Re: Sleepy
AntiUtopia@aol.com
Sun, 12 Sep 1999 08:20:54 -0400 (EDT)
As far as just being a story goes, DDS is well told. But the character
seemed immature and pretentious without that many endearing characteristics.
He seemed to be less self-reflective than some of Salinger's other
characters, lacking (apparently) Zooey and Franny's ability to be self
critical. He seemed somewhat dishonest too at points.
So I liked this story less (it's not one I didn't like at all, but I liked
Down at the Dinghy more, actually) than some other stories, I think it's
definitely far inferior to For Esme.
I wouldn't compare any of the stories to Catcher, though, it seems like
apples and oranges to me...
Jim
n a message dated 9/12/99 6:52:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
verona_beach@hotpop.com writes:
<< I'm totally in agreement; De Daumier Smith as a character is appealingly
self-centred in a way that the Glasses could only dream about, and the
story (which I guess is long enough to almost be considered a short
novella) I think is one of S alinger's best and examines some of his
favourite topics - especially the connection between spirituality and
creativity - in a very interesting and quite different way to how he does
in later stories. But you'd be surprised how many people it rubs totally
the wrong way. I've never understood it myself - it's a better piece of art
than other stories in the volume like Down at the Dingy, which I would
consider probably the weakest of the Nine Stories. DDS would probably rank
just under Catcher as my favourite piece of Salingeria. Could anyone in the
case against say exactly what they *don't* like about the story or its
character? I've always been curious to know.
Camille >>