In his review "The Praises and Criticisms of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye," Eric Lomazoff states "...The Catcher in the Rye will continue to be a point of great public and critical debate. One must remember, however, in the study and critique of the novel, particularly for a researcher or critic in 1996, that the story was written in a different time. If originally published today, the novel would probably create little publicity and garner only average book sales. The fact that a novel of such radical social opinion and observation was written in a time of conservatism in America made it all the more controversial. Some critics scolded the novel as being too pessimistic or obscene, too harsh for the society of the 1950's. Others, however, nominated Salinger himself as the top-flight "catcher in the rye" for that period in American history (Peterson 3). They argued that Salinger's concerns represented an entire generation of American youth, frustrated by the phoniness of the world, just like Holden was. The popularity of the novel and debate over its redeeming social value have never faltered since its initial publication, due in no large part to the fact that J.D. Salinger is now a recluse. It would be conclusive to say that critics of The Catcher in the Rye have legitimate criticisms of the novel, while advocates and supporters of the story's message also have expressed veritable praise."
Read the following articles (3 sites linked below) to better understand the varying opinions of literary critics.
Biography:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/books/29salinger.html?pagewanted=all
Analysis:
http://www.levity.com/corduroy/salinger1.htm
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/reaching-holden-caulfields-grandchildren/?ref=books
Your Assignment: due: 12/8/14
1. Read the literary criticism and bio/eulogy (3 links above.)
2. Write an well developed paragraph (approximately 200-300 words.) Explain how your understanding of The Catcher... and/or Salinger has changed, positively or negatively, after reading the posted documents. Embed at least one quote in your discussion and refer (agree or disagree) with a comment made by one of your classmates.
*Please note, The first person to post does not need to refer to another classmate's response.
Enjoy,
Ms. O'Donnell
After reading the documents presented, I found myself gaining a positive view of The Catcher in the Rye. Prior to reading these articles, I had no real opinion of the novel. By reading others' views of the story and experiences with it, I saw that the story of Catcher in the Rye is based on the author's experiences. More than that, the story is at least partially an autobiography through which J.D. Salinger deals with his depression. I suppose that it would be best to say that Salinger projects his troubles into the protagonist. As it says in the first article, "he...was packed off to Valley Forge Military Academy, in Wayne, Pa., which became the model for Holden’s Pencey Prep. Like Holden, Mr. Salinger was the manager of the school fencing team," this shows some the parallels that can be drawn between the author and his character. One can also draw parallels between Holden Caulfield’s inability to communicate with others and Salinger’s reclusion after the success of his novel. My understanding of the book has become positive in that the book is, in my opinion, a healthy way for the author to both provide social commentary and vent on his own psychological issues as a small manner of distress tolerance.
ReplyDeleteEntering adulthood can be a horrible experience, I believe this is why Salinger wrote the book, because of the fact that it shows the truth about teenage life and how one deals with being an outcast. The book shines light on the situations and desires that are usually overlooked when a teenager expresses their emotions like Holden. As a result, I gained a positive view after reading the literary criticisms because of the fact that Salinger created a book about the troubles of a distressed teen through expressive realism. Salinger tried to teach his audience that the world is not perfect. I believe that this was something that needed to be said during this time period because there are problems in life that should be resolved, especially the problems of an adolescent. To many readers of The Catcher in the Rye, “It is a widespread belief that much of Holden Caulfield's candid outlook on life reflects issues relevant to the youth of today,” this could support that Salinger did have intentions of shining light on youth of his time period and that their issues need to be addressed instead of forgotten or ignored. I admire Adrian’s suggestion that Salinger and Holden can be described as parallels. To express the events and ideas within The Catcher in the Rye, one must have some sort of view or understanding that can lead to a literary piece that is so realistic and raw.
ReplyDeleteI'm really proud of the mature comments you are making. I hope this blog continues to be a positive extension of our classroom. (Even if I have proven my inability to great mass gmail accounts.) Great start guys!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I want to comment on the fact that all the students who were claiming that they were all going to post first have yet to post.
