Re: Ages
~sarah~ (cinnimon@vvm.com)
Mon, 26 Oct 1998 20:17:21 -0800 (PST)
The point that you brought up about Holden being the biggest phony in the
book is a good point. I feel that that is just what Salinger was trying to
get across to the reader; that we're our own enemies in some regards.
Holden was everything he never wanted to be and everything he was against.
I was doing some research on Salinger the other day, and I came across this
article in "Esquire" magazine on a file that was featured in the magazine a
short time ago. While we all know that Salinger refuses to be put in the
public eye via interviews or photographs, there were, instead, drawings of
him in the article. One drawing in particular caught my eye; one of an
old, wrinkled Salinger sitting in a coffee shop enjoying his cup of coffee.
This did not, in a sense, disturb me; however, all I could think about was
how he had turned into everything he didn't want to be (from what I've
understood) in that he's aged and all. Just a thought...if it makes any
sense.
Sarah
----------
I'm a sophomore in high school, and I first read The Catcher in the Rye two
years ago. I guess I'd like to think I could identify with Holden. It's
hard
to be a teenager, regardless of where you live or what kind of life you
lead.
Holden had a lot going for him, and he still felt exasperated. That's
pretty
comforting. As far as my classmates go, some perfectly valid people didn't
like the book, and some people I don't really care for love it. It's funny.
But it most certainly isn't fair to hate someone because they didn't like a
book. Some people had very valid reasoning. Think about it. Who's the
phoniest character in the book? Holden himself. He lies, and is pretty
much
all he hates in people personified. I guess that's just a pessimistic view.
Hope I'm not shunned from the mailing list for bringing this up....
-Ellen