Catcher in the Rye

[Jay]

It's by Ken Kesey if I'm not mistaken and understand you wanted the author of the One Fly Over the Cuckoo's Nest...

[Zooey]

Originally posted by imthefoolonthehill
As a 16-year-old, I object. I have, like, a big vocabulary, dude!

By the way... Catcher in the Rye is a wonderful and inspiring book.

While the writing style may grow tiresome for some people, I believe it adds to the tone, as well as defining the style of the writing. It helps create the image of a teenager who doesn't give a **** about tradition or conformity. In fact, he hates all the phoniness around him. All the high-horsed freaks who talk like Harding from One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest display phoniness in their language whereas Holden shows that we needn't use words no one understands to appear smart.

Oh... P.S. I love his ideas on Phoniness... it REALLY IS all around us.

Thank gawd that there's at least one illuminating post on this whole thread. I was hoping for some interesting discussion on this controversial book, but alas, none is to be found.

And the thing is, I can't really add much to it. Obviously I prefer Salinger's Franny and Zooey, but I'd consider Catcher to be one of my favorite books as well. Problem is, I read it so long ago I don't really remember a whole lot of specifics. I do agree, as a teenager, that this is a book that tends to speak to teens more than any other age group. Holden embodies those of us who dare to break the mold and search for something deeper than the superficiality most teenagers (and people in general) are content to live their lives in. He may not be the best or the brightest or the most eloquent, but damn it, he's trying. Just for that I think he's one of the most fascinating characters in all of fiction.

Actually, I just received a copy of this book (the awesome reprint of the first edition) for Christmas, and was planning on giving it another look over Christmas break. Will add some thoughts when that actually happens.

Originally posted by Dick Diver
His other published work is excellent too - I do hope he has been writing all these decades and not just masturbating or something.....

Hmm... never really thought about this. It would be interesting (and wonderful) if after his passing (God forbid) a bunch of his work suddenly surfaces a la Kafka. Hopefully the man has been writing all this time.

And if he has been masturbating this whole time, hopefully at least he's enjoyed himself and feels that it was worth it in the end.

[fayefaye]

All us teens should gather together to overthrow the stupid image that Nic has given to youth. And, yeah, I like the phoniness idea too. I've probably come across far worse phonies than Holden has.

[imthefoolonthehill]

Thanks for the compliment on my post, Zooey...

I got Catcher in the Rye for Christmas too... and have the same plans... if I can ever get through that *#%&@*(%& Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne)... it is so dry, it could soak up the pacific.

[fayefaye]

Why don't you throw it into the ocean and see what happens?

[DumbLikeAPoet]

Don't do it Fool!!!!! OMG what if it really soaks up the pacific?

Jonus

[fayefaye]

lol. then I can make my trek to the US.

[imthefoolonthehill]

lol... I finally finished that... and I think you can start walking anytime, fayefaye

[cheers_see]

i was drawn to the book by its big fame as the most important book of the most important author so taken by many americans, for a reason i believe, that's their hero of their time. but for the style and language, forget it...

[imthefoolonthehill]

Originally posted by fayefaye
All us teens should gather together to overthrow the stupid image that Nic has given to youth. And, yeah, I like the phoniness idea too. I've probably come across far worse phonies than Holden has.

who is nic? Not the author... not Colden Haulfield... who?

[fayefaye]

never mind. hey, looks like it's time for my random quotes!

'I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will'

'It's hopeless, anyway. If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the 'F*ck you' signs in the world. It's impossible'

'I think, even, if I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have a tombstone and all, it'll say 'Holden Caulfield' on it, and then what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that it'll say 'F*ck you.' I'm positive, in fact.'

Don't know why I chose those....

[crisaor]

You know, just because AbdoRinbo is gone, you don't have to fill his "pointless replies" void.

[Koa]

Why? The quotes are nice, I like to find quotes in books and I thought it was nice fay put hers...If u were referring to that.

[imthefoolonthehill]

I liked those quotes so much... they are going into my aim profile.

[IWilKikU]

those are great quotes. Good call Faye.