RE: too many rodeos

"To fight in another man's armour is something more than to be influenced by
his style of fighting."
Jack Lewis

It has been said, the echoes continue to resound.
Daniel

Daniel,
Strolling through the garden with Salinger's stories, just as with
Hemingway's or Faulkner's, would eliminate my admiration for the imaginative
skill of the author. I don't think I'm digging up the flora; quite simply,
I'm bending down to get a closer look at the beauty of the flowers. Perhaps
with some authors -- the ones that really touch my soul, such as Salinger --
I might even peek my nose inside the petals for a smell.

I don't prefer Zoos to the actual great outdoors, but I will confess that I
occasionally prefer Zooeys. I'm working on this, though, especially after a
recent re-reading of Thoreau's Walden. I'm not sure what this criticism has
to do with my desire to peer in at Salinger's work, and actually, I thought
that's what this list was about.

I also disagree with your claim that I should admire myself in the mirror if
it's the text I'm after. The reason I love these texts is that they take me
out of myself. They lend me a slight glimpse of what other humans feel,
believe, and think. Wrapping my arms around someone never indicates my
ownership of that object, especially metaphorically. Even literally, when I
wrap my arms around my mom, I don't own her. I simply love her.

I'll admit to irritation at Salinger's self-induced isolation, too. When
you bare your soul to someone, through writing or music or art, you
shouldn't shun their love or understanding. Even if I can't hug Jerry, I
can love what he's given to us.
-K
-
* Unsubscribing? Mail majordomo@roughdraft.org with the message
* UNSUBSCRIBE BANANAFISH
Received on Mon Mar 24 17:59:32 2003