ReplyDeleteLike Adrian, I had no real opinion or knowledge of J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, except from what my junior year creative writing teacher told me: that at the end, I was going to be very angry. However, these articles have gotten me completely intrigued with Holden Caufield's story. I can see that he will be easy to connect with, espcecially because what Ms. O'Donnell said in class is true: we have all felt angst at some point. I disagree with what Elizabeth Wurtzel said in her writing in "Reaching Holden Caufield's Grandchildren". She says that all kids today are either really good kids or really bad kids. She said that the good kids will not understand Holden's grief, while the bad kids will not even read the book. She obviously does not come in contact with teenagers that often. I am one of those "good kids", but I can honestly say I have done my fair share of "bad" things, which will make the book easy enough to connect to. From the New York Times Biography and Eulogy, I have grown to like Salinger as a person. He seemed quirky and real, like all writers should be. I especially grew to like him as an author in the first article, when it says he told school officials that his interests were "dramatics and tropical fish". Finally, I love that he was withdrawn and wrote for himself, not for anyone else; the "fame" was just a side effect. I agree with both Donovan and Adrian that "Catcher" is meant to be a parallel to Salinger's own life. This seems even more true because good writing comes from writing what you know.
Like Adrian, after reading these articles I have become much more interested in reading this book. Holden is the representation of what Salinger and American teen-agers were and are feeling. Some critics say that the book is too depressing to connect with. As it says in the article, The Praises and Criticisms of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, "He (James Stern) saw The Catcher in the Rye as being too depressive to be of any redeeming value to the reader." I feel that this is exactly what makes the book redeeming to the reader. All teen-agers will get slightly depressed from time to time, maybe not as severely as Holden, but the fright of entering adulthood are there in everyone. Holden also represents the innocents of the young. In the second article it says, “Whereas he aims at stability and truth, the adult world cannot survive without suspense and lies.” Holden does not know how to survive in the adult world and is looking for meaning and stability in his life. This parallels the feelings of most teen-agers in the 50’s right up to the present. Like my classmates, I am excited to read (re-read, it’s been a while though) The Catcher in the Rye. -Dillon Melady
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these articles, like Adrian,Caroline and Dillon, I found a sudden interest in "The Catcher in the Rye".Like Adrian, I too agree that the character Holden is much like J.D Salinger, the book's author.I also agree that the character Holden is being portrayed much like the author Salinger himself. I too was able to connect both the Holden and Salinger as being the same person because like Holden longed for,J.D Salinger secluded himself from the world on purpose he wanted no fame of fortune and wrote for the himself not for others. I found it fascinating that Salinger turned down so many people that loved and idolized him as a writer. I would have liked to understand why he acted the way that he did and if he intended the main character to be so similar to himself. The character Holden, like J.D Salinger himself wanted nothing but to," retreat within himself". Like Dillon, I agree that the main character embodies the many teenagers that deal with the same issues of not being able to transition to adulthood. I look forward to reading "The Cather in the Rye" as a class and hearing what my classmates have to contribute to the endless debate.
ReplyDelete- Jasmine Berrios
(Please note that I read this book last year in my 10th grade English class, at my previous high school.)
ReplyDeleteWhile my own judgments of Holden have changed very little after reading the criticism of Catcher, I believe that learning more about J.D. Salinger has helped me understand the reasoning behind Holden’s characteristics. My impression after reading the book for the first time was that Holden’s own point of view is the result of being consistently rejected by others. This is evident in James Stern’s criticism, where he said, “Mr. Antolini, the only guy Holden ever thought he could trust, who ever took any interest in him, and who turned out queer”. Holden, during events in the story, is alone, and has a never ending desire to relive the past. I learned from reading the biography of Salinger that he must have felt very much like Holden, even when he became famous. Like Holden, he trusted the teenagers whom he let interview him, and this trust was breached. Because of this, he built a fence around his property, isolating himself even more. Even as a famous author, he likely felt that he could not relate to others, even the people who praised his writing. As mentioned, I’ve read this book not too long ago, and I can recall many details about Holden that are of striking resemblance of Salinger himself, just as Adrian, and everyone who agreed with him, has already said. I also agree with Donovan, who said that Salinger used Holden’s character to express his own concerns about the problems of youth from his childhood. Many of these problems still exist today, half a century later. Reading these three pages about Catcher in the Rye has positively contributed to my understanding of the book because they made me think about the novel from the perspective of the author, and how he conveyed his own ideas through Holden.
