Holden Caulfield

[thebluefrog]

There are several books that I've been meaning to read for quite some time, yet remain unread. I like to consider myself a fairly well-read individual, but the presence of many bonafide classics on my dubious list belies my claim. I'm on a mission to whittle that list down to nothing. The first to fall? Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I know

Comments

[xthexlastxsongx]

I really enjoyed Catcher in the Rye.

A character I related to a lot was the main character in THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath. I can't recall her name right now, but the character struggled with depression and things of that sort just as I do.

Also, the main character in THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER.

both are great books that I reccomend reading.

[thebluefrog]

I'll keep an eye out for them!

[creentmerveille]

I read Catcher when I was in my early twenties and I just didn't understand why it was seen as such an Important Piece of Writing. Especially I didn't-- don't -- understand Holden's attitude and I was reallly put off by the whole thing, and annoyed by him in general.

Can you explain to me what you liked about this book, or WHY it resonated? I really do want to 'get it'. I just... didn't understand his rage, his disdain and his overall demeanor-- he struck me as a spoiled brat and very very self-involved. But I am open to the idea that I totally missed the point. :D

[thebluefrog]

Can I get your email address? I don't want to spoil a lot of it here because Amy's going to be reading the book soon, and I'd hate for her to read my take on it before she reads the book.

[thebluefrog]

Actually, I'm impatient and will just answer it here, heh. AMY! If you're reading this, stop now

[creentmerveille]

Also-- sorta off topic but I just wonder, do you ever read a book/watch a movie at one point in your life and feel one thing and then revisit it and totally get something ELSE out of it? 'Cause I felt that way with Dr. Zhivago... I saw it when I was like, 14 and idealistic and got SO MAD at him for his obsessive love when he had a wife, kid... how could he CHEAT? I was morally outraged.

I saw it again a decade later and with my more adult eyes, I got it in a totally different way. LOL Life experience has a way of re-coloring your black and white pictures in shades of grey.

[thebluefrog]

Absolutely. The original batch of Star Wars movies always meant a lot to me, but I've intentionally avoided watching them since 9/11. One day I will, but I'm certain I'll look at the rebels and the Empire differently due to parallels to the Taliban and US government, hehe.

[legomydani]

From my profile on Ok Cupid:

I live in a vividly colored world of gray because few things in life are black or white...

[legomydani]

Hi there! I know it's been a while since you've heard from me, but this is a great entry! I actually have been trying to read more of the stuff that is considered modern classics (I guess that's what you'd call them). I read Slaughterhouse Five and Fahrenheit 451 and Catcher in the Rye is sitting on my shelf at home waiting on me to read it. I was so surprised at how much I loved the first two. And interestingly, in Fahrenheit I was so much more fixated on the fact that the dystopian future was so very much like modern America. That's the part that stuck with me more than the whole censorship thing, which is what most people fixate on

[thebluefrog]

Nice to hear from you again, Dani!

"Modern classic" fits. Next on my list will be some Kerouac and Vonnegut, I believe. I plan on reading at least one more novel before classes start. For some reason, I've always had a bit of an aversion toward classics. *shrug*

I'm defeinitely going to refer back to this post for the recommendations I'm getting from people. :)

She's Come Undone!!!

[legomydani]

Hi Dani! It's Amy...Rob's girlfriend. I have never commented on here, but I couldn't pass up a discussion about Wally Lamb. I read "She's Come Undone" several years ago and honestly can't remember the details of the book, but I do remember the connection I had with the main character. I would think and talk about her like she was one of my closest friends. What a great book! I have been thinking about reading it again to see if I have the same experience the second time through.

Have you read Wally's other book "I Know This Much is True?" I didn't have the same connection with a character, but it was a great read!

[kubiksquare]

Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book, as you probably already know, along with Lolita and some Shakespeare.

There's one fictional character that resonates with me more than any of the others. Her name is Venus and she's my own character. Sad, perhaps, but true.

[thebluefrog]

Choosing you own character is SO cheating, Marcie dear. :P (Venus is cool, though, hehe.)

[kubiksquare]

Hehe, darnit. All I read anymore is WWII books. What do you expect? *melodramatic sigh*

[eternaldreams]

Well duh! Of course you relate to YOU :)