I saw an Emma Stone interview where she said her favorite story was “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters”. So, out of curiosity I gave it a read and loved it. I then came across your (very well done) Salinger summary and it helped me fill in the blanks and provided suggestions for further Salinger reading. I subscribed and liked…thank you so much!! 😊
Loved this -- I couldn't agree more. I do love his writing style. Reading through Salinger was a wonderful experience. Salinger loves the Glass family so much that he makes me care about them too. I love the scenes in Catcher where Holden talks about Phoebe. So touching. Great video & really enjoyed how you summed up his work.
Thank you! Me too, I feel like the more I read his work the more I appreciate the intricacies of his writing. It's hard not to feel a bit attached to the Glass family after reading all of his work and seeing them all through so many different angles, Seymour especially!
I appreciate your empathetic reading of Salinger’s work. So often I think he is unfairly categorized in ways I just haven’t seen when I’ve read his books. Very thoughtful.
Yes, he seems to often be judged harshly - either for his less than perfect characters or for writing books without much weight (at least the latter is something Joanna Rakoff touches on in 'My Salinger Year' and I feel like it's accurate as some people's view on his writing). Thank you so much!
Interesting to hear your take on all of these. The only Salinger I have re-read multiple times is Franny & Zooey, and I preferred Zooey"s story each time. I think I want to try to read all these in succession like you have done - just don't know when exactly that will happen.
That's so interesting! I'm wondering how my feelings about Franny & Zooey will change over time, as it has already dramatically changed with just two readings. I'd highly recommend it! I feel like I gained a new appreciation for his writing by reading them so close together.
this was wonderful! I really like how you say Salinger sort of ends up blurring reality and fiction with, to me, his obsession with the Glass family. Thinking back, I wonder if I was so taken by his persistence with conceptualizing the Glass family between texts rather than the actual storytelling--especially with Raise High the Roofbeam Carpenters. Since I had read that last from his works, I was so busy piecing things together I think, but in a very welcomed way. I'll have to revisit Salinger again soon, perhaps chronologically as well.
Thank you Alex! Yes, definitely obsession! I'm happy I read them back to back as I think that helped me fill in some of the gaps in the larger Glass narrative that I hadn't been able to piece together before. Although I'm still learning pieces of the puzzle I've missed (kind of adding to the enjoyment of reading his books tbh). I would love to hear your thoughts if you do go on a rereading trip through his work!
Oh I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts if you do! I totally get the dislike for Catcher, in a lot of ways it's so different from his other works - but still, I think the emotional tone is similar to his other writing - which in my opinion is its main strength.
This was interesting! The only Salinger I ever read was The Catcher in the Rye and as you already know, I wasn't a fan. But after watching this I might give him another try at some point ;) Only usually I don't really enjoy short stories and novellas, so maybe that's also a reason that he doesn't appeal to me that much. I really enjoyed how you discussed his work in this video, though!
Yes, the funny thing is that I have not been a big reader of short stories (novellas, even less) historically but I think I do love the form when it's done well, it's just that I haven't read much of it yet. I do understand that it's not for everyone though, it's such a different reading experience compared to a novel one has the time to get really stuck in! I'm so glad you listened to my ramblings even so!! xx
I saw an Emma Stone interview where she said her favorite story was “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters”. So, out of curiosity I gave it a read and loved it. I then came across your (very well done) Salinger summary and it helped me fill in the blanks and provided suggestions for further Salinger reading. I subscribed and liked…thank you so much!! 😊
Oh thank you, so happy to hear you found it helpful! 🙏 Have fun exploring Salinger’s writing!
Loved this -- I couldn't agree more. I do love his writing style. Reading through Salinger was a wonderful experience. Salinger loves the Glass family so much that he makes me care about them too. I love the scenes in Catcher where Holden talks about Phoebe. So touching. Great video & really enjoyed how you summed up his work.
Thank you! Me too, I feel like the more I read his work the more I appreciate the intricacies of his writing. It's hard not to feel a bit attached to the Glass family after reading all of his work and seeing them all through so many different angles, Seymour especially!
I appreciate your empathetic reading of Salinger’s work. So often I think he is unfairly categorized in ways I just haven’t seen when I’ve read his books. Very thoughtful.
Yes, he seems to often be judged harshly - either for his less than perfect characters or for writing books without much weight (at least the latter is something Joanna Rakoff touches on in 'My Salinger Year' and I feel like it's accurate as some people's view on his writing). Thank you so much!
Interesting to hear your take on all of these. The only Salinger I have re-read multiple times is Franny & Zooey, and I preferred Zooey"s story each time. I think I want to try to read all these in succession like you have done - just don't know when exactly that will happen.
That's so interesting! I'm wondering how my feelings about Franny & Zooey will change over time, as it has already dramatically changed with just two readings. I'd highly recommend it! I feel like I gained a new appreciation for his writing by reading them so close together.
this was wonderful! I really like how you say Salinger sort of ends up blurring reality and fiction with, to me, his obsession with the Glass family. Thinking back, I wonder if I was so taken by his persistence with conceptualizing the Glass family between texts rather than the actual storytelling--especially with Raise High the Roofbeam Carpenters. Since I had read that last from his works, I was so busy piecing things together I think, but in a very welcomed way. I'll have to revisit Salinger again soon, perhaps chronologically as well.
Thank you Alex! Yes, definitely obsession! I'm happy I read them back to back as I think that helped me fill in some of the gaps in the larger Glass narrative that I hadn't been able to piece together before. Although I'm still learning pieces of the puzzle I've missed (kind of adding to the enjoyment of reading his books tbh). I would love to hear your thoughts if you do go on a rereading trip through his work!
I hated catcher in the rye BUT loved Franny and Zooey. After watching this video I think I need to re read the first with a different mindset.
Oh I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts if you do! I totally get the dislike for Catcher, in a lot of ways it's so different from his other works - but still, I think the emotional tone is similar to his other writing - which in my opinion is its main strength.
This was interesting! The only Salinger I ever read was The Catcher in the Rye and as you already know, I wasn't a fan. But after watching this I might give him another try at some point ;) Only usually I don't really enjoy short stories and novellas, so maybe that's also a reason that he doesn't appeal to me that much. I really enjoyed how you discussed his work in this video, though!
Yes, the funny thing is that I have not been a big reader of short stories (novellas, even less) historically but I think I do love the form when it's done well, it's just that I haven't read much of it yet. I do understand that it's not for everyone though, it's such a different reading experience compared to a novel one has the time to get really stuck in! I'm so glad you listened to my ramblings even so!! xx
Hello there, who's your favorite author?
At the moment, probably Salinger and Shirley Jackson!
Charles Manson