the principal character does to his wife. The principal character is a kind of goofy guy and some things the people say are sometimes humorous but in general the book was a waste of time. ( )

A decent novel by the author of the wonderful "A Separate Peace". Not in the same league as that book, but this story of a young man who returns to his home town and becomes involved in the intrigues of an enormously rich and powerful family there is good enough to stand on its own merits. ( )