Ive been in a very holden caulfield mood lately

[teenonfire4evil]

You know, the more I think about it the more I realize that the Catcher in the Rye was absolutely one of the best and most honest books I have ever read.  Its one of those books you never really hear people talk about... along with all the other "classics" that were required reading in high school and promptly forgotten afterward.  People wear

Comments

[beeporama]

Maybe there just isn't much to say? It's pretty plain and without subtlety in its message.

That is an awesomely randomly awesome userpic.

[teenonfire4evil]

haha... thanks

I actually nabbed that image off of the now-defunct conversatron, tho ive spent plenty of time playing the original game. Lester has those great intense beady little eyes.

[absurdkarma]

People go through life bumping around in the dark looking for anybody that seems to know what is going on.... teachers... poets... musicians... intellectuals... spiritualists... authors... priests... athiests... comedians. Anybody pretty or trendy or confident or stylish or clever. People eat it all up and pretend that they know what is going on.

Ain't that the truth. One of my favorite witticisms (and bumper stickers):

"You're a unique and beautiful snowflake. Just like everyone else."

[eshire_catte]

I read Cather in the Rye in high school but not as required reading. I think I originally read it because I found out it was the most banned book in America or something and that attracted me to it (rebel that I was). I liked it when I read it but I felt like there was something there that I just wasn't getting. Some great big overarching message that was hiding behind a curtain and I just couldn't figure out how to get behind it. I finally read it after a few years of college (and life, and love, and heartbreak) and I realized there wasn't anything behind the curtain and that was the point. It's all right there, spelled out in front of you. I just didn't get it in high school, I was too idealistic and naive. Anyway, I really love that book, though, once someone pointed me in the direction of Franny and Zooey that one took the rank of top Salinger for me.

[teenonfire4evil]

how did Becker put it? Ah yes... Life is one long string of disappointments followed by a really big one.

Sometimes the best books are the ones that give it to you straight up without muddling things too much with subtlety and complication. Because thats how life usually gives it to you, right?

[funkymutha]

Lover, you are way off base. People love Catcher in the Rye and they talk about it alllllllllllll the time.

[awatchfuleye]

Yes this speaks to my whole frustration with the I'm-different-just-like-everyone-else types. I like Great Expectations in school and I think that book needs to be talked about equally. The characters are so bloody honest with themselves