Re: Who wrote Holden Caulfield

helena kim (helena@apollo.netsoc.tcd.ie)
Sun, 01 Nov 1998 03:36:46 +0000 (GMT) 

On Fri, 30 Oct 1998, Camille Scaysbrook wrote:

(re: green day)

> if I was a high school English teacher I would probably
> play this to my class and give them a copy of the lyrics to get them
> interested in the book - especially because the lyrics do a good job of
> giving you an idea of the character (the only lyrics I remember are the
> chorus: it was something like `There's a boy who wants to take a stand/But
> always ends up sitting') Anyone else out there heard it?

just my humble opinion, but 1) if a high school english teacher needs to
try and get sixteen year olds interested in catcher by using green day
lyrics, there's something very wrong. it's not a 'difficult' book, it uses
easily accessable (sp?) language, and it's riddled with themes that are
easy to relate to for teenagers. it's not a long book that you need
prompting to read. it's a little gem of a book that doesn't demand a whole
lot of serious thought on first reading. 

2) as someone who was not so long ago a high school student studying
catcher, i'd have found it almost insulting if a teacher tried to grab
my
attention with *green day*, of all people. it harps of one's religous ed
teacher playing hymns on an electric guitar in an effort to dress them up
and make them seem cooler.

i can see the point with kate bush and wuthering heights, as that book's a
hefty unappetising piece of drviel, but catcher is absolutely, undeniably
easy, bite-sized reading. 

*****

okay, i just got your reply to liz's post and i'd like to amend what i'm
about to send by agreeing that, yes, if it make's one more kid enjoy
literature more, all the better. *but* the idea of an english tutor
introducing institutionalised punk to a class of sentient thinking human
beings in an effort to make them enjoy a book that stands firmly on its
own two feet worries me, and is rather insulting to their capbilities.

however, if it makes one more student learn a love of reading. it's all
been worth the while. :)


                                         :helena kim

                     helena at netsoc dot tcd dot ie
           'the church is near, but the road is icy.
         the bar is far, but i will walk carefully.'
                                   - russian proverb