~ David Roccapriore
Like Adrian and many other students after reading these posted documents I've become a lot more interested in reading "Catcher in the Rye." In my honest opinion, I believe that J.D Salinger isolated himself from being famous to infamous for positive reasons. Mr. Salinger felt that he wrote majority of his books for himself and for his liking only. Like Jasmine, I too would like to understand why Mr. Salinger secluded himself from others who completely idolized him. Almost doesn't make sense to me. Who wouldn't want to be acknowledged for a book everyone loves? Like Jasmine and based on our little class discussions about what "Catcher in the Rye" is about I beilive that Mr. Sanlinger wanted to portray the teenager in "Catcher in the Rye" to be like himself who really didn't want anything to do with the world but himself. And like Jasmine and Dillon I also believe that the author created the main character to embody the many teenagers all around the world that deal with the exact same issues, and not being able to transition to adulthood that they would all love to transition too. The "Catcher in the Rye" already seems like it'll bring up many controversial debates in class and I'm looking forward towards those in and out class discussions.
ReplyDelete- Marc Cortes
I agree with Caroline about Elizabeth Wurtzel and her take on teenagers being far off, that most people are not at those far extremes of the spectrum of good and evil. Especially teenagers who may be good but since its their teenage years they will from time to time do something stupid and outrageous that could possible classify them as a "bad kid". However, I am going to have to be the first student to say that reading the articles on "The Catcher In The Rye" has not grasped my attention. In fact I actually feel that Holden as a character will annoy me more than speak for/with me as a teenager. I agree with Mark Bauerlein when he said, " His personal dramas don’t look unusual. They all have personal dramas, and they don’t need Holden Caulfield to express them." When reading about Holden as a character I almost exactly thought, oh god if I wanted to read about a whinny teenager with all the problems in the world I write my own diary then read it again. Also the big controversy on the book being sex and depression, which may have been taboo for the 50's, are hardly anything to blink about in today's society. I am defiantly not going to get the shock factor in those areas seeing as I am reading this book with a 2011 mind set. Although I do hope I am completely wrong and the book turns out to be as wonderful as it is hyped to be.
ReplyDelete-Kiara Lee
Much like what Donovan said, I believe that after reading through the criticism that Salinger wrote this critically acclaimed book to not only spark what would become a wild-fire among the literary community, but to create an allegorical representation of the life of a struggling teenager. As much as "Catcher in the Rye" may be seen as a biographical piece, due to the fact that Salinger implemented bits and pieces of his own experiences as an adolescent, I believe that he just used these elements to make it more realistic and relative to what most teens go through during those crucial years. And by doing so, it is evident that he connected to the many generations that read his book. Though the press has had a field day over the years trying to get him to emerge from his solitude and give an explanation as to why he denounces this praise, I believe that he is a strong person to wave away the fame and let the words on the pages of his writing speak on his behalf. As it was said in the New York Times' eulogy, "Reading “Catcher” used to be an essential rite of passage, almost as important as getting your learner’s permit." With this insight into the significance that many teenagers, and past teenagers, have put on this book I can say that my understanding of "Catcher in the Rye" and J.D. Salinger have changed in a positive manner.
ReplyDelete~Ester Wasserman
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading these informative articles, just like Adrian and several other classmates, I have obtained an excitement to read the novel The Catcher in the Rye. I feel that the controversial aspects of the story which are discussed in the article, The Praises and Criticisms of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye by Eric Lomazoff add a fascinating aspect to the story. For example the author stated, “Salinger's portrayal of Holden, which includes incidents of depression, nervous breakdown, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, vulgarity, and other erratic behavior,” I also feel that Salinger wrote this story to open up the eyes of America to the internal problems of teenagers and the struggles they face while entering adulthood. Also, I agree with Adrian in the aspect of how Salinger projects his troubles into the protagonist, Holden Caulfiel. By doing this, Holden acts as a mirror image of Salinger as a teenager. Additionally, It seems that Salinger uses his writing to display his feelings and beliefs. He illustrates how teenagers feel like everyone is against them and society is caving in on them. For instance, in the article J. D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91 by Charles McGrath, the author said, “Mr. Salinger felt so betrayed that he broke off with the teenagers and built a six-and-a-half-foot fence around his property.” This depicts how Salinger was frustrated as a teenager and viewed as an outcast. Through his isolation and desertedness I feel that Salinger brought a deeper meaning to The Catcher in the Rye and I am interested to see how the story unfolds.
