Re: The even less I know...

WILL HOCHMAN (hochman@uscolo.edu)
Fri, 05 Jun 1998 10:31:24 -0600 (MDT)

Angie, may I have permission to quote your marvelous email--your first two
lines seem as wise to me as anything said about reading mr. salinger's
words.  I know you may have felt put off by helena's outburst, but I think
your poetry and thoughts are truly at the center of the spirit of this 
list and appreciate you being here...very much! will

On Fri, 5 Jun 1998 Prufrock33@aol.com wrote:

> Salinger was the first writer that made me feel comfortable as a reader. When
> I turned the page it was not to finish a book, but to understand a person. I
> always believed that Salinger's genius (if you want to call it that...I do)
> stems not from who or what he wrote or how he wrote, even. It is from all of
> the above. Even those without the exceptional backgrounds of the characters he
> uses in his stories can appreciate their honesty. I think that eastern thought
> is definitely expressed in his work because of it's raw veracity in the
> simpliest (but, yet, very complex) terms. AFter I read Franny and Zooey I
> decided to pass out and wake up her. I always felt her ways. I always felt
> Holden's ways. We all have. We all have been wanting/needing to get past the
> bullshit and the "phonies" because God knows Salinger's fictional characters
> hated those "phonies". We never want to wake up one morning in some blankets
> and find that our terrible insecurties are in bed right beside of us. We never
> want to say we are like Them, even if we do not know who They may be. Maybe
> this is just me...I hope not. I would like to think that almost everyone (if
> not everyone) breathes not for the sake of breathing but because they feel
> obscenely beautiful just to be alive. 
> 
> Let's talk about Punk rock, let's talk about poetry, let's talk about eastern
> thought and tattoos, and being born, and smoking cigars. Not to sound too
> absolutely giddy and romantic and silly, but I do not care enough to mail
> unless I want to say something. I think we all do. So let's talk and talk and
> if Salinger comes up then wonderful...if he doesn't for awhile then he
> doesn't. That is maybe what e-mail subjects were designed for, to announce
> beforehand. 
> 
> I just want to share...don't you?
> 
> I hope someone out there agrees with me. I know you all got something from
> Salinger...he gives something honest and free out to all his readers...but do
> not be uptight about it. We aren't here for any damn (in my opinon) RULES or
> GUIDELINES but if things flow well then we can do whatever and maybe we can
> enjoy this ride? I don't mean to sound cliched. I appologize to all that have
> had to read my incessant ramblings and poetry. I just do not have much of a
> voice and I cannot imagine that the people on this list do not...so I wanted
> to say something aloud to people I hoped would understand.
> 
> Maybe I am wrong...maybe it doesn't matter enough.
> 
> I just want to do something beautiful...like Franny says the poets do or are
> supposed to do. I just want everyone to see something wonderful and I want to
> be as honest as Salinger. Who thinks what and how...and if you do please
> respond and tell me if I am off on an island all to my self and I should come
> back to earth. (My world seems much prettier I must say...and the people here
> are nicer)
> 
> ANgie  
>