They should ban the people who ban the books!
*Very poor. Wouldn't recommend it
**Didn't like it much
***Average
****It is a good read
*****Like it very much. would strongly recommend it.
They should ban the people who ban the books!
Well said.Originally Posted by Neely
Once you find a reason to ban one book you open the gates and suddenly there are reasons to ban others. If people decide not to read a book for a particular reason so be it I respect that, but don't decide what I should read and why.
Is this an essay question, or are you doing it as part of a debate team or something like that?
If you have a choice over which argument to make (which your initial post seems to indicate), then you should definitely be arguing that it should not be banned, not just because it is the correct viewpoint (which it is of course), but because it is the easiest to argue. Historical precedent will overwhelmingly support you when it comes to the effects/results of book banning- just take a look at the kind of literature that has been subject to banning; usually you will find it is amongst the best literature written.
And always remember the famous Heinrich Heine line: "Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn people."
Yes it is an essay question. I planned to argue that it shouldn't be banned. I was going to make the point that it appeals to the real life experiences of a highschool student. Also that it is a classic such as what you mentioned.
Any other good points on why it should NOT be banned?
How about that freedom thing that the American government pretends to agree with? I am sorry but I can feel nothing but rage towards the censorship of art of ANY kind - or censorship of anything for that matter.
Especially with a novel that's quite far from obscene. Hell, I'd give my mother The Catcher in the Rye to read.
Haha. Catcher in the Rye is obscene?
Hi there .
Have you read " The Catcher In The Rye " ?
how was that ?
Do you feel the same as holden calfield ?
I'm looking forward to hear your ideas.
Last edited by atena_63; 02-04-2009 at 06:38 AM.
The faint blaze of the candle of my life ,
Slowly dying like a fire in a pouring rain,
No sparks of hope inside
No shooting stars on my sky
On broken wings , no flying high …
I like it, its a good piece of litterature.
Most people could probably relate to the solitude and attitude of Mr. Caulfield, I mean, we all experience the "phonyness" of the adult world, thing is, life aint that easy, modern society gives no room to practice complete honesty. We need to deceive to make a decent shot at life, so sure, we're all phonies, its sad, but we're all phonies.
When I first read it I felt I was Holden, to be honest. I was in dire need of expressing my individuality, and were doing it in some red-hunting-hat kinda way. I also had this mean judgemental streak towards pretty much everyone, implying that the people around me were natiously superficial, not realizing that my own perception of them were superficial in almost every case.
Im glad someone brought it up, it disappeared somewhere in the flow of time
What transforms this world is — knowledge. Do you see what I mean? Nothing else can change anything in this world. Knowledge alone is capable of transforming the world, while at the same time leaving it exactly as it is.
- Hiraoka Kimitake
I believe that the reason why they make us read that book at highschool is because they think that we would like it, and as a matter of fact, most of us like it because when you are a teen you always disapprove of something that is going on around you, what can also be found in the mentioned masterpiece. It is either the fact, that you are not able to communicate with your surroundings, that your parents do not understand you, or simply that you hate the consumer society. I mean that the book has many ideas, which are attractive to teenagers and young people, and that is what makes it simply great.
Stop asking where is God and keep asking where the hell is human!
Good thing im a spry, young man in need of damaged, bitter, fictionary characters I can relate to.
What transforms this world is — knowledge. Do you see what I mean? Nothing else can change anything in this world. Knowledge alone is capable of transforming the world, while at the same time leaving it exactly as it is.
- Hiraoka Kimitake
I found it an interesting read, but I didn't really relate to Holden Caulfield in the slightest. However, I think if I'd read it at a younger age, like 14, I may well have related to the character.
_______________________________________________
She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.”
Lolita, Vladmir Nakobov
When I was reading this book I felt that I was Holden . Around every corner Holden sees corruption . In his opinion the world is an evil and corrupt place . In his eyes the world is filled with perverts and morons . he feels that everything is superficial and without a deep meaning . I think he feels that he is trapped in an immoral and scrupulous world from which he can not escape . he sees himself completely powerless to change it . Holden blames the world's corruption on the adults and believes that when he stops the children from growing up he will preserve their innocence but it takes most of the book before Holden begins to realize that he is powerless to stop corruption and should get used to live like other people .
The faint blaze of the candle of my life ,
Slowly dying like a fire in a pouring rain,
No sparks of hope inside
No shooting stars on my sky
On broken wings , no flying high …
When I read it, I saw that I had recently made the transition, or was midway through the transition, from a young Holden type character, into a 'phony'. It's a shame really, that we all ultimately give up and cave in to superficiality. My past self would be horrified at some of the things I do and say now, such as asking people how they are when I greet them, even though I don't really expect an honest answer. It is somewhat superficial.
Hey
I'm currently writing an essay on 'The Catcher in the Rye' and how it realistically (or unrealistically) portrays the time period in which it was set (1940's).
What are your views on the subject? Is it a useful narrative in studying this period of America history in terms of culture and society or is it shrouded by Holdens pessimistic view of the world?
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