The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
My overall impression of this book would have to be summed up in one phrase: confused and intrigued. This book has a very unique writing technique that was very casual and difficult to get used to. That, coupled with the hard to discover mission of the work made the book hard to read through. The story was certainly interesting. It was a great story that had some interesting first person perspective style. It really was. Would I read it again or recommend it to a friend? I hope I don't have to read this book again, and, no, I don't think that I would recommend this book to a friend because of two reasons. First, the book is not exactly the most engaging or thrilling book. Sure, Holden goes on adventures and does things he is not supposed to do, but the lack of organization and the constantly skewing thought process of the speaker made it hard to follow while reading. Second, this book did not follow the traditional bell curve structure. By that I mean that it did not have a distinguishable rising action, climax, falling action, or resolution. I just don't think that this book appeals to people looking for a read that will grab their attention, keep it while introducing new and exciting elements, and then ending with an understandable resolution. Primarily because this book does not exactly do much of any of that.
While I enjoyed reading this novel, it felt like I was reading the journal or the memoirs of a person that was realizing their descent into madness. Not the most engaging prospect. Granted the end message was rather valuable to me. What I took from this work is that we should never be afraid or upset about becoming an adult because no matter what we do to prolong that occurrence, we can never truly avoid that reality.
"It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody" (Salinger, 214).
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 7.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
In the last section of the book, Holden reveals some inner thoughts that don't include excessive swearing and perverted thoughts. The final chapter Holden reveals that he is receiving some kind of psychiatric help. This cements the theory that my reading group had that Holden had some kind of repressed trauma from losing his brother at such a young age. Allie's death seemed to cast Holden into adulthood, by making him face and deal with death, which was beyond his capacity and eventually broke him and made him desire to remain a child.
Holden seems apologetic and sincere about his actions and decisions, at least in the way you'd expect when reading his thoughts. He still has some sarcasm and apathy peeking through the sincerity, which seems counterintuitive, sincere sarcasm. Anyway, Holden, at the end of the book, seems to be facing his problems and making some progressive recovery.
"A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I'm going to apply myself when I go back to school next September. It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean how do you know what you're going to do until you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question" (Salinger, 213).
In the last section of the book, Holden reveals some inner thoughts that don't include excessive swearing and perverted thoughts. The final chapter Holden reveals that he is receiving some kind of psychiatric help. This cements the theory that my reading group had that Holden had some kind of repressed trauma from losing his brother at such a young age. Allie's death seemed to cast Holden into adulthood, by making him face and deal with death, which was beyond his capacity and eventually broke him and made him desire to remain a child.
Holden seems apologetic and sincere about his actions and decisions, at least in the way you'd expect when reading his thoughts. He still has some sarcasm and apathy peeking through the sincerity, which seems counterintuitive, sincere sarcasm. Anyway, Holden, at the end of the book, seems to be facing his problems and making some progressive recovery.
"A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I'm going to apply myself when I go back to school next September. It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean how do you know what you're going to do until you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question" (Salinger, 213).
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 6.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
In the final section of the book, we finally get actual contact with Phoebe, Holden's kid sister. She seems to be the only one that can effectively relate to Holden despite his inherent social inabilities.
That is one thing that really confused me throughout this entire book. Holden seemed to be able to relate to people just fine on a superficial level, but when he was presented with a way to reveal anything more than his public façade, Holden fell apart and went crazy. It is intriguing to read about a character like that. It really is.
Anyway, Phoebe seems to be the only one that truly understands how Holden thinks and operates. I think that it is because Holden desires to maintain his childhood and Phoebe is still a child so she can see that in him.
"It's funny. You take adults, they look lousy when they're asleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don't. Kids look alright" (Salinger, 159).
The interaction between Phoebe and Holden almost seems to make Holden sound normal and functional. The only time this happens in the entire book. He seems innocent again.
In the final section of the book, we finally get actual contact with Phoebe, Holden's kid sister. She seems to be the only one that can effectively relate to Holden despite his inherent social inabilities.
That is one thing that really confused me throughout this entire book. Holden seemed to be able to relate to people just fine on a superficial level, but when he was presented with a way to reveal anything more than his public façade, Holden fell apart and went crazy. It is intriguing to read about a character like that. It really is.
Anyway, Phoebe seems to be the only one that truly understands how Holden thinks and operates. I think that it is because Holden desires to maintain his childhood and Phoebe is still a child so she can see that in him.
"It's funny. You take adults, they look lousy when they're asleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don't. Kids look alright" (Salinger, 159).
The interaction between Phoebe and Holden almost seems to make Holden sound normal and functional. The only time this happens in the entire book. He seems innocent again.
