The first checking-in-time has come, and I'm happy to say that I read one classic this quarter, even if I cheated because technically it was the selection of my online book club and I was going to read it anyway... Ahem. Well, back in February I re-read J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. (Ironically enough, TCITR was supposed to be our January selection, but then things got pushed back, and then it just happened to be the time of Salinger's death. Apparently, that posed a challenge for some people who suddenly found it difficult to find a copy of the book at their libraries!) I read this for the first time in high school, I believe for AP English class in senior year, and I gave it another go in 2006, shortly after Red was born and we were doing some traveling. (Lots of time in a car should equal lots of reading time goes the theory.) That second reading was tainted by lots of time in a car with a screaming two-month-old and a less than ideal "vacation" week, so I wasn't putting too much stock in my lack of enthusiasm about that re-read. After I read it this year, I wrote my mini-review as such:The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Oh, Holden Caulfield. When I first read your 200+ page stream of consciousness diatribe as a teenager, I felt your pain somewhat. I understood "phonies" in my own sense, which probably differed a bit from your vision, but the frustration with "others" was certainly something that I could relate to. Now as an adult, I think my reaction was mostly a desire to tell you that your sensitivity and perceptiveness would help you in years to come, if you can learn to channel it more appropriately. Also, I couldn't help but shake my head at how you could simultaneously be so perceptive and also completely clueless about the consequences of your own choices and actions. I guess as a mom, I wanted to hug you AND slap you.
What more could be said about Salinger's iconic representation of the disaffected adolescent voice that hasn't been articulated for the last 60 years? I certainly can't add anything new to it, even if you really wanted to hear about it, anyway.
So yes, I did enjoy it again the third time around, even as my perspective changed from relating to him and feeling for him. This book sparked a lively conversation among my fellow book clubbers, with some people LOVING it, but some people just feeling like "Meh. What's the big deal?" about it. I do think this does, and always will, qualify as a "classic" if only because of the unique voice that Salinger gave to a youth that had not yet been represented in this way. This is one book that I'm super-thrilled was never made into a movie!
Are you participating in our classics sort-of-challenge? If so, link up over at 5 Minutes for Books' Classics Bookclub today!
One down, three to go,
Yet another book I haven't read. The Mystery of Edwin Drood
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this since high school. Now I want to read it to see how much my perspective has changed as well. I'm sure I will respond to it quite differently, as you did!
ReplyDeleteI did not know too much about this except the name until Salinger's death, when the book was discussed here and there. I never thought of it as sympathizing with him as a mom, but that might be the only way I think I'd enjoy it. :-) Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI've never read it. Didn't have to in school, haven't gotten to it when I would have been willing to, then had periods where the dismissive opinions convinced me not to.
ReplyDeleteBut I will some day read this book. Your experience is encouraging.
This is one I read in high school, and then again when my kids were in kindergarten. I had two babies, and twins in kindergarten. If was "on time" to pick the boys up, I'd be so far back in the carpool lane that I'd have to either let my boys stand there and wait for me to pull up (something they did not understand, and no other mom did) or take both babies, in car seats, out and walk up to the door.
ReplyDeleteOR I could go half an hour early, take a book, and be at the front of the line. I reread all the classics that year. Including this one.
And after reading it twice, when I hear discussions, and innuendos, regarding this book, I always think "really? you got THAT out of it?" LOL! I liked the book. didn't love it, but I liked it.
When the rye came up here the first year, I had my son pose with his catchers mitt with the rye behind him. then after listening to some peoples interpretations of the book, I am hesitant to share the photo with that caption.
This is one I've neer read. I need to read it, if for no other reason than to say I've read it! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou already know my thoughts on Catcher in The Rye...but I just finished re-reading Anne Frank. Hadn't read that since 8th grade and apparently since that time her father died and some of the previously edited sections have been put back in...very interesting to read it again, especially now as a Jewish mother myself. Have you re-read that one recently?
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