Book #15 of 2005
The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger
The thing is, it’s really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs – if yours are really good ones and theirs aren’t. You think if they’re intelligent and all, the other person, and have a good sense of humor, that they don’t give a damn whose suitcases are better, but they do. They really do. It’s one of the reasons why I roomed with a stupid bastard like Stradlater. At least his suitcases were as good as mine.
That book is completely over-rated. You just want the guy to die in a horrible painful way.
No no NO.
It is a wonderful book, I LOVE that book.
Oh sure the writing isn’t that great but it was the first time I read a book that was.. you know.. critically acclaimed and whatnot. It was a defining moment when I realised one simple truth.
The critics don’t know squat.
I’m with Pam, I’m afraid. After a couple of chapters I was just itching to rub his forehead very slowly up and down a brick wall.
I dunno, I kind of liked it. During adolescence, I leant upon it as a friendly guide through the social mire of suitcase etiquette and such. Then again, that was probably a bad thing. Oh dear, I hate these moments of clarity.
The thing about JD Salinger is that he himself is far, far more interesting than any of the books he wrote. Which is why, I believe, he gave it all up and became a recluse, writing only for his eyes only. The book ‘In Search of JD Salinger’ is a bloody good read – I highly recommend it.