I am a devoted Salinger fan. (Groupie, perhaps more accurate?) I, randomly selected Catcher on my own when I was 12, and a year later got more into Salinger's other works. Now I am obsessed with his writings. I even looked up Hapworth, and 3 other short stories; The Varioni Brothers, A Slight Rebellion Off Madison Avenue, and The Last DAys Of Furlough. (Excuse the spelling, if any errors) The problem is, is that I am frustrated with the friends I have because I feel like I can relate to His characters and writing then the Typical Teenagers obsessions with, oh let's say Hanson and Dawson's Creek. (Neither of which I care about) .... I hope I don't sound conceited, but I just don't like what most of my friends do or say. Not that I don't like my friends. They're great. But my passion is for movies and Salinger. And I feel like I cannot share these with anyone. Right now I am interested in things my friends just aren't. And in more ways then ones teenagers in general sicken me. (I realize I'm being a hypocrite. But don't hold that against me.) ... I long for companionship but I'd rather curl up and read Salinger then go to another pointless prom with a bunch of ignorant giggling girls and boys. Has anyone had similar problems? Any advice to help me? That would be much appreciated. BTW, "tossing ones cookies" I also thought was vomiting.. And Universal to me means that a person in suburban Connecticut and another person in Russia can feel for the same subject. (Russia and Connecticut, are of course examples) But what I'm getting at, is that something, a subject or a feeling that completely different people no matter what time or place can relate to. Can someone, also please give me a tangible thing that they consider Universal. (Keeping in mind, that I dont feel like I can relate to Shakespeare at all.. I've only read Romeo & Juliet but I felt that it was two more teenagers screwing up there lives and avoiding simple answers to stupid situations).... umm.. er- I think Salinger will always have a following if not academically then at least we'll always know that some teenager girl will fall in love CAtcher and name their first child Holden. love-Erinn (age:14)