I, too, am a devoted Salinger fan and a teenager. I feel, though, that I know where to draw the line. While you read all of these stories, I suggest that you remember that all of the characters (stress characters) are just that-they are fiction and made up (however, some of the sides to Holden, Franny, etc. may lie deep within Salinger himself). You also must remember that it is okay to identify yourself with the characters but not replace (i cannot tell you how to live your life though, this is meerly a suggestion). I first picked up _Catcher_ when I was only 14, and it did change my perspective on many aspects of my life. I could definately identify with Holden: I, also, had lost a brother, had an unattainable love (or so I thought), felt the world was full of 'phonies', and that the world was somewhat 'alienating' me. I felt that I could see where Holden, Buddy, Franny, etc. were coming from and their situations, but I seem to know where to draw the line. You must designate reality from 'fantasy' or more like fact from fiction. You need to realize to what extent should you take these characters and their stories as the web of your life, weather it be an infulence or domination. It's your call~ ************************************************ Sarah cinnimon@vvm.com http://memebers.tripod.com/~cinnimon4 > > 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) >