The Catcher in the Rye is a great book, I read it first when I was 13. Its completely overhyped of course and the hyperbole usually comes from people who have never read it. I’ve read his other stuff (Franny and Zooey etc) which is experimental and basically unfinished, and not very good.
Preferred Ring Lardner myself.
Strange man, the ultimate grumpy oul bastard. From what his daughter said about him a horrible one as well.
I wonder will someone be allowed to make a film of it now that he’s passed on?
Anyway, RIP.
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”
The Catcher in the Rye
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 1, opening words of book
Well said Lazarus. It seems that Catcher in the Rye is a great read as a teenager but having only read it in my mid twenties (and because, essentially, I earn a living as a literary critic) I really wonder why people think it is so great. I’m sure at the time it was groundbreaking but now it just seems so jaded. Plus there are so many similar works written in other languages which predate it and which, in my opinion, are much better.
Don’t know to be fair,
I loved the book when I first read it, its a good story and a nice insight into the mind of a young fella without being patronising
Not his fault that people love it
I do think that the minute anything becomes successful a load of other people have a reaction where they think tis only shite, regardless
[quote=“W.B. Yeats”]Don’t know to be fair,
I loved the book when I first read it, its a good story and a nice insight into the mind of a young fella without being patronising
Not his fault that people love it
I do think that the minute anything becomes successful a load of other people have a reaction where they think tis only shite, regardless[/QUOTE]
As a piece of literature it’s ok. As a book which touches any teenager who reads it, it’s a classic. I don’t like it not because “anything becomes successful a load of other people have a reaction where they think tis only shite, regardless” but because of its quality as a work of literature. Give your own opinion W.B. and leave it at that. This ‘it’s shit cos everyone thinks it’s deadly’ rubbish is for nomarks.
Go away to fuck telling me what I can and can’t do
They are both my opinions take them or leave them- tall poppy syndrome is alive and well the world over
[quote=“W.B. Yeats”]Go away to fuck telling me what I can and can’t do
They are both my opinions take them or leave them- tall poppy syndrome is alive and well the world over[/QUOTE]
[quote=“W.B. Yeats”]Go away to fuck telling me what I can and can’t do
They are both my opinions take them or leave them- tall poppy syndrome is alive and well the world over[/QUOTE]
[quote=“Thrawneen”]That’s intriguing. What sort of thing do you do, Woody? If you don’t mind me asking.
Don’t you reside in Spain, too?[/QUOTE]
Lecturer in Spanish literature, Thrawneen. I’m in NZ for the foreseeable future, which explains the descent into name calling while I was pissed last night and most posters were only starting their days work (apologies W.B…)
Good man Woody
There are worse reasons for name calling than a few pints
I hope they were good pints- they were reviewing Steinlager as a beer on the radio this afternoon, I didn’t listen to it but I remember drinking a fair whack of it when I was in NZ.
Can’t remember the other beers but there were a few tasty ones around the South Island if I remember correctly although the measure would be fairly short.
[quote=“W.B. Yeats”]Good man Woody
There are worse reasons for name calling than a few pints
I hope they were good pints- they were reviewing Steinlager as a beer on the radio this afternoon, I didn’t listen to it but I remember drinking a fair whack of it when I was in NZ.
Can’t remember the other beers but there were a few tasty ones around the South Island if I remember correctly although the measure would be fairly short.[/QUOTE]
Just out thew scratcher and have a fierce head on me altogether. I’ve been hitting the Monteith’s Golden Lager mainly, it’s going down nicely in the sun here. Had Steinlager on the plane over, wasn’t quite as nice, tastes a bit bland. I hope you stayed away from the hot nuts in the Bankers, I almost puked on Soul Dresing’s footwear one night after a dose of them. I think they’re the original nuts that came with the machine.
