Re: Another question from the naive reader...
Colbourne (colby@online.net.pg)
Tue, 08 Sep 1998 21:37:20 +1000
>>The
question being, where was the fencing team coming from when Holden lost
the
equipment? I'm pretty sure it was from some match but what what match
and
where was it?<<
Within the very first few pages of the book, Holden tells us that they'd
gone in to New York for a fencing meet with McBurney School, via subway.
>>I've recently read "Just Before the War with the Eskimos" and I've
found
myself a bit puzzled by some of the characters actions in the stories.
For
example, why exactly did Ginnie decide to get up and leave the the
Graff's?
Was is simply because she was frightened by Selena's brother or is their
something I'm missing? Also, what's the big symbolism with the half cut
sandwich in her pocket? I'd appreciate if some of you would share your
veiws
with me on those two questions.
While I'm on the topic of Selena's brother Franklin (that's his name
right?)
I'd like to discuss his relation (at least personality wise) to Holden
Caufield. To me they seem to be the same type of bitter, depressed
character.
Both make similar statements about people and "goddam" is a word that
both
like to use. If anyone else would like to continue this discussion I'd
be
delighted to hear your opinions.<<
I read Just Before the War with the Eskimos again only last night. It's
funny how the stories literally do get better and better the more that
you read them. I think it's largely because the best literature is like
a tabletop. You only notice the surface when it is lopsided, disjointed
or has dents in it. The good table is the one that goes unnoticed. A
good writing style seems to be seamless, each passage running perfectly,
unnoticeably into the next. Anyway, Ginnie didn't leave prematurely,
Selena had just returned. I thought that perhaps the big turn-around in
her character was an attempt to avoid becoming a snob like her sister.
The half-cut sandwich was compared to a dead Easter chick she had found
in the bottom of a wastebasket. Perhaps we're meant to draw relevance
from this fact. Selena's brother actually giving Ginnie the sandwich as
he did, seems to be important as well.
I think the most important think to consider when you question this
story is the title itself.
--Brad.