ReplyDelete-Russell Weeks
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ReplyDeleteI fear that this point may seem repetitive; however I have had a spark of interest generate after reading the posted documents. I agree with Adrian among others that Salinger is projecting himself as Holden, and despite not having read the book yet, I suspect that Salinger views Holden as, how his life could have ended up had he made different decisions. That being said, I found Salinger's obituary interesting, and it leads to me to question, how exactly does Salinger view the character of Holden? What I mean by this is, does Salinger actually view Holden as the conventional teenager of the time, or a specific demographic of teenager? Is he supposed to be a picture of childish innocence as suggested by Virgilia Petersen, or just a "sad, screwed up guy" as suggested by Charles Kegel? The most difficult part of answering this question is how "screwed up" a guy that it appeared Salinger was, nevertheless I can not wait to read this book.
ReplyDelete-Keye Frank
I would agree with Adrian’s statement, I did not have knowledge of Salinger or his novel. As I read people’s views and opinions I found more of a positive view towards Salinger because here was an author who wrote about his experience and told them just how they were without the sugarcoat which is why it was controversial. When “Catcher in the Rye” was published it seemed to capture the attention of people because it was a realistic story. As for Holden, his persona had a huge influenced on reader like Jay Parini which stated "When I read the book again in college, it seemed even more “right” for the times." This impacted readers because it related to them and as an author that was the number one goal.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo I do realize that I am repeating what my two previous colleagues (Inol,Adrian)said but I also have not read the "Catcher in the Rye". From what I have managed to put together it is about a teenager that has the point of view of "It's me against the world". I think the story, again from what I've gathered, will help students and adults as well gain a deeper understanding of what really goes in the mind of a rebellious teenager, as Eric Lomazoff stated,"it forces one to contemplate society's attitude toward the human condition". I do have one question foe everyone , teacher included, Is there a difference in the American teenager and the rest of the world or does Salinger set the stage/template for every other teenager.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like to start off by saying that I have already read this book in the past. And so on that note I would like to continue with the fact that I agree with Adrian's statement,although I do realize that it is redundant,that Salinger wrote the character Holden as a representation of himself. However,because I formulated an opinion on the book already after reading it I would rather address the issue of Salinger himself. Before reading the book the first time I had little background on the author. I thought of Salinger as an excellent writer that really understood the meaning of a great novel. But now after reading the three articles basically laying out every aspect of his life, I began to change my opinion of Salinger toward a negative light. As I kept reading the articles the question in the back of my mind that kept popping up was how did someone this mentally unstable write such a brilliant novel? Examples the led me to this thought was the fact that Salinger had crazy actions such as diets "with frozen peas for breakfast, and undercooked lamb for dinner"(J. D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91). Along the same lines Salinger was known to drink "his own urine... and [sit]for hours in an orgone box" (J. D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91). And so this new knowledge on Salinger that I gained would make reading the "Catcher in the Rye" that much more interesting the second time around in order to look more into depth on Salinger's controversial writing styles. -Brandon Simone
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I have not read the book, so I am not exactly as qualified as others to make this judgment of the book.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, as redundant as it has been throughout these comments, Holden in "Catcher in the Rye" seems to be a younger representation of Salinger himself.
To vitamind1000, I do believe that the American teenager is different than other teenagers around the world. The very concept of the modern teenager we have today was created in America. They are the originals. In this sense, they are the first to find the new "fads" and the first to dismiss them once they are not "cool" anymore.
And all the controversy surrounding not only the book, "Catcher in the Rye" but Salinger himself makes me want to read the book even more to get more information on the Holden-Salinger similarities and other topics about the book. For example, "Mr. Salinger was controlling and sexually manipulative, Ms. Maynard wrote, and a health nut obsessed with homeopathic medicine and with his diet (frozen peas for breakfast, undercooked lamb burger for dinner). Ms. Salinger said that her father was pathologically self-centered and abusive toward her mother" That is pretty controversial. So I want to see if the book is as scandalous as he was as a person.
-- Alex
I do agree with moistmaker lol
ReplyDelete"Catcher in the Rye", has eluded my reading for the first years of my life, although I have heard the background debate and revering of the book. However, with these short articles, I have been able to gain a renewed interest, and sincere eagerness to read the book and hear, for myself, the piece that has sparked this dialogue. The fascinating thing for me is how it struck that cord, with not one, nor two social groups, but hit home for all, really gaining the widespread attention of the country. The book seemed to be able to convey his message to all who would read it, which is exciting and intriguing for me. Ester said, “As much as ‘Catcher in the Rye’ may be seen as a biographical piece, due to the fact that Salinger implemented bits and pieces of his own experiences as an adolescent, I believe that he just used these elements to make it more realistic and relative to what most teens go through during those crucial years,” I like this idea personally a great deal as I find the best material comes from sincere and true events. It isn’t possible to truly write about love, or the thrill of baseball, or the sorrow of loss until you have actually come into contact with it. Similarly, you can’t relate to an time period of instability and confusion, like adolescence, if you don’t draw on the experiences that you have from that period. Sure you can do a good imitation, but just like a game that you are watching on the television, it just isn’t the same as having the experience of actually being there. Since everyone who is able to read and comprehend the text is, or was, an adolescent at some point, they can be transported into this believable figure with the uncertainty and insecurity of the time. This allows us all to connect to the text and really step into the shoes of our main character, creating an easier transition for the adventure of the story.
ReplyDelete--Brandon Harris
Vitamind1000 asked an important question I think, “I do have one question [for] everyone, teacher included, [is] there a difference in the American teenager and the rest of the world or does Salinger set the stage/template for every other teenager.” It has often been said that America is the birthplace of the modern teenager, which may or may not be true, however Salinger’s book really did denote the existence and feelings of the newer breed of teenagers. I do not believe that Salinger, in a sense, “created” the modern teenager, but he was able to find a show the changes that were occurring in that particular age group. As for if there is a difference between American teenagers and others, there can be differences based on where you live. For instance in several Middle Eastern countries it is much more so based on oppression. In some countries a woman can’t even walk outside without a male companion, even if the said companion is a male child. This sort of oppression leave little room for rebellion, however where flexibility is allowed, there are always, and will always, be people everywhere just waiting to go against the grain.
ReplyDeleteAlso, on a side note, may I ask who the author of the comment is? I may have missed it, in which case I apologize.
--Brandon Harris
Upon finishing the articles and reading the comments, i would say that i agree with Adrian and a lot of people who posted before me. Prior to reading all i thought about the book is that it is about a depressed kid and how depressing teen age life can be. However,when i finished i would say that i became more interested with the book due to all the criticism and analysis it has. I would add that the background of the author also increased my interest in the book. Like a couple of people that already posted, i think that the author is much like Holden. I think the author is trying to convey a message and explaining his actions and the actions of the outside world. Before he could do this though he had to achieve fame, and i think he did this by revealing a private part of his life by writing The Catcher in the Rye. I think this is the reason he hates people snooping around in his life. This is also the reason why he says "Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy". To sum it up, i think that the reason this book peaked my interest is because of all the question that arose after reading all the articles. I am interested in reading the book so i can answer my questions and test my assumptions. All in all, i think that my opinion changes positively about the book but I still don't like reading.
ReplyDeletehey brandon im vitamind1000 as you might tell by the flag lol,teacher might kill me if she sees the lols
ReplyDeleteLike David and Brandon I have previously read this book and, again, like David my opinions on the book and Holden have changed very little. What has changed for me is a grown respect for both the novel and for Salinger. I did not know how much this book meant to other people and just how controversial it was at the time. I fell into the youths Mark Bauerlein described when he said “His personal dramas don’t look unusual. They all have personal dramas, and they don’t need Holden Caulfield to express them.” On another topic, I have to disagree with Brandon Harris (Skeptical Human). I think it was Salinger who, in essence, created the modern teenager. Look at youth movements and counter-culture before the release of Catcher in the Rye in 1951 and you don't see very much. Post Catcher you see the rise of the Beat Generation, The Hippie generation, the "turn on, tune in, drop out" years and many other different forms of counter-culture and dissatisfied youth movements. Maybe a better way to say it isn't that Salinger "created" the modern teenager but he is the one who opened the floodgates for teens to air there dissatisfaction and openly object to world given to them
ReplyDeleteI agree with Caroline on her response to Elizabeth Wurtzel's comment. Mrs. Wurtzel states, "Most of the young people I encounter fall into two categories: they are either supergood kids... Or they are so bad and in situations beyond redemption." Although I don't deny that there are teenagers like that, most of us are not. At least Salinger has a voice to represent the American teenage spirit and show that we are real people in tough situations. Holden is described as a self absorbed, angry teenager, but he does show tremendous compassion for children; he even says he wants to protect their innocence. Although some kids have an outward profile that may lead you to think they are "little meth-heads and big screw-ups who are never going to get on the right track" a lot of them have tremendous potential. I wonder if Elizabeth Wurtzel met a modern day version of Holden, she would think of him as a bag screw-up.
ReplyDeleteReading these articles has left me with anticipation to read the book because I find intereset in characters such as holden. It is interesting to see how a teenager with depression deals with his problems. In books such as these, dissecting the character and how he thinks is one of the great enjoyments of the book. I look forward to learning more about Holden.
I agree to most of what Caroline has previously stated. I agree with Elizabeth Wurtzel that kids “are either supergood kids… or they are so bad and in situations beyond redemption” Elizabeth Wurtzel (roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com). I hate to say it but some kids are hopeless and will never change, where as some are viewed as perfect. However I do believe there is middle ground for people in bad situations with good intentions, kind of like when you throw a surprise party for some one and things don’t work out. On another note I also agree with Donovan, Adrian and countless others that catcher seems to be a mirror image of Salinger. And the funny thing is Salinger mirrors it even after he wrote it. “He seemed to be fulfilling Holden’s desire to build himself “a little cabin somewhere with the dough I made and live there for the rest of my life,” away from “any goddam stupid conversation with anybody.””(www.nytimes.com) This was written about after Salinger wrote “Catcher.” And like many others who previously posted this is my first experience with the book and it’s got me hooked
ReplyDelete-Joe Rinick
I must say, my interest has been peaked for this novel after reading the passages. There isn't much unique to say at this late hour, after all of my peers have already finished the assignment. I, like Adrian, Caroline, and many more, was mostly unaware of the contents of "Catcher and the Rye". I knew it was controversial, but couldn't understand exactly why. Now I understand more fully how the context of the time made a gritty, anti-authority character like Holden such a polarizing figure. The Cold War was silently raging, and people were fearful. They looked up to their leadership for guidance and reassurance. But then J. D. Salinger comes along and starts criticizing the entire adult world as a bunch of "phonies". As illogical and trivial as it may seem today, the atmosphere of the 50s made the book extremely controversial. Thus, by reading this book, we will all be gaining insight as to the political and social dynamics of 1951. I look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading the articles, I believe, like most previous people that have posted, that Holden is an animated character that signifies the qualities and perspectives of life that Salinger had. I am interested in the fact that this book takes into the perspective of an adolescent on life and the standpoint a bystander has of the world. He seems to accentuate the dramas of the 1950's and how adults act as adversaries to the adolescent life. As do most, I believe the Catcher in the Rye catches a teenager's compulsion of giving up; just as as Dillon says, "All teen-agers will get slightly depressed from time to time." As to Michael's question, I believe Catcher in the Rye displays the inner tension teenagers face in American society. This is prevalent in American society because in this society, teenagers thrive on finding truth into life which contradicts an adult's mindset of hiding the truth because the "truth hurts." I believe that this book is going to be a fantastic read and will allow every single one of us to ponder about the realities of life.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I'd like to be among the minority that doesn't agree with Adrian, I can't. So, just as about half the rest of the class has, I agree with Adrian. J.D. Salinger seems to have channeled his own life force into this book The Catcher in the Rye as the main character Holden Caulfield; they are both very disconnected and withdrawn. However, no matter how much anyone tries to sway my opinion, I have always, and will always, hate The Catcher in the Rye with every fiber of my being. These articles have swayed my views about its author, J.D. Salinger, however. I used to hate him for writing such an annoying book that we were forced to read, but after reading about how he exiled himself to avoid his fame, I actually somewhat admire him. As the obituary states, he was "famous for not wanting to be famous", an amazing quality that few have the selflessness to possess. It is unfortunate that he is dead; but I still dread re-reading The Catcher in the Rye.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I would've posted this sooner but I had several technical difficulties.
Forgot to sign it...
ReplyDelete-Andrew Bauer