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 5.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
This blog is brought to you by the word: Whatever... because that seems to be Holden's attitude towards anything he does. His emotional spectrum runs from angry, to uncaring, to depressed with virtually no in-betweens. It is frustrating to read a story in which the speaker (also the main character) shows little emotion while at the same time completely revealing his inner most thoughts about almost everything he sees. It is like reading a Wikipedia page. It really is. the speaker gives is view and what he thinks about it.
It is interesting, however, that a kid, still in high school, can get away with getting absolutely hammered when he knows he is not supposed to.
"I must've been drunker than I thought" (Salinger, 154).
There is not much to be said about what the actual point of this story is, but if I had to say, I would postulate that this book is about what can happen when people are unintentionally forced into adulthood earlier than nature intends for them to progress into. It seems that Holden spends the whole book trying to escape adulthood while remaining in the twilight zone between adolescence and adulthood.
This blog is brought to you by the word: Whatever... because that seems to be Holden's attitude towards anything he does. His emotional spectrum runs from angry, to uncaring, to depressed with virtually no in-betweens. It is frustrating to read a story in which the speaker (also the main character) shows little emotion while at the same time completely revealing his inner most thoughts about almost everything he sees. It is like reading a Wikipedia page. It really is. the speaker gives is view and what he thinks about it.
It is interesting, however, that a kid, still in high school, can get away with getting absolutely hammered when he knows he is not supposed to.
"I must've been drunker than I thought" (Salinger, 154).
There is not much to be said about what the actual point of this story is, but if I had to say, I would postulate that this book is about what can happen when people are unintentionally forced into adulthood earlier than nature intends for them to progress into. It seems that Holden spends the whole book trying to escape adulthood while remaining in the twilight zone between adolescence and adulthood.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 4.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Another rhetorical question. What would you do if you pulled an all-nighter? Well old Holden here spent it trying to get drunk, find a prostitute, feeling lousy about himself, and smoking a cigarette, all before he is legally allowed to do any of those things (aside from the third activity).
I may have mentioned before that Holden is in a way unstable as a person. He goes through these mood changes so fluidly that it is hard to determine what his baseline attitude is. In the second section, he is mostly depressed but he goes through these phases of being horny, happy, super sad, and angry that it is almost like there are four main characters all at the same time that interchange. Holden also can't make up his mind about most anything. In the second section of the book, he can't decide who he wants to call on the phone, so he ends up not calling anyone. He wants a prostitute but when he finally has one in his room, he feels to scared and depressed to do anything with her. He keeps thinking about Jane but keeps trying to get with other women. He can't decide where he wants to go in his cab or if he wants to go to his hotel room to go to bed. He has what I would like to deem, Chronic 14 year old girl syndrome. Can't make up his freaking mind.
"Boy, I felt miserable. I felt so depressed, you can't imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed. (Page 98)"
Another rhetorical question. What would you do if you pulled an all-nighter? Well old Holden here spent it trying to get drunk, find a prostitute, feeling lousy about himself, and smoking a cigarette, all before he is legally allowed to do any of those things (aside from the third activity).
I may have mentioned before that Holden is in a way unstable as a person. He goes through these mood changes so fluidly that it is hard to determine what his baseline attitude is. In the second section, he is mostly depressed but he goes through these phases of being horny, happy, super sad, and angry that it is almost like there are four main characters all at the same time that interchange. Holden also can't make up his mind about most anything. In the second section of the book, he can't decide who he wants to call on the phone, so he ends up not calling anyone. He wants a prostitute but when he finally has one in his room, he feels to scared and depressed to do anything with her. He keeps thinking about Jane but keeps trying to get with other women. He can't decide where he wants to go in his cab or if he wants to go to his hotel room to go to bed. He has what I would like to deem, Chronic 14 year old girl syndrome. Can't make up his freaking mind.
"Boy, I felt miserable. I felt so depressed, you can't imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed. (Page 98)"
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 3.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
So, let me start with a question. What kind of teenager would spend their time trying to find a prostitute or get drunk alone in New York when they are supposed to be back at school? Holden Caulfield, that's the teenager I was referring to.
The entire time that he spends obsessing about his memories of Jane, Holden is trying to smooth talk a girl to have sex with or trying to convince a bartender that he was old enough to buy liquor. I really mean it. The entire time. And that really knocks me out. It really does.
So this teenager is allowed to smoke, drink, and solicit prostitutes with practically no negative consequences. It just sounds ridiculous. This kid seems depressed and absolutely insane to me.
"I knew that I did not have to get all dolled up for a prostitute or anything, but it sort of gave me something to do. I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little nervous anyway. If you want to know the truth, I'm a virgin. I really am. (Page 92)"
INSANITY.
So, let me start with a question. What kind of teenager would spend their time trying to find a prostitute or get drunk alone in New York when they are supposed to be back at school? Holden Caulfield, that's the teenager I was referring to.
The entire time that he spends obsessing about his memories of Jane, Holden is trying to smooth talk a girl to have sex with or trying to convince a bartender that he was old enough to buy liquor. I really mean it. The entire time. And that really knocks me out. It really does.
So this teenager is allowed to smoke, drink, and solicit prostitutes with practically no negative consequences. It just sounds ridiculous. This kid seems depressed and absolutely insane to me.
"I knew that I did not have to get all dolled up for a prostitute or anything, but it sort of gave me something to do. I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little nervous anyway. If you want to know the truth, I'm a virgin. I really am. (Page 92)"
INSANITY.
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 2.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
In the second section of the book, we see Holden present some really bizarre behavior for a teenager. A lot of his behavior is mildly obsessive and has an undertone of some sociopathic tendencies.
In one scene, after Holden leaves his school dorm after a fight with his room mate, which was totally uncalled for, Holden went to a hotel in New York to crash until Wednesday. There, he obsesses over this girl, he thinks about her constantly. He just can't get her off of his mind. Her name is Jane. It really is. And he keeps talking about he is depressed and just wants to crawl up in a ball and die, but he wants to go out and be with people. By the way, he keeps talking about this girl named Jane, who used to be his neighbor. She was really nice, he remembers her fondly.
Now, this is what I was talking about. Obsessive, unstable, frustratingly short attention span. This kid is either a schizophrenic or really likes Jane.
I forgot to mention the extent of his vocabulary. His descriptors are pretty much limited to Chrissake, stupid, moron, goddam, dopy, crumby, and a few other stellar choice words.
"She was a funny girl, old Jane. I wouldn't exactly describe her as beautiful. She knocked me out, though. She was sort of muckle-mouthed. I mean when she was talking and she got excited about something, her mouth would sort of went in about fifty directions., her lips and all. That killed me. And she never really closed it all the way, her mouth. It was always just a bit open, especially when she got in her golf stance, or when she was reading, and she read very good books. She read a lot of poetry and all. She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, or anything, because that was her first summer in Maine-- before that, she went to Cape Cod-- but I told her quite a lot about him. She was interested in that kind of stuff. (Page 77)"
See what I mean, NO ORGANIZATION.
In the second section of the book, we see Holden present some really bizarre behavior for a teenager. A lot of his behavior is mildly obsessive and has an undertone of some sociopathic tendencies.
In one scene, after Holden leaves his school dorm after a fight with his room mate, which was totally uncalled for, Holden went to a hotel in New York to crash until Wednesday. There, he obsesses over this girl, he thinks about her constantly. He just can't get her off of his mind. Her name is Jane. It really is. And he keeps talking about he is depressed and just wants to crawl up in a ball and die, but he wants to go out and be with people. By the way, he keeps talking about this girl named Jane, who used to be his neighbor. She was really nice, he remembers her fondly.
Now, this is what I was talking about. Obsessive, unstable, frustratingly short attention span. This kid is either a schizophrenic or really likes Jane.
I forgot to mention the extent of his vocabulary. His descriptors are pretty much limited to Chrissake, stupid, moron, goddam, dopy, crumby, and a few other stellar choice words.
"She was a funny girl, old Jane. I wouldn't exactly describe her as beautiful. She knocked me out, though. She was sort of muckle-mouthed. I mean when she was talking and she got excited about something, her mouth would sort of went in about fifty directions., her lips and all. That killed me. And she never really closed it all the way, her mouth. It was always just a bit open, especially when she got in her golf stance, or when she was reading, and she read very good books. She read a lot of poetry and all. She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, or anything, because that was her first summer in Maine-- before that, she went to Cape Cod-- but I told her quite a lot about him. She was interested in that kind of stuff. (Page 77)"
See what I mean, NO ORGANIZATION.
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 1
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
So, to this point, I fail to see a coherent plot to the series of events that has happened so far in Holden's story. One thing I can tell you is that this book is almost painful to read. The basic diction and repetitiveness is simply put, frustrating and arduous to grind through. That combined with the fact that none of the story so far seems to have any real plot or value.
"The whole lobby was empty. It smelled like fifty million dead cigars. It really did. I wasn't sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead. (page 90)"
The disconnected plot events and the diction of a person who speaks in "text language" presents that this story is just trying to catalog what goes through the mind of a teenager who has some real anxiety problems or something.
So, to this point, I fail to see a coherent plot to the series of events that has happened so far in Holden's story. One thing I can tell you is that this book is almost painful to read. The basic diction and repetitiveness is simply put, frustrating and arduous to grind through. That combined with the fact that none of the story so far seems to have any real plot or value.
"The whole lobby was empty. It smelled like fifty million dead cigars. It really did. I wasn't sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead. (page 90)"
The disconnected plot events and the diction of a person who speaks in "text language" presents that this story is just trying to catalog what goes through the mind of a teenager who has some real anxiety problems or something.
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