First off, methinks the gentleman doth protest to much: > >I must protest at this slur on my fair name. First, I am called that >suicidee But Sonny, doesn't everybody who cybersurfs their way to your webpage confront some sort of heading, right at the top, proclaiming "Sonny: An Introduction"? It's an OBVIOUS allusion.... (I previously thought that Napoleon was the only person capable of annointing himself--but since the hat seems almost to fit in this case, I'd hoped you'd wear it, ESPECIALLY since you've past the dangerous age.... I meant it as a compliment, honest!) and then the epithet "nice" is hurled at me with a finality >that leaves me gasping under its impact and weight. > I'm guilty as charged in THIS instance. I can't believe I called you "nice".... I can't believe I called ANYbody 'nice'.... You're charming, and erudite, and enlightened, and insightful.... You're funny, and articulate, and serious, and friendly.... But nice? I'm SO sorry! (OSR: For the record, on page 1 of TCitR, Holden tells us that his parents are "nice and all--but they're also touchy as hell".... > > since >almost all the girls and women I know seem to prefer Zooey or Buddy, my >endeavour has been to strive to be like them To be honest, I've always found Buddy to be a bit of a windbag.... In fact, I usually try to trim my personal sails whenever I feel my prose approaching that found in Buddy's breezy--and sometimes boring--paragraphs. He's smart, but he knows it, and he likes to show that he knows it. Otherwise, he'd be Seymour--and this little orb ain't big enough for TWO Seymours.... (Zooey is another matter. I'd be happy to be cast as Z. Glass in our class play--so long as the fishbowl will allow me to say my initial is ZED... Not ZEE!.... He'd say it as ZED to acknowledge his Australian heritage, Right Camille?) (....more likely, though, I'll be nominated for the role of Ward Stradlater.... Or, given my advanced age, Old Spencer.... You ought to take Seymour as the compliment it's intended to be....) > >Scottie? He is the closest to Holden I can think of -- as irreverent as >ever, and still managing to remain endearingly lovable NOW I think you're on to something. I've never previously tried to imagine Holden growing up.... In my mind, he'll always be sixteen.... But it would be a wonderful twist on the school of thinking that says the book is dictated to a shrink if we learn that Holden grew up, graduated from university, went to med school, became an analyst, moved to Dublin, and changed his name to Scottie! Confirm or deny, Mr. Bowperson! Cheers